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Published: February 26th 2011
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First, I want to apologize for the abbreviated nature of last nights post. Staying in what is supposed to be the "Most Wired City in the U.S." we had a terrible Wifi connection at our hotel, the worst of the trip so far, it took me forever to upload pictures. Also, I will beg off in advance here too, as it is very late that I've stopped in Holister, CA tonight, because after I dropped Cathy off at the S.F. airport I wanted to drive until I was well out of the congested urban area.
As cities go, I guess San Fran is lively and beautiful - still -- it is a large city, full of entirely too many humans. For me, a two day stay in any city is probably one day too long (maybe a day and a half too long?). I was on edge about the driving all day and didn't really relax until I turned off the 101 in Gilroy (The Garlic Capitol of California!) and got on quiet CA 25 --- aaaahhhhhh.
That's not to say we didn't enjoy our last day together on this trip. We had bought one day trans passes the
day before that would allow us to ride any public transprtation, as much as we wanted, all day long -- a great deal. Leaving our hotel, we took a bio-diesel powered bus (hooray!) down to Fishermans Wharf. There we changed to a great old PCC street car that ran along the Embarcadero to the pier (#33) where we boarded the boat for Alcatraz.
The weather had been pretty bad, with increasing rain in the afternoon yesterday turning into pouring rain overnight. Miraculously though, the rain stopped as we were dressing to go, and by the time we reached to pier there was nothing but a rather cold sun to greet us.
The tour we were given was interesting and well presented, but what I most enjoyed was just looking at the place itself. I've always been strangely attracted to ruins of all kinds. There is something about the inevitable erosion of all the works of man that appeals to me I guess. One thinks of the latin - "sic transit gloria" (all glory is fleeting) - or maybe even better, the Japanese concept of "Wabi-Sabi" - that only age, wear, and time can make something (or even, someone)
truly beautiful.
Alcatraz beautiful? I genuinely found it so, with the weathered and even collapsing structures surrounded by magnificent trees, and the lovely gardens cared for now by volunteers.
Soon though, it was time to get back on the boat and see to another California obligation -- a trip to the "In-an-Out Burger". I've heard good things about this place for years, supposedly the best chain burger joint in the land. An now, after sampling their fare I have say that it's true, that IS a tasty burger!
After that we boarded the Hyde Street cable-car line for a trip up and over Russian Hill. Another wonderful example of an old technology that is ideally suited to this location, it's so wonderful that through the efforts of a small number of passionate advocates these were saved. The cable-car museum (free! in California! -- don't miss it) tells the story of how the bureaucrats, (with their pockets stuffed by the motor bus companies) tried again and again to pull these all out, but were eventually prevented from doing so.
We rode all around the city for the afternoon, sometimes getting off and walking around where we saw
something interesting, until we wound up back at our hotel, picked up the car, and drove back down to the piers.
There, we met with Ling, who used to be married to Cathy's brother, and whom we hadn't seen in years. We had a nice meal and spent a couple of hours getting caught up on the details of our lives, time well spent.
Then though, we could put it off no longer, so back down Van Ness street we went, until it turned into 101 and carried us to the airport. A time of parting was reached, more sorrowful than sweet, and Cathy was into the terminal and I was on my solo way back south and east.
I just want to take a moment here to thank Cathy for all her support, without her help this dream trip would never have been possible. As much as I do enjoy traveling alone, it can not begin to compare to the pure pleasure of us journeying together. We just simply enjoy each others company, what could be better than that?
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jm
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On Calif's best burger
UT, so pleased am I to hear of your test bite at the "In-An-Out", but did you know they also have the best street ride auto tshirts in the business? YES, 'tis true, I was lucky enough to pick one up when I visited Laura some years ago just outside of Sacramento. Now I know there are lots of these in Calif, so you'll probably pass another one or two in your trip, so if you'd be kind enough to pick up one or two (I'll fund ya, I promise!!), and there's room to fit them in to your smurfmobile, I'd be so v. pleased. Sorry to see no airborne shots ala Steve McQueen, but I guess with cold and rainy, it just wouldn't be so much fun. Thanx for great shots of the rock, I always enjoy looking at deteriorating industrial-age architecture, some day you should look at some of those old abandoned power plants along the Hudson near Albany and along the canal going west - same sort of vibes. Have a good trip, drive carefully!