Around The World In 80 Waves

I pass San Dimas on the way South. Home of Bill S, Preston ESQ. and Ted Theodore Logan but am disappointed not to spot Waterloop anywhere in sight. Bogus!

I keep having issues filling up the car. To do so at the pump requires a Zip code associated with my card, which clearly I do not have. This results in me repeatedly having to go to the cashier and from the pump repeatedly like a yo-yo. Each time you get to the cashier they want to know how much I am putting in which is a question I cant answer because I want to fill up. Such is the extent of petrol pump crime here nobody is trusted. The only solution is to go in and leave my wallet and passport with the cashier, fill up and then go in and settle up, which is getting tiresome.

The Mojave desert between LA and Las Vegas is stunning, but also massive. It is like driving from London to Manchester and only seeing two towns which are smaller than somewhere like Brighton along the way. I know Area 51 is somewhere nearby but as yet have not seen any UFOs. I cross the Providence mountains, which are higher than Snowdon but the little green surf machine is running well and seems to take everything in its stride

Now this isn’t the first time I have crossed a desert with surfboards on the roof of my car and my thoughts are currently with Daou and his family in Mali, all of whom were unbelievably kind to me after I managed to miss my flight from Bamako airport despite arriving three hours early for the plane. (Only me!) They took a grumpy raving white bloke who was ranting about mosquitos and poisonous spiders in the middle of the night under their wing and gave me food, water and a roof over my head when they really had nothing to give. I truly hope that they and all those dear to them are not at risk from the military action currently blitzing their country. Even the Tuareg seperatists in the north of the country who started action against the Malian government nine months ago do not want the radical Islamists who are trying to manipulate their claim for the land which they have roamed for thousands of years to remain in the country. I hope the international community can resolve this one as soon as possible.