California, cowboys and crazy bus buddies [S.O.F.T.]

The single, older, female traveller is still enjoying her adventure, learning patience and tolerance as she deals with some different people on her bus tour… 

The big tour of California has begun, and the group is a mixed collection as was expected.

We arrived in Carmel. Full of thin, beautiful and rich folks pushing their dogs around in trolleys! No homeless allowed here. I managed to buy a wonderful, funky wallet and some great, colourful socks.

The clam chowder at Fisherman’s’ Wharf was not to my taste. I think it was mainly potato or artichoke? It was US$6 to ride the cable cars each way, and it involved my favourite hobby… Queuing! With a little bit of pushing too.

On my own I am finding the whole money thing a huge hassle. I cannot read the money, especially the coins, and as you know the notes are all the same colours. My brain goes into overdrive every time I pay for something, which looks like a simple $10 or even $9.50. Then they add tax and a tip, and hand me over even more of these indecipherable coins! Even with my coke bottle glasses I have no idea whether I have been diddled or not, this has definitely caused a few senior stress moments!

I am starting to see cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and very large “pickup” trucks (the US equivalent to our “ute” or utility). Never fall in love with a cowboy! I am actually starting to like America, the home of the free and, guns y’all know what I’m sayin’.

It is day 3 of the bus trip and I am starting to dislike the English “poms” that talk nonstop, particularly in broad Yorkshire dialect! The person behind me feels the urge to comment on everything. The person next to me seems to think I am a tour director and keeps asking me detailed questions, “Are we going here, when are we stopping for lunch, what excursion should I do?” And then, she pokes me if I haven’t responded or I am not looking at what she has pointed out!!! It is going to be one long bus trip! I guess this is the S.O.F.T. life!

Arrived in the City of Angels, Hustle Town, which does not have the same appeal as San Fran. We whizzed past Malibu, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, to be caught in the Friday night mindless traffic jam! Not good.

I am somewhat intrigued by the American plumbing, don’t y’all just love their toilets! So much water and no stains! However I have a regular daily struggle with the taps, the cold water tap in particular, always turning it the wrong way, and douse myself in freezing cold streams or scald myself, now that is one serious cultural difference. But, best of all I like all things automatic… From self-flushing toilets, automatic towel dispensers, and those pesky taps which none of us can work out, this is America for you! I am almost disappointed when we have a loo stop with none of the above!

I’m looking forward to the next leg of my Senior, Older, Female, Traveller adventure; I think I’m getting in the swing of the solo traveller life!

Have you encountered some interesting characters on your journeys? Perhaps some annoying ones too…