Lightning, exploring California and a Kenya visa

15/10 - There have been thunderstorms the past two days in the Central Valley. I sat on the front porch in Springville and watched the lightning just over the hill. There was no thunder. Lightning storms are one of my favorite things to watch because of the immense power in lightning. The best parts about these storms was the frequency of huge lightning bolts.

24/10 - The best way to erase a bad week and the negative feelings that go with it is to travel. This weekend, I decided to get to know my home state of California a little bit more, and as a result I learned a few things and saw some awesome sights.

Red Rock Canyon State Park was the only place I wanted to see for sure. Hiking among red-colored cliffs that dig down into the ground at an angle is neat to see, especially when you don't realize California has that kind of environment. The more I travel, the more I appreciate California for all of the terrain it offers. It has so much, and some of it we never realize is there. For example, the desert between Tehachapi and Nevada stretches on forever, with occasional hills that break the monotony, and I loved driving through it.

But part of the reason I love to travel and have adventures is everything that happens that can't be planned. At a shady burger shack in Mojave, CA, I recognized the accent of an East London man who was also getting a burger. We got to talking and it turns out he's lived in this state for the last 20 years. He was on his way to Lake Isabella to visit a couple to "play." He paused and then said, "you should come with me."

Huh?

"You should help me f**k this couple. The woman loves it, she's a nasty w***e," he said.

Nah, I think I'll pass.

Aside from meeting an Englishman in such a random place, it was funny to have that encounter. Something like that is impossible to plan, and one can only experience that by just going.

Aside from Red Rock Canyon, I Couchsurfed in Tehachapi with a married couple that is my age. They were very friendly and excellent hosts, and we played Xbox and watched movies for the night. Then in the morning, they wen't way out of their way to show me a hiking trail in Tehachapi Mountain Park. It was only 5 miles round trip, but the trail rises a couple thousand feet in the first 2.5 miles. And of course, as I've done several other times this year, I chose not to take water. Luckily, a fellow hiker gave me a bottle of water after chiding me. I deserved it.

While in Tehachapi, which is a town nestled in a valley and surrounded by mountains at 4,000 feet elevation, I learned that area is extremely windy, and that's why there are hundreds of wind turbines on the east side of the valley. My hosts said it's not uncommon for the valley to be windy all of the time. I also learned that if a California Condor is spotted in the general area, all wind turbines are shut off completely until it disappears. This is because the bird is endangered and could collide with one of the rotors. It takes wildlife around a wind turbine five years to get used to its presence. People who work with the turbines hike around the area to observe how it's affecting local wildlife and take note of dead birds.

To finish off my mini adventure, I took side roads and weaved, woved and zig zagged my way to Lake Isabella on Caliente Bodfish Road and through the Sequoia National Forest on Highway 155, where I found some excellent camp sites, a person who was giving away free apples from his tree on the side of the road and a pair of tarantula spiders making their way across the road. I also found a perfect road for ripping up with a motorcycle. It's one of those roads where you see another car once probably every 15 miles. The only problem with it is the lack of a fuel station between Ducor and another intersection about 40 miles up the road. I'd be worried about running out of gas, so I'd take some with me in a backpack.

This trip was a massive success. I know California a little bit better now, and I drove some twisty and incredibly fun, beautiful, skinny and relaxing roads. And thanks to this new car, I only spent about $40 total on the weekend. Just because I'm no longer in Europe doesn't mean I can't travel. California is a massive state, and this weekend proved there is plenty to see. Plus, I learned a little bit. Can't complain there.

27/10 - I saw a bear in Springville coming home last night. It was something I did not expect. It was a typical brown bear, and I guess they're not too much of a threat, but it was still a shock to see a bear.

Finally, I'm all clear to go to Kenya. My visa was issued and my passport has been returned. The only hurdle left is to get myself to Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 21. Luckily I just need to get to Burbank by bus because I have a friend who can take me to the airport. Having the visa in hand makes the trip feel that much closer and real. I'm excited, but I'm nervous at the same time. In two months, I'll find myself in a completely different place in the world. The culture in Kenya is unknown to me besides from what I've heard from Stella. I'm not even sure how I'm supposed to greet people. Do I shake hands? Oh well, if you're not nervous before something, it's not big enough.