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Published: November 1st 2013
Happy HalloweenStarted halloween with a good trick - a $64 parking ticket for not moving the car before 9am - For street cleaning! We missed that sign - there are so many signs on the kerbsides - looks like we will have to pay this one - don't need any dramas here - let's just consider this our contribution to San Francisco's local council - pay it and learn a lesson.
Parking is hard to find around here - remembering that most people living in apartments park on the street as garage parking is few and far between. Glad we don't have to look for car parking back home...having a place to park a car on a block of land is a luxury for San Franciscon's. Something most of us take for granted in Australia.
Next trick for the day was to try ad find the garbage chute (used to dispose of household rubbish) in the apartment building. With some help from another tenant we finally located it in the stairwell...living in a 1930's apartment sure is different from our way of life!
Today we headed out of the city for some time with nature. Drove out to Muir
The garbage chuteWoods National Monument - around 16 miles from the city centre. The Muir Woods National Monument is an old growth coast redwood forest. Admission into the Monument is $7 each and they are several trails you can walk along to admire these ancient trees.
Many of the trees in this 560 acre protected park are more than 600 years old. We spent a couple of hours here - it was a peaceful time - great to see people out here admiring nature. The coast redwood trees are not as large as the giant sequoia's that can be found in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National park but they are as equally impressive.
The trees grow in a thin and discontinuous 500 mile strip from Southern Oregon to Big Sur. Most redwood areas have been cut by loggers but this area remains free from logging and certainly a great place to visit and have time out from city life.
The park is named after John Muir a famous naturalist and conservationist who fought to protect wild places that he loved to visit and because of this man we are all able to access some amazing places here in the
Park entranceUSA. Muir's writings also convinced the US government to preserve places like Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as National Parks.
Since visiting Yosemite and Grand Canyon in 2009 we have been interested in the works of John Muir. There are many famous quotes written by this man...here is a couple of quotes from today's park visit - "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks" "the clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness".
It was another picture perfect day here but in the park area it was quite cold as the trees keep most of the sunlight out. We had an early lunch at the parks cafe - which sells locally sourced organic foods.
We continued our day with a drive to a place called Half Moon Bay about 25 miles south of the city. The drive takes in some spectacular views along the coastal highway - an all American Highway. We stopped at several vistas along the way - the fog was thick in some areas and it was chilly by the water. The highway is full of twists and turns - with every new corner offering
Outside the cafesuperb views of the Pacific Ocean.
San Francisco is full of fantastic day trips - it's been great to get outside of the hustle and bustle of the city and experience another side of San Francisco.
We finished up the day with a bit more shopping at a couple of our favourite discount stores - picking up brand name items at ridiculous prices. We figure that we have to pay excess baggage anyway so we will make sure our bags are at the maximum weights.
It sure was interesting for us Aussies to see adults dressed up in Halloween costumes doing their grocery shopping during the day! Never seen anything like this before. Once evening fell the city streets were full as people heading to their favourite party venues. We haven't seen children around the area where we are staying but it looks like Halloween is enjoyed by both the young and young at heart.
Something we find a little different over here is the States is that workers are allowed to play on their mobile devices while working - sales assistants, police and road workers all stand around playing on their phones - something you
Ancient redwood treedon't see back home.
A few days ago when we were in NYC we watched a sales assistant on duty at Macy's put on her makeup in front of a mirror that customers use in the shoe department. It took her 15 minutes or so to get her makeup on just perfect - while we were watching the whole time!
Tomorrow will be our last full day in San Francisco - so sad to be leaving...
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judith chaffer
non-member comment
Yeah bring the Viper back who cares excess baggage cost!!