Day three in the bug brutha owse...

Woken up at 2am, not by the guys snoring but some lassie having her brains screwed out of her. The temperature is so hot in the room that we have the window open. After a while I just hear this American guy shout 'ohhhh come awwwnn' haha! However, contributing to being kept awake is the boys trip to The Stinking Rose. Where they 'flavour their garlic with food'.

Woke up at 6.06am and then 7.34am having gone to bed at 10.30pm, so jet lag getting better.

Had the free breakfast this morning. Toast, jam, Banana and quarter orange. Couldn't be bothered pussing with cooking pancakes, I'm in clean clothes and washed my hair which took ages to dry with the American voltage system, hmmmph! So didn't want to get stinky. I sat opposite an older guy (well older than the average 12 year old in the place), he didn't utter a word, which kinda sums up the hostel, I thought travellers were a friendly bunch, but then neither did I, maybe he didn't speak much English.

I called mum and dad on viber which sort of worked with a delay. Then got together a plan.

I started the day by catching the sightseeing bus at the stop just down my road. They keep telling you stuff when you are at the point of interest, instead of just before. So you're either too late in getting your camera ready or missed the stop to get off. I'd missed the ferry building stop by the time we were at it and realised there was a massive market on.

Because I'd joined the bus part way round the tour when we got to the beginning, we had to change buses. So I nipped into the 7/11 for a hot chocolate, brownie and sandwich, to keep me cosy for the rest of the freezing tour. Once on the bus though, I realised that I only had a 24 hour ticket which had expired. So I had to rethink my plan to get off at a couple of stops, in case I couldn't get back on or had to pay more. So the Japanese tea garden was dropped. The rest of the bus tour was fairly uneventful and took so long it really wasn't worth the time. It was freezing especially going over the golden gate bridge, although haights ashbury looked cool, kinda boheimian, made me think that I bet Rich Meeson went there on his trip! I got off at the Lombard street stop and hiked the back of the hill, my god! It was steep! Chatted to a lovely Canadian couple for a while then caught the Mason cable car to Powell and exchanged to the California line which took me to the ferry building. It was fantastic!! I stood hanging onto the side right at the front! Best bit was high fiving a guy hanging off a cable car coming the other way!!

I went to the ferry building but the bus tour and cable car took so long that it was about 3pm and wasn't as buzzing as earlier in the day.

I caught the California line back to Powell and the Powell line to the end. I then went to find Ross's, as recommended by the hostel receptionist in the morning, to get a sleeping bag for my camping trip tomorrow. But they had none, I was then directed to Marshall's, a golf shop and Bloomingdales. Eventually made it to The North Face shop. And $184 later I had a 'cheap' sleeping bag. I saw a Marmot store on my way back and bought a $112 sleeping bag, so returned the NF bag. I walked back to the hostel, lay down for half an hour then navigated my way round the phone and Internet system. I booked my LA hostel and tried to call trek America to make sure the pick up details were correct but they were closed. I think, according to Helen's (an NZ tour person who is going to be in LA at the same time as me) response to my Facebook post, that I've booked the wrong hostel, oh well, I'll sort it later, cancellation is 6pm on the day. I booked with reception for my night on return from camping.

When I got back to my room, Dan and Ben were in bed, we had a long chat about what we'd been doing, the squeeler from last night and work.

I headed out for an average satay and chicken based dinner at iThai across the road and am heading back for the free vodka night at the hostel!

Well!!!! Not sure I should say too much about the free vodka night. I bought a bottle of white wine, Americans haven't got on the rose revolution by the looks of it. I went down to the basement but couldn't see the boys so stood on my own for a minute feeling like a bit of a loser! Everyone else seemed to be with others. Then I just went over to 3 young girls and asked to join them. They were from Canada on holidays for one of their 21st birthdays. Annette came in so we went to sit in the quieter bit and found Dan and Ben. We proceeded to get very drunk on wine, rum, free vodka, beer and any other alcohol we could find lying around. The night ended with a massive jammin session with a young guy and Dan playing acoustic guitar and this cool young London DJ girl kinda singing and making up songs...very cool! At 5am those left went to bed but I was due to get up at 6 to get ready to go on the 3 day camping tour. There was no way I was making that if I went to bed.

I learned today...to lay everything out the night before, so if you get up when others are sleeping, then you can grab n go! Without zip-zip-zipping! Thanks Annette!

Musings for the day...women can't wear too much jewellery and I'd rather be hated for being me than be loved for being someone else. The drum playing man at the ferry building market is to be given credit for that piece of inspiration.