San Francisco, CA

After our few days camping around Yosemite, we headed towards the coast and the big city of San Francisco

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We drove in towards SF via Highway 120, then Interstate 580 through Oakland.
We came across a wee town called Chinese Camp – The Tavern had a Kiwi theme/thing going on…..

Along the 120 Highway, i swear this could almost pass as a highway back in New Zealand – aka maybe driving around Hawkes Bay/Napier way?

We picked up some Fruit from the side of the road, and continued into downtown

Silicon Valley – and a heap of wind turbines!

First point of call – Chinatown…. cheap eats, some exercising of my cantonese and familiarity in knowing that everything is made in China

Transamerica Pyramid in the background.

Not too much had changed since I last visited in 2007… except my little kung-fu sidekick was here to defend me against any harm that I may run into – City Hall.

…..

The Main Gallery.

Sweet Classic Motorcycle – i might have to extend my love for all things with a motor, to include bikes

We caught up with some of my old workmates for lunch at this fabulous Cuban Sandwich Cafe – Geoff and Bill – the ‘driving force’ behind Holmes Culley

The Bay Bridge – double decker suspension bridge x 2 to Treasure Island Pretty immense bit of infrastructure.

Awesome moudly crazy cheese – Ferry Building, SF.

Cup Cake. Yes, that’s you my dear You just can’t buy this much joy….. or can you?

Chinese Man wearing chinese suit, complete with chinese white socks, reading chinese paper in Chinatown. If we weren’t mistaken, this could photo could be from Hong Kong – Since we’re heading there soon, i’ll try and take another one there

Ladies playing cards.

Being on vacation, one needs to take in some exercise from time to time, to keep the body in shape – we took a walk over Nob Hill….. classic steep SF streets

Check out the snipers on the roof – diplomats were in town.

Something to do with my shirt matching the house…..

Lombard St – worlds most Crookedest Street…

Hi Mel…..!

Downhill only…

Ferrari Daytona

I remember seeing nice classic old cars around SF streets last time – this time was no different!
I believe this was a Studebaker down at Fishermans Wharf

…

The Helm.

Alcatraz Island

The Ugly Duckling – Porsche 914 …

Sourdough Lobster

… famous sourdough from……

Boudin. YUMMY!

Mel carrying out Quality Assurance and Auditing of the Cheese/Breadboards……..

Attention to detail – We picked up one of these for Mel’s friends Julia and Flo in Vienna, as they recently celebrated their wedding

What’s a trip to SF, without a trip to Castro.

It was a day before the start of Pride Week, and the place was humming with people. I actually saw the Pride Parade

Harvey’s.

If you haven’t seen “Milk” the movie, I guess this won’t mean too much – but back in the 70′s. Harvey Milk was the first gay person elected into office as a supervisor, and did much to ensure LGBT civil rights were heard. He was tragically assasinated, along with the Mayor of SF at the time, in 1978…. but i digress……

… this blog isn’t meant to get us all down… so how about some new clothes for your doggie?

We had a nice Thai dinner in Castro…

SPICY noodles….. ok, yep – we’ve taken to taking photos of our food…. c’mon, we’re on holiday and are CHINESE after all!!!

Mel’s introduced me to “Red Velvet” – a wee friend of ours.

..until next time

We hit up Alcatraz – one of the hotspots for tourists visiting the city

The Bay – the weather wasn’t playing ball all week for us there!

Speech…

Entering the Main Guardhouse.

Would you like a shower?

..how aboutan audio guide? and fries with that?

This wee fulla wanted in….. good thing this prison closed quite a few years ago!

The crowds…

Breakfast?

Isolation Cell – pitch black usually…….. kind of screws with your head.

Mortar shell scars on the floor from the attack on Alcatraz from the inmates attempted break out.

Outside…..

We combo’ed the trip up with a tour of Angel Island…. which meant another ferry ride, and seagulls.

The Bay Bridge.

Wind turbines on our eco-friendly hybrd powered ferry.

Snacks by Mel…. weather was much, much nicer here than on Alcatraz, or SF City for that matter!

The Marina on Angel Island.

A nice spot for a picnic.

Flattie………

.. on our trailer

An old brick (insert word here) house…

Info

Docking back to the Mainland.

Little Italy Restaurant.

“Ride, don’t slide” – does it still apply if i’m on a tandem?

A good dirt-jumping stance

.. the clouds were not going to get her down

Fishing.

The Golden Gate Bridge – Foggy Dog.

..maybe it will lift?

Ok – look down if you want to…

Clearing?

Midspan – still in one piece, no major’s, no head-on’s with lycra-clad roadie speed demons setting their PB’s from end to end…

So, we rolled down the hill to Saulsalito – a wee township just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

…and I went straight to Car Spotting again – this time, Classic Merc

….. and we came across this punter, with a RED Nissan Pathfinder, complete with a wooden stick to hold up the boot lid – Just like Mine!!… props!.. literally!

mmmmm roast chicken on the lawn……

The Shoreline.

Glassy Building on a Pier.

Adios San Fran

Where to next? – Heres our Road Map to Date