Saturday was tourist day. After a leisurely breakfast we headed out to see the sights of this truly beautiful city. Christine was determined to show me the highlights as well as some of the places that were not on the usual tourist radar and she sure succeeded.
Into town and out the other side through the park we saw the Presidio, the art gallery and the beautiful scenery along the ocean shore. Then it was up and over the Oakland Bridge to Treasure Island, a former navy base that is now a tourist destination.
Over the Oakland to the city centre. I passed on the cable car ride when I saw the long, long line of people lining up to ride (it was in the late 30’s in temperature) and I also had already found out that tours of Alcatraz required a three week advance booking. I wasn’t really interested anyway. I’ve been inside a gaol once and I didn’t like it.
But we navigated the huge hills that feature in so many movies (yes, they really ARE that steep) cruised along the waterfront and saw Fisherman’s Wharf, which was also clogged with damn tourists! But the sights were good.
Then it was on to the iconic SF sight, the Golden Gate Bridge. Yes, I know it’s a bridge and I need to get over it, but it is a seriously impressive piece of engineering.
We cruised back through town and took in more of the sights including this one.
He’s got the bonnet up on his motorhome, his air compressor running and he’s doing major repairs on his Corvette on the side of the road! Gotta love San Francisco.
The park on the other side of town was wonderful, filled with happy people enjoying the sunshine.
There is also a house that was once owned by Alistair Crowley.
After tea I spent an evening exploring Wade’s garage…what an amazing place, One day I hope to be able to show you the myriad of wonders that lurks therein, but here is a sample.
The greatest wonder, however, is this guy. Artist, racer, collector, sailor, engineer, unreformed hippie and a 17 times Isle of Man competitor.
Then on Sunday morning Ed Haazer arrived early and took me on another adventure. Destination was the famous “Alice’s Restaurant”, high in the hills above the southern oceanside of California. We went the scenic way, along the coast through Pacifica and El Granada, little beachside places that look eerily like beachside suburbs at home. And it was at El Granada that we spotted a whale broaching no more than 50 metres off shore. Please forgive the stupid commentary, I had no idea that the camera even HAD sound, so embarrassing!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kc5O87UfcA[/youtube]
From the coast we headed up into the foothills. The sand dunes made way for massive trees and a view that looked ridiculously like travelling through the Dandenong Ranges behind Melbourne.
Stopping at his house to pick up Ed’s gorgeous daughter, Chantal, we cruised back to Alice’s for breakfast. Alice’s is a bit like the Robertson Pie Shop but on steroids. A half an hour wait to get a seat gave me plenty of time to admire the fine machinery, both two-wheeled and four.
Back to Ed’s place for a look around. A 100 year old genuine log cabin on 1/3 acre in the hills, sir? Yes, please, wrap it up and I’ll take it.
All too soon it was time to leave but not before snatching this “slice of California” shot.
We went back down the mountain by the southern loop and breathed a sigh as we moved into the cooler air along the coast. The coastal vistas are as remarkable and compelling as they are at home..
Oh, back up a bit. On the way down the mountain we stopped at a tiny village called La Honda (yes, seriously) and took in the sights at Apple Jack’s, another famous motorcycle-friendly establishment, this time a bar..
A little further on we stopped at San Gregorio, a bar, bookshop (VERY hippie and alternative) live music venue and well-known gathering place for the local artistic community. This photo, taken across the road, pretty much sums up the California experience.
A Mustang and a Prius. Thus is the tension in this most persecutingly “green” state.
Back home to Subculture Racing HQ, packed and ready to go to the airport and Wade says, “Hey, you haven’t been to Twin Peaks yet, have you?” Um, no I hadn’t, so, back in the van and up the steep mountain behind the city to see this…
For the whole weekend the locals had been apologising for the lack of visibility. Wildfires in the ranges to the north of the city had caused smoke that had poured south. Yes, it was a bit hazy, but, how could I let THAT spoil this?
The flight home was delayed twice so I didn’t end up landing till nearly midnight but, hey, nothing could have spoiled this.