The Last Hill Before Home: SD to LA

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

SD to LA

Here is my buddy Matt. I met Matt and his good college buddy last summer on the party island of Ios in Greece. We kept in touch here and there and as it turns out he has a killer place in San Diego. I told him that I was cruising threw and he made sure to put up his buddy for the night! Thanks Matt!

Another crazy day...

So I made sure to get up EARLY in the morning when I was in San Diego. The plan was to get from downtown San Diego to Hollywood in one day. I threw the info into Google the night before I realized that the whole trip, door to door, was going to be about 130 miles. Wow! Big freakin day but truly I couldnt bare to spend another night in a hotel.

I was supposed to meet one of my best friends, Joey, in Hollywood. Once in Hollywood I was going to take a few days off before making the jounrey back to San Francisco. On top of that my other good friend, Evan, was host a fundraising party on Saturday for the Last Hill project. The pieces were coming together and it was time for some time off. I made it from La Paz to San Diego in 13 days. Crazy!

Leaving San Diego I really had no idea how to get to LA. No GPS, my map that I got at the gas station was pretty much useless because it didnt show the streets. So..my plan...follow the street signs. Well...I got lost in La Jolla. I think I climed the same hill three times. I got really lost once and I remember crusing through the hills trying to dodge $250,000 porches and ferrari's. Ceasar liked that.

I somehow talked my way onto Camp Pendalton. At first they werent going to let me on but truly that was the only way to go. It was kinda crazy trying to bike when off in the distance the US Army was conducting drills with army guys running around with giant machine guns. I told myself that I traded the farmers of Costa Rica with their machetes for the US Marines with their machine guns...I didnt know which one I was more worried about. I finally got across the base and into another suburban area. This was really crazy because I had no map and I was following the green bike lane signs. Ill never forget that.

It was getting late but really...I thought I was going to make it to LA. I was sooooo excited to see Joey and actually hang out with some friends for the first time in about a year and a half.

I got to Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King blvd in downtown long Beach. My legs were dead tired. I thought I could be the bsolute champ and make it to LA but that was looking like it wasnt going to happen. I probably made it about 100 plus miles. If only I didnt get lost in La Jolla or if I didnt hit so many damn stop lights along the coast Im sure I could have made it. But no...here I was...in a jack in the box prking lot watching the sun go down. I called Joey three times...no answer. I got some tacos, freaking amazing but Im sure not the best for me, and took a break. I started up a conversation with some guy and he eventually told me there was a train to Hollywood. So, another dilema, get a hotel 6 in Long Beach or grab the train and TRY to find Joeys house. I hated the thought of staying in a hotel 6 on Martin Luther King blvd in the LBC while I knew Joey was out and about in LA watching his brothers put on a tribute concert. So...I cheated and grabed the train.

You have to take a second and imagine this scene. Here I am about to get off the commuter train in Hollywood. Im exhausted, Im freezing, I have a ton of layers on. Sweat stains all over my cloths, the bike looks beat down, the beard is in full effect. I really looked like a homeless man coming out of the train station and onto Hollywood BLVD. Seeing the lights of LA and the famous names in the stars on the groud was a total culture shock that I couldnt even think about. Holy Crap...I was in LA! This is great. So now...all I had was Joey's address. No time to call. I knew that he was leaving his house soon because the concert was starting in like 30 minutes. So I pushed forward riding through the night, again, on Hollywood blvd, looking for Joey.

I was about 2 blocks away with 5 minutes to spare when the street hit a dead end! DAMNIT!!!! That was frustrating. After getting some directions for some guy waiting for the bus I found my way. Side note, does anyone ask for directions in LA anymore??? That guy gave me the craziest look! So here I am...crusing up some winding road looking for Joey. And guess what...there he was walking down the drive way heading for his car. I was so completely exhusted I could even tell him it was me. Instead I decided to ride right past him. Then I stoped....I layed the bike on the ground...I rolled over on the ground and just started to BUST UP IN LAUGHTER!

Joey was on the phone and seriously I thought I heard him say "hold on mom....some homeless guy just rolled his shopping cart on my property." Then he said with the utmost confusion..."Aaron? Oh my God....Aaron? What the Hell? Aaron? Is that...how did...what the...is that...Aaron?" I hadnt seen my buddy in a year and a half and this was our reunion. Hilarious!

So I made it to LA!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

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Plan USA

¨Plan is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children.

