At last we are on the road: At 8h30 we start in Vancouver and within a couple of kilometres, we are at the border between the USA and Canada. The Canadians are easy going and don’t care about passports and carnet de passage. And so we continue to the US officials and suddenly we are on US territory just to be told, that the Canadian stamps are missing in the carnet de passage. So back into Canada to get the required documentation. There after returning to the US border officials, who are all sitting with their guns on the office chairs working through files and issuing documents. An interesting atmosphere and we appreciate suddenly the Schengen borders.
A new queuing for papers and stamps and then, after 1 pm, we finally get the release paper to enter officially the USA. As we are late for our Round Table in San Francisco, we decide to drive through the night, changing drivers all 2 hours. The route takes us along the Interstate 5 South, through beautiful forests and all colours of green, passing Seattle and Portland and the Klamath Mountains. And every mile brings us closer to spring; we can forget the 4 degrees Celsius in Vancouver and the hail storm and enjoy a sunny day, lots of green and cattle. Even if we don’t have time to stop we feel the warmth and whoever has no duty to drive can take a nap on the backbench.
Early in the morning we arrive in suburbs of San Francisco – 1500 km behind us a nonstop drive: time for a coffee and some work, e.g. writing or translating the diary. And of course to prepare for the Round Table which will take place at the German Consulate General. And then, we are on the road again: Mexico is waiting.
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