Road Trip to San Francisco, California

Over the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge.

Alcatraz Island

 San Francisco sky line and piers.

The Bay bridge has two decks.

Streetcar

 The Cannery
Originally built in 1907 for Del Monte.
It now houses restaurants and shops. 

We were fortunate to find a parking spot a few blocks from 

Fisherman's Wharf where we rode the famous cable cars.

While standing in line I saw an awesome sign! 

Yes, I am still a chocoholic.

 When the cable cars reach the end of the line they manually
have to turn them around.

 Another great view with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. 

The union Gripman has to stand all day to do his job. 

Typical row houses.

Ding, Ding, Ding. Down we go!

This is the turnaround and the line to board.

 Great view as we head back to Fisherman's Wharf.

Of course we had to stop!
We also shopped at See's Candy store a few blocks away. 

 In San Francisco you have lots of options to get around:
cable cars, streetcars, buses, segways, bicycles, ferry,
3 wheeled scooters, buses, boats, commuter train,
 double decker bus, pedicabs, or walking.

 Alcatraz Island

 USS Pampanito submarine.

Fisherman's Wharf
There are lots of restaurants and street musicians to
entertain the crowds of people.

Fog rolling in over the Golden Gate Bridge.

 The bridge opened to traffic on May 28th, 1937.

This steel structure has been continuously painted 

in the special International Orange to prevent corrosion.

Our last bridge as we head home is the
Richmond - San Rafael Bridge.

There is so much to do here but we ran out of time. 

We left at 8:00 am and didn't get home until 11:30 pm.

It was a long day and well worth the time. 

Wow, we can't believe it has been a year since we left 

West Des Moines, Iowa! We plan to be back in 

Des Moines for the month of August to see

 family and friends.

"Adventure is worthwhile."
Aesop

Fourth of July & California State Route 1

Fourth of July parade golf cart style.

 This cart won the trophy for most decorated.

 Sixteen carts was a good turnout considering the temperatures.

 We enjoyed grilled burgers, chips, potato salad, beans,
and cookies for dinner at the clubhouse. About 160 people
attended and we enjoyed meeting a new family.

A new bear was added to the park which are
common in California.
The nearest town for fireworks was Bass Lake. We asked
around and everyone said it is a parking nightmare. On the news
they interviewed a family that got there at 4:00 am to get
a parking spot. Fireworks were cancelled last year so it was
going to be nuts. We decided to stay home and watch
Capitol Fourth on PBS. It was safer and a great memory when
we celebrated at the National Mall a few years ago with Joel.

While in California we couldn't miss driving along Highway 1.

A land slide has closed Highway 1 in the Big Sir area so 

we drove north from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay.

Big Sir Landslide

Monterey Bay 

 Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park

First lit November 15, 1872

Beautiful!

 Even though it was only 62 degrees there were about

 twenty-five kite and wind surfers out.

We drove through Watsonville where they have hundreds of 

acres with canopies covering their crops. There are lots of 

fruit stands so we picked up some plums, corn, almonds and a 

sweet potato. Sad to say we will miss the Garlic Festival in

 Gilroy, California. What we couldn't miss is the smell of 

garlic as soon as we entered the city. We saw trucks fully 

loaded with garlic as we drove by the factory.

Another great day!

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the 
ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
Mother Teresa

Triple Digit Temps & Snow

Crazy!

It is too risky to go hiking because of the high 

temperatures so we are just relaxing.
 Highway 120 or Tioga Road that goes through the high-country
of the Sierra Nevada is still closed because of snow.
It is the only road that runs east to west in Yosemite and
usually opens by Memorial Day.
Wow! Check out this aerial view! Clearing Snow on Tioga Pass
 Thankfully we are here for a few more weeks.
We hope to get to Tuolumne Meadows and Tenaya Lake.

You can't get in the rivers because they are swelled from the
snow melt and are very cold. I could only keep
my feet in a few minutes.
Whether it is too hot or too cold we are not complaining.

Park Sierra is an Escapees Park and only members are allowed.
You can purchase a lot or be a guest.
It is a great location just south of Yosemite that is
 well maintained with lots of activities.

Hassler Stage Stop inside the park.
Many stage coaches stopped here is Coarsegold.

Here is where we have been hanging out.

This whole area of California is hilly and every 

spot in this park is unique. 

 

We have also enjoyed having legendary It's It Ice Cream .

They have a freezer in the clubhouse with 

this San Francisco treat. 

Just a short walk from our site and only $1.00. 

 Here is where all the activities are held and meals served.

A member of the park made this beautiful, large, stained glass 

window that is in the center of the clubhouse.

Here is some trivia. Coarsegold is the destination 

for stars Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott in the 1962 

film Ride the High Country.

Just before publishing this blog I checked and 

Tioga Pass is now open!

"This land is your land, this land is my land

from California, to the New York Island

from the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters

This land was made for you and me"

Woody Guthrie