San Fransizzle and the Jesus Cap Man

Somehow I made it here to San Francisco and in the 20 minutes that I have seen it I already like it a lot. It is true that it is very similar to Melbourne. There is loads about it on first impressions which is similar - the train/cable car system, the pedestrian only areas, trees on the street, lots of cool shops and cool people. Its great. Even though the weather is very overcast, the place has a really good vibe. Unlike the guy who followed me from Reno.

I wasn't sure that I would safely make it to San Francisco. Somewhere between Reno and Sacramento this strange guy got on the bus. I was sleeping so I didn't notice but when the bus got to Sacramento he nudged me because I was asleep and it was the final stop. I said thanks and I got off. I went to the bottom of the bus and picked up my pack then he proceeded to talk to me. I had a bit of chat to him before I realised that he might be a freak, and in a moment of stupidity told him the hostel I was heading to. Luckily he was a bit slow and I hoped that he hadn't taken the info in when I slipped up. He followed and talked to me as we walked to the train that would take us to Emeryville (the stop just outside of San Francisco, from where we take a bus). Usually I wouldn't be fussed about talking to a stranger because I have talked to tonnes on this trip, and when I think about it everyone except Steve (when we travelled together in July) that I have spoken to on this trip has been a stranger. But as I spoke to this guy and looked him up and down there was something strange about him (actually there wasn't really anything normal about him).

He was carrying just a little bit of luggage and two guitars which was already a worry for me, however it was the least of his problems. Lets start from the top, which in this case was the best place to start. He was about 40 years old, balding and with teeth fairly separated from one another. He wore on his head a baseball cap with a cross on the front and "Jesus is Lord" written on the back (funnily enough this was the main thing that tipped me off, but it gets better). He was wearing a royal blue coloured shirt and a multicoloured burgundy sorta tie. Pretty much the only thing you could do to fuck that combination up this guy was doing. Can you guess what he wore? He also had a jacket on, but between the jacket and the shirt covering the rest of his body he wore full length denim overalls with the metal clasps and everything. Insane. If he wan't such a weirdo I would have asked if I could take a photo of him because it was such a classic. He chatted to me a bit and I'll transcribe the conversation here:
"So you going to San Francisco?" He said.
"Yes"
"me too"
"ok"
"Where are you staying?"
"At the San Francisco International Hostel"
"Me too, what a coincidence. Have you been to San Francisco before?"
"No"
"Well I can show you around. I've been here a lot. I know a way you can walk on the Golden Gate Bridge...bla...bla...blah"
Then I said ok once more and put my head phones in and pretended to sleep while I came up with a plan to lose him. I toyed with the idea of just quickly getting off at any stop and getting on the next one in 2 hours, or something similar. I expected that he would follow me no matter what I did, even if I told him not to. I thought he might also wait for the next train at the next stop if he caught me getting off. So I thought maybe I could lose him at Emeryville Station or something, but it would all me going out of my way, getting into SF late, and there was always a chance he would wait for me at some point. So I came up with a plan. I had a feeling he didn't actually know where the hostel was so I pretended that I got a msg from a friend and then I would tell him I was meeting my friend and maybe was staying with him. Luckily with my lack of interest in him he started talking with other people and seeing what they were doing. He then decided to get off the bus going into SF at an unscheduled stop cos he said it was closer to the hostel. The stop was underneath a bridge and very questionable area. So I declined the offer and said I was meeting a friend. He got off and I carefully watched where we were at that point and where he walked. Then we drove fo some time and I was confident he was gone, hopefully to another hostel.

I feel relaxed now but I don't know if he remembered the name of the hostel. Maybe I will return tonight and he will be there in the bunk above me...