Got to Eureka and stopped at a mall. Still drizzling but we were too tired to drive any further. We decided to go to a show and saw 9/10th of “Capitalism-A Love Story” by Michael Moore. The film blew up and caught the projector on fire just before the end. We thought we saw a guy who looked a lot like George Bush running from the projection booth. Is there a moral here?!!! Anyway, a very well done documentary and I would recommend it to anyone. It sure made me want to take my money out of the stock market.
Next day we drove through winding mountain roads and red wood forests, numerous switchbacks and then back to the coast after one final climb. What a sight!!!! High, high waves and cliffs. The view was great because there are no shoulders on the road and no guard rails. I was looking almost straight down. Marty’s view from the driver’s side was often obstructed by my leg as I jumped onto the dashboard brake at tight switchback turns. Had lunch at an overlook and walked to the coast. Beautiful stretch of road from Eureka to Mendocino. Mendocino is a beautiful little tourist town on a bluff overlooking the water. Lots of trendy shops
From Mendocino, coast got very rugged and scary. I started using the two foot brake method. While we stopped for breakfast at an overlook, we thought we saw elk in the distance. Upon reviewing the pics, they were deer, but one buck with large antlers was the cause of the confusion.
From Bodega Bay, we left the coast and travelled inland on a better highway. We were advised the coastal route would take four hours, was very twisty and winding and there were no coastal views in any event. Camping near San Francisco is $105 per night on weekends and $69 for a week night and would have to commute 40 minutes to town. Had to come up with a better plan.
Drove into town across the Golden Gate Bridge and thought we were really lucky to negotiate a $25 fee for two nights in a parking lot. Ha! Ha! Joke’s on us. We paid our money to the attendants who quickly absconded with the funds down an alley when a police car rolled into the lot, which led us to believe that our deal wasn’t going to stand the test of time. Behind the attendants was the pay box, no attendant required. Crossed the street to a legitimate parking lot attendant and renegotiated for $20 for the night and still thought we had a good deal. Next night, same lot, new attendant and managed to pay $14 provided we left before 7 a.m.
Walked to Pier 39 and had my clam chowder overlooking the smelly sea lions and had a fantastic 2.5 hour tour of the town on the trolley. Went to Fisherman’s Wharf after and decided to go back to Pier 39 for dinner. Marty had to have meat—not available at Fisherman’s Wharf. I had scallops and fries, not exactly diet food but tasty.
Next day we shopped till we dropped in Chinatown and had lunch in Little Italy. After lunch we rode the cable cars, every route, and admired the turn of the century architecture. First cable car, we had a great view from the front side seats; second one, we had a half hour line up and had to stand up in the interior of the car. On the third one, the best, we had to stand up on the outside running board clinging for our lives as we rode over the hills and had to lean in to miss folks doing the same thing on trolleys coming the other way. Clang, Clang, Clang went the trolley!!!
Walked down the steepest and windingest street in town, wouldn’t want to live here. Tourists are constantly driving on it. Marty found his shoes uncomfortable on the steep grades and we had to go back to the RV to get another pair with better support for the hills. Really a nice couple of days in San Francisco. I would come again.
Next day we drove through winding mountain roads and red wood forests, numerous switchbacks and then back to the coast after one final climb. What a sight!!!! High, high waves and cliffs. The view was great because there are no shoulders on the road and no guard rails. I was looking almost straight down. Marty’s view from the driver’s side was often obstructed by my leg as I jumped onto the dashboard brake at tight switchback turns. Had lunch at an overlook and walked to the coast. Beautiful stretch of road from Eureka to Mendocino. Mendocino is a beautiful little tourist town on a bluff overlooking the water. Lots of trendy shops
