Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Road Trip Day 6
After another so-called "complimentary breakfast" of a cup of juice from a machine and a small bran muffin (I took a chocolate one away for later) I climbed in The Beast and headed out of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge.
I had one of those "Oh my goodness, I am in America" moments as I drove over such an iconic, internationally known landmark. It's a big, elegant suspension bridge and I couldn't stop myself grinning like a mad thing as I drove over towards Sausalito.
Bay Model
Late last night I was having one final flick through my USA guidebook and happened across a reference to the Bay Model in Sausalito. I'd already planned to go there as so many people had mentioned what a pretty little harbour town it is with views back to San Francisco.
The Bay Model it turns out is a 1,000th scale model of the Bay Area and was used from the 1950's to 2000 to study things like changes to dredging channels, proposed dam construction and other construction. It's the size of two football fields and has been opened to the public as a working exhibit since computer modelling supplanted the need for a physical model. It's pretty cool and an interesting find for my trip.
San Francisco Skyline
After visiting the model I stopped at a diner for breakfast and then drove on down the harbour front where the best view of San Francisco is. My photo doesn't really do it justice especially as it was, inevitably, misty.
Cold Feet
I resumed my journey by crossing back over the interstate highway and going back to the coast and California Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. This is evidently the less well travelled part of the PCH but not because it is any less beautiful or challenging. The road is, in many places as dramatically twisting as the part I drove a few days ago and sweeps along the coast as well as taking some small detours inland through some quaint, untouched townships. Tomales was particularly stunning with beautiful Mom and Pop stores and the most darling old-time hardware store.
I made a long stop at Stinson Beach where I made sure to go down to the Ocean and get my feet wet. I'm glad to know that I have now paddled in the Northern Pacific Ocean as well as both the North and South Atlantic. [Note to self: plan trip to South Pacific]
So, today I learned that the Pacific is both wet and cold.
Over the Mountains
To get to my hotel for this evening in Ukian, I had to head inland by around 30 miles. On the map and Sat Nav the road inland looks like a relatively straight line. Wrong.
In reality the road climbs over two mountain ranges, Cold Spring Mountain (2,674 feet, 815m) and Casabonne Peak (3,051 feet, 929m). These two climbs up and over the ranges were categorically, definitely the most amazing and thrilling roads I have ever driven. By the time I'd got over the first range I had to stop and get out shake the adrenaline off. It was so much fun, requiring so much concentration and all with such awesome views.
I want to be a Rally Driver when I grow up!
The map below shows my route today in "Terrain" mode. If you move towards the top and zoom in you'll see the ranges I crossed. Did I mention they were "awesome"?
Down To Earth
Now I am back down to earth after a slightly disappointing Chinese meal in Ukiah, though the room here is very nicely presented and the king size bed behind me looks very inviting. I think I should go test it out.
Goodnight.
Stats - Day Thirty-Two
Distance travelled - 166 miles - San Francisco to Ukiah via Sausalito, Stinson Beach, California Hwy 1 and two insane mountain passes.
State count - 16 + DC
Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205
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