After running around for two months it is time for me to start settling in and getting used to living in Canada. I am now back on Vancouver Island living in Comox, a small sleepy town where everyone is friendly and things don't happen in a rush. It's time for me to start looking for work, whatever that may be because I am drawing a blank on what direction to take next. I seem to know a few things I don't want to do... but nothing that really garbs me, which is something I have felt for a while now. Work aside there is lots to do here, I have been keeping up my running and found a great set of

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Yosemite is a Mecca for hikers and climbers alike. As the goal for my trip I wasn't here to mess about with the easy strolls in the valley floor - I was here for the big hikes and the big hikes alone. Anything less than "strenuous" in the trail description and I wasn't interested. My first day was a 13 mile hike up to Glacier Point for excellent views over the valley and especially of Half Dome. This gave me an opportunity to contemplate my hike of Half Dome the following day which I had waited a year and a half to come back and do. Contemplating tomorrow's hike From Glacier Point I descended

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After the Redwoods my next stop was Redding, close to the Lassen Volcanic national park. I arrived late but was glad to see there was a barbecue restaurant not far away. I also went to see the Sundial Bridge, a glass bridge suspended from a single arm which was magnificent lit up at night. A nice end to a long day. I headed to the park early, Lassen Peak is the most known hike in the park but was closed for maintenance. Therefore my goal to hike Brokeoff Mountain, which I hear is the most strenuous hike in the park but with the biggest rewards. The hike was not too tough but the views were

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With the Greyhound costing $120 to the closest town to Yosemite served by the company I did not only know where I was going to go next but how I was going to get there. I had considered renting a car and driving directly there, perhaps saving a little time and money but it was proving to be expensive. That was until I search on Budget and was amazed to discover that I could rent a car in Portland and drop it off in San Francisco a week later for $70! I calculated that even with gas (petrol for you folks back in the UK) this would be cheaper than taking public transport to Yosemite, to the park

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Portland is a good place to stay if you want to eat, drink and take things easy – which I did. My couch surfing host Klauss was excited to hear that was in town wanting to sample some of the offerings from local breweries. I was surprised to hear that I was the first who had made such a request – it was one of the main reasons why I wanted to come back here in the first place! There are lots of little food 'pods' which are small vans/shacks located on corners and car parks which serve up all kinds of delicious food. I spent my second day in Portland nursing a bit of a soar head after

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Unfortunately Vancouver's public transport had left me with a bit of a nasty cold but I wasn't going to let that spoil my fun. Armed with a pocket full of tissues me and my couch surfing host Vibhor went for indian food (my first since leaving the UK!) before heading to a late night funk bar. I spent my second day with a Spanish couch surfer Sofia who is living in Seattle. We visited a few of the sights like the bubble gum wall and even 'rode the ducks' – sitting on board a duck themed World War II amphibious landing craft which gives you a tour of Seattle's streets and Lake Union... with

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