Our San Francisco Adventure

We had driven thru San Francisco so many times in the past.  Once we even stopped at a Chinese restaurant and ate dinner but we have never spent any real time there. 

 Last year Bob spent 4 nights and 5 days there.....camping on the street in the truck and camper.  So I was up for at least a couple  nights of "camping" in San Francisco.  We pulled into our first night's spot a little after 6pm.  Within 2 blocks of Jefferson Street that runs along Fisherman's Warf. There was a parking meter there but after 6pm, and you don't have to feed the meters.   The street just around the corner didn't have any meters at all.  It is unlimited parking on a first come, first serve basis.   So at about 4:45am the next morning, Bob was up and moving the truck just around the corner, where we stayed all that day and one more night. 

The first evening, we walked the couple blocks to Jefferson Street, just sort of looking around.  We did go to the Wax Museum as they were offering a late night special admission price.  It was a good one...however, I still maintain the best one is in Victoria, B.C.   I was a little concerned...there are a lot of strange people on the streets at night.  But with so many tourists I decided we were probably pretty safe. 

The next morning we ate our breakfast in the camper and got ready to do some heavy duty walking.  Some guy parked behind us, so close..we thought we may have to step on the hood of his car in order to get out the back door.  Fortunately Bob had left about 2 feet between the front of the truck and the car he parked behind, so he squeezed out the door and pulled the truck up a little.   While I finished getting ready, he walked up to a place and got us each a 1 daypass for unlimited rides on the trolleys and the cable cars ($11 each for 1 day).  There was a trolley stop right across from the truck, so we started there first.  We rode the trolley up to the Castro District.  That area was interesting...to say the least.   What amazed me was the number of street people who manage to ride free on these trolleys...they sneak in the back door as people are getting off.  I even saw one get on thru the front door but the place you put in your fare is behind the driver.... she took out a bent paper clip and wiggled it in the area where the money goes, which apparently made it look like she paid.  Unbelievable !!

We got off the trolley as it head back down towards Fishermans's Warf in a shopping area.  As we walked around I spotted the Betty Boop Diner.  It was so cute..we decided to have lunch there.  I have a friend that loves Betty Boop, so the waitress gave me a clean placemat and napkin to take home to her.

We tried at one place to get a cable car ride but the line was so long and out in the hot sun, we decided not to wait.  So we walked on to another place just about five blocks from where we were parked.  We were able to get on there after about a 30 minute wait.  I made Bob stand in line while I visited a neat gift shop right there on the corner, where we were waiting.  

My first cable car ride was so fun.  We went up and down to Union Square.  We were going to go walking around this famous shopping area but both of us had sore feet by now, so we just got back in line and took the next cable car back to the starting point near the truck.  

We came back down to the truck...I wnated to lay down on my bed and read my book while I rested my poor tired feet.  And Bob needed his nap.   After a couple hours, we walked down to Pier 39 and looked around there.  My feet were still killing me and it was hot and there were a lot of people there.  Even Bob was complaining about his feet hurting and he never does that.

We took the trolley down the street and walked over to Boudin Bread and looked around...it's a very fun place.  I stood in a very long line and bought a small round loaf of their famous sourdough bread.  From there we walked over across the street and had some dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe.   We considered Tarantino's but in the end chose the Rain Forest.   We walked back to the truck one last time and turned in for the night.  Our plan was to leave the next morning and continue our way towards home. 

We woke early the next morning and after some breakfast in the camper headed for Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.  You can see it from all over town but Bob wanted to show me the view from up there.  The tower itself didn't open for visitors until later in the morning but we stood on the wall surrounding the parking area and took pictures and took in the beautiful view from high up on the hill. 

We came down from the tower and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway 101....our way out of town.   We did stop at the viewing area after crossing the bridge and took in the view of that beautiful city from across the bay.  There's a wonderful area there, a tribute to all the military personnel who have sailed under the Golden Gate to the different ports of call where they went to serve our country. 

We didn't get to many areas of this beautiful city (including China Town) but we did a lot more than I thought we would be able to.  And there's aways next time.....

From San Francisco we headed up Highway 101 aka the Redwood Highway.......getting closer to home.