We started the day with an absolutely delicious meal in Petaluma, CA, a picturesque town next to our RV site. We have now discovered the Marionberry, kin to the blackberry and only available for a short window of time from Oregon. We are fans.

San Francisco day! I must say, I went into San Francisco trying to not have any preconceived ideas, and we really had a great visit. We started out trying to find a parking spot. While this may not seem like much of an adventure, it really showed us the “ups and downs” of the city. San Francisco is hilly. Actually, that seems like a pretty mild word for the geography. Any way, we parked at the recommended “90 degree angle” and set off to explore on foot. We began at Fisherman’s Warf. Typically touristy with street performers, shops, souvenirs, and food—we really loved it in our small dose. We took time to visit Madame Tussauds Wax museum, and to eat some cookie dough in a cone.

Next, we went on a Big Bus hop on hop off tour. Our original plan was to just take the tour part way around, but we were enjoying our tour guide, Soda Pop, so much that we stayed until near the very end. The commentary was great. We saw a lot including The Presidio, Union Square, the Millennium Building, and crossed the Golden Gate bridge, all from the top level of a double decker bus, open air. Yes, it is cold crossing the bridge with your head zinging through the tunnel and across the bridge. In a move that I’m not sure is part of the official tour commentary, we also went through the Tenderloin district. This is a much less affluent area of San Francisco, and actually provided a real balance to the reality of the city; the homelessness and addictions apparent in the Tenderloin district as compared to Nob Hill, nothing is all good and all bad. Part of the reason we travel and drive, is to get a feel for the authenticity of all this country has to offer. We are incredibly proud to be citizens of the United States of America. Part of being a productive member of this country—of this world—is recognizing that we must all work together to celebrate the good and improve the bad. Not going to go further into any idealism, just know that there is something to learn from every experience.

We also walked through China Town, tried Dragon candy, rode a trolley car, and ate dinner at The Stinking Rose. Now this restaurant is one that Greg experienced when he was in San Francisco many years ago. They like to say that they have food with their garlic. Everything has garlic. I am not exaggerating. And they have the world’s longest garlic braid hanging around the restaurant. We ate a lot of garlic. And it was delicious, with one exception: the garlic ice-cream. I do NOT like it, Sam I Am. Nope. Never again. Greg may or may not have a picture of Gillian taking her taste. It sums up the experience perfectly. Otherwise, delicious and highly recommended, unless, of course, you don’t eat garlic.

After dinner, we had to take time to drive down the crooked street of Lombard, and a pass by the Painted Ladies (houses, not Ladies of Negotiable Affections). A trip across the Bay Bridge, and we were back to the RV for the night. A long day, but a great visit. I’d come back.

Conspicuously, we did not get to visit Alcatraz. I failed to consider that tickets, particularly on Memorial Day weekend, would need to be purchased in advance. All sold out. We did, however, watch the end of The Rock (the movie). That’s almost the same, right?

Monday, May 28

This was a drive day. We moved up the road to Crescent City, California.

Psst! Ryan has revealed a little known secret—those signs posted along the highway that indicate the chance of forest fire are actually indicators of sasquatch sightings. Unfortunately, we’ve been under low level of sasquatch every day.