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After a 9 hour flight, 1.5 hour bus ride and 45 minute train ride, we are now in Komae-shi!
Today we have to go to Komae city hall and turn in my Alien Resident paperwork, then head over to the cell phone store to grab a couple phones!
I’m using Shiro’s computer, and the keyboard is a little strange, so I’m going to cut this post short. I’ll be sure to post a longer update with photos and stuff next time.
The last two weeks in SF were incredibly busy. We had so many things to do!
Of course, it all came down to the wire. Sunday was nuts.
We woke up around 8:30am and I immediately got showered, dressed and left to jump on the MUNI. I reserved the rental truck from Budget Trucks, and pickup was at 10am down in Potrero Hill. I got to the office at about 10:05, and was the 4th person in line. Apparently I was just in time. 5 minutes later the line was about 20 people long and growing. Budget decided it would be a good idea to only have 3 people working on the last weekend of the month when everyone is moving, good job guys! It took each person about 10minutes to get through… I’m not good at math, but those poor folks who showed up at 10:15 were probably waiting a long time.
I eventually got my truck and was on my way. The big 15ft truck is the largest (non-trailer) vehicle I have ever driven. It was really nerve wracking to maneuver that thing down Van Ness. I’m really happy it was a Sunday and traffic was light. I was almost certain I was going to drift a few inches out of my lane and destroy the car next to me. Luckily though, I managed to get the truck all the way to the apartment just as Steve showed up with his camera rolling.
Now, Risa and I really thought that we were “almost done” packing. Steve, however, had another opinion. His first words upon entering the apartment were something along the lines of, “Holy F*ck, what the f*ck is this? You’re not packed at all? Jesus, what the f*ck. You’re like 20% packed. MAX.” Then, rather than come up with a plan to help us, his first instinct was, Must. Text. Veronika. For the next hour, he continued to update her on our progress. I could hear the “GOD SCOTT” being yelled all the way across town.
Once he got over the initial shock, Steve was a great help. When Jordan and Dave showed up a few minutes later, things got really moving. Let me just say, if it wasn’t for Steve, Dave, and Jordan, Risa and I might still be packing in SF right now. THANKS GUYS!
Just before 2pm Steve had to go home, but he made the prediction that we wouldn’t be done until 9pm. Dave was a little more optimistic at 6pm. I was still trying to be positive, thinking 4pm.
Around 7pm, I realized that we weren’t going to be out of there until closer to 10. Since we not only needed to finish packing the last few boxes, but we also had to CLEAN the apartment. Forgot about that…
Finally, at about 9:45pm, we were done. We put the keys in the kitchen, said our good-byes to the apartment that we loved for 2 years, and we headed down to the truck. It was time to say farewell to San Francisco after 4 fantastic years!
Below you can see the map of the route.
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As we left SF, we were tired. It had been a long day. But the drive from SF to Eugene is usually an easy 8.5 hours. I figured that we should be able to get at least as far as Redding before having to pull over for a cat nap, then continue on. What I wasn’t expecting, was that once our truck was fully loaded, it was lucky to go 55mph on the flat, and was slowing down to 35mph on an incline. We were in for a LONG trip home.
A) Sunday 9:45pm — we leave the apartment.
B) Sunday 11:30pm — I am too tired to drive. About halfway through 505 I know I can’t make it to Redding. But I know there is a nice rest area just past Dunnigan. We stopped here to try to sleep for a while in the truck cab. After 2 hours, it was just too uncomfortable to continue sleeping here, but I was rested enough to drive on for a while.
C) Monday 3:30am — I am WAY too tired to drive on. Corning is pretty close to Redding, and there is a Comfort Inn right next to the off ramp. After briefly considering sleeping in the truck again, I decided that I need a bed and a shower. I pony up the $55 and Risa and I get our room.
Best. Decision. EVAR. 6 hours in a bed, a shower, and a sweet continental breakfast was just what the doctor ordered. By 10:30am we were back on the road.
D) Monday 2:00pm — After driving over the Siskiyou and Grants Pass at an average speed of 35mph, I’m a little sleepy and we are both hungry so we decide to stop at a McDonalds. I ordered one of those new McCafe coffee things to try and wake me up. Now, let me warn all of you. These things are dangerous. They pile on the whipped cream, then cover it with a lid. The lid has a little plastic “door” thing on the mouth hole. You are supposed to flip it back and lock it into the lid. TURN THE COFFEE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY WHEN YOU OPEN THE MOUTH HOLE. When I opened the little door, Whipped cream blasted itself all over me. In the hair, on the face, and all over my coat. Then like a genius, I used napkins to try to clean it up. Of course, the napkins disintegrated and covered me in a mixture of whipped cream and napkin bits. Not Good. Will not order again.
E) Monday 4:00pm — I am getting sleepy again, so I decide to grab a quick nap in the parking lot of Seven Feathers. I figure this is a good spot to rest, since we are on the last leg. Just 2 hours or so to get home from here.
F) Monday 7:00pm — We finally arrive at my parents house! Mom and Dad had speghetti and meatballs waiting. Good to be home! Only 21 hours since we left SF.