Plan began as a child sponsorship organization. Today, we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our kind—our grassroots, self-help programs assist more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world.

We are proudly private, not for profit, and respectful of local religions and cultures—we have no agenda other than helping kids. Plan USA is one of more than 60 national organizations bearing the renowned Plan logo. ¨

Right about the time that I was identifying non profit organizations to work with I received an email from my cousin Joshua. Josh, a meteorologist for the United States Air Force who is living in Germany and currently stationed in Iraq, mentioned that he was now sponsoring a child through Plan USA. He said that it was a small step but a small step in the right direction. He also mentioned that Plan USA was backed by the Better Business Bureau, a point that we both respect. Through various research of my own I found that Plan USA is a prominent NGO and has a great marks from InterAction and the Charities Review Council. Most importantly I found that Plan USA´s mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvement in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨ linked exactly to my own mission for this fundraising event. Needless to say, it was a great fit.

The Inspiration

¨You must be the change you want to see in the world¨

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love to travel.

I have been lucky enough to throw on a backpack and visit 5 continents. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights. It´s hard not to be inspired when your standing under the rotunda at the Taj Mahal or approaching the Pyramids of Egypt or wandering through the waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina. These have all been inspiring times.

I also cherish the fact that I have met people from all over the world and been able to learn and share in the differences in cultures. You can learn so much when you share a spicy vietnamese sandwich with a local in Hoi An, when you take a stroll with a friend in a park in Santiago de Chile or gather with pilgrims over a pitcher of sangria at Santiago de Compostella in Spain. I´ve learned a lot and I´m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities.

With all the ups there´s also the downs. Theres another side you see when travelling. This side isn´t shared as much and it can also be quite difficult to talk about. Many countries, especially in the developing worlds, face many problems. HIV/AIDS, pollution, over population, lack of clean drinking water, dangerous living conditions and of course people living under $1 a day are just a few of the issues to mention.

I have wandered through the ghetto´s of Bangkok, I played stick games with the kids in the slums of Mumbai and seen the horrible living conditions of the street beggars in La Paz. While these encounters were only brief they still had a profound affect on me. Somehow, I draw inspiration from these encounters and connections. In so many situations these people who seemed to have nothing, were still smiling, still playing and still trying with all their means to get by. If only I had that much courage!

It was culture shock and it hurt.

I feel that now is the time to give back.

I encourage you to leave comments on this blog. Every word of positivity will help me along my journey. I encourage you to pass the message forward. Together we can help make a change for the kids that need it most. Finally, I encourage you to donate. There´s an icon on the top right hand corner of this blog that will direct you to a third party site that facilitates the donations. Its totally secure and safe. I appreciate all the love and positivity that I´m already recieving, of course this is not possible without people who want to help make a difference.

I don´t think that I´ll necessarily change the world, after all I´m just a 28 year old guy from San Francisco. But, I do want to give back. I do want to help. I have the opportunity so why not use it to help the children in the world who don´t have the same chances.

Now is the time to ¨be the change¨.

The Goal

In riding my bike from Panama City to San Francisco, I am initiating a grassroots fundraising effort to help raise money to feed starving children in Central and South America. All proceeds will go to PLAN USA. My goal is to raise a minimum of 15,000 dollars. In doing so I also hope to bring the plight and struggle of these children into the concious of the public, as well as their profound sense of life, courage, hope and faith. Their undeniable love for life, and ability to continue to dream.

Donate today http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I Believe

When taking on a mission like this it´s important to create a set of ideals, principles or beliefs. The task at hand is by no means going to be easy. These 7 beliefs are truly the fundamentals that will help me along my journey.

I Believe...

- In Plan USA. Plan´s clearly defined mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨, is possible with the support from us if we are willing to make a difference today.

- In grassroots charitable efforts. Dedicated individual leaders and community outreach groups are fighting the growing problems of poverty.

- In the power of communication and information. Plan´s key programs of ¨growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships¨, are possible by making a donation and passing the message forward.

- Riding a bike from Panama City to San Francisco will raise awareness to the fight against poverty.

- In outdoor adventure travel. Riding is one of the positive and healthy activities that plants confidence into any individual.

- In the power of synergy. A group with a common mission driven by creativity and passion can accomplish any set of goals.

- A dream, a bike and a regular guy from San Francisco can help make a change in the lives of children whom need it most.

The Last Hill Before Home

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

SD to LA

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