San Francisco

Since we met, we've been planning to go to San Francisco together. It's one of our favourite cities but the last time we were both there it was with our previous partners while in the throes of marriage breakups! We won't dwell on that further but suffice to say that we were hoping to take away happier memories this time. We did!

An all-American breakfast of waffles, pancakes & maple syrup at Sears Fine Foods, off Union Square, seemed like the best way to start our visit before we headed down to the Cannery & Fisherman's Wharf, hanging off one of the famed cable cars. We ambled around for a while, soaking up the atmosphere, & then spent ages watching the antics of the Sea Lions which have taken over the floating wharves anchored offshore. The noise was deafening! We moved on to walk up the incredibly steep Hyde Street, as far as Lombard Street (the much-filmed "crookedest street" in the city) before jumping back onto a cable car or two to take us to the Jackson Square Historical District. More ambling ensued, with a stop at a pavement cafe across from the Heliotrope Building, before we wandered our way through Chinatown & stopped for dinner at a restaurant there. The food was fresh, plentiful & delicious. Then we climbed onto another cable car for our last ride of the day, down to the lively Market Street where we meandered some more & stopped for a break at a pavement cafe. Yes, it was a tough day but somebody had to do it. Thus ended our 1st day in San Francisco.

Our 2nd day was more energetic - we visited the Golden Gate Park before getting the bikes down from the back of the RV to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a fantastically beautiful day with no sign of the famous mist that frequently envelopes the city & the bridge. The spectacularly clear views provided a wonderful finale to our entire trip - but made it difficult to tear ourselves away for the final drive, over the Oakland Bridge, to San Leandro where we had to bid farewell to our RV (having cleaned up all the detritus of our 2 month stay - but we won't dwell on that either!)