January 4

I don't know if I trust British toothpaste. Maybe it's their toothbrushes. Maybe it's all the crappy American/Canadian music that's been rotting their teeth out. I had no idea that Nickelback was this popular in England. At least, in Canterbury they have a devoted following (I wonder if Nickelback knows? They should totally milk that). The All-American Rejects and Kings of Leon, too.

It snowed again last night. I knew that at some point today I'd slip and fall. I had what some would call a premonition. Low and behold, as I was stepping out of the train onto the Dover Priory platform I slipped and landed smack on my ass. It's quite hilarious in hindsight. They need to throw some salt on that damn platform. I should start carrying some with me. I'll be like the Morton Salt girl.

Today, Kristi and I went on the hunt for the elusive Sun Bear, sometimes known as the Honey Bear (thanks Wikipedia). It's even harder to find than an attractive British guy. We heard they were endangered, but that there some just chillin' in Sandwich. No, not attractive British guys, Sun Bears. There's this nature conservatory about an hour away by train in Sandwich, England. Kristi and I have been going on and on about these damn Sun Bears for days. We were all excited to see them today, Kristi was even speed-walking to the station. So, we hop on a train to Dover Priory, then waited around for over an hour- I got some disgusting coffee that cost me 80 pence (I'm still a little bitter about that one), then we hopped back on the train headed to Sandwich.

Of course, we didn't know where the conservatory was once we arrived in Sandwich. Kristi did have the pamphlet. The train station was closed and deserted, so we couldn't ask someone. Kristi called the conservatory, no one answered, but there was a voice recording saying it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays during the winter. Jumpin' Jahosafish, are you kidding me? The conservatory Web site says nothing about it being open only on Saturdays and Sundays during the frickin' winter. It actually says their open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. So, not only were we waiting another 20 minutes in the freezing cold for the train back to Dover Priory, Kristi spent over six pounds on the damn train ticket- that no attendant checked. The things I do for endangered species. Like talk to the people from Greenpeace.

Tomorrow's our last night at the hostel. We were lucky, last night we had the eight bed mixed dorm all to ourselves, tonight it looks to be the same. Now I just jinxed it. Saturday night some dude kept snoring, loud. And this French couple checked in after 11 p.m. and came into the room like they owned it our something. Good thing everyone was outta there by the time we woke up. I've been feeling like going into hibernation, the bears have the right idea. With the sun setting at 3:54 p.m. everyday and the doggone radiator not heatin' up properly, the cold just makes you kind of tired... and hungry. I do have to give props to my super badass boots from the L.L. Bean web site, though. They are so warm. Don't have much traction, but they're warm.