Sunday, 23 August 2009
Road Trip Day 4
I skipped out of Salinas quite early today after a complimentary continental breakfast. I woke too early to be hanging around waiting for the mall to open, so I hit the road and chose a random destination from my road atlas. I chose "Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk".
This "pin in the map" attraction turned out to be the most deliciously cheesy beach-front amusement park with an old-school wooden roller-coaster, log flume and merry-go-round plus all the accompanying candy floss, hot dogs, ice cream and fairground stalls.
I took a look around, ate some pop corn then resumed my journey, heading for a different mall on route to San Francisco.
More Mist
With the invaluable assistance of my Sat Nav I arrived at my San Francisco hotel in the sun shine. I checked in, parked The Beast is the tiny parking space she'll be staying in for the next couple of days and brought my bags upstairs.
By the time I'd done all that, settled in and checked the internet connection I left the hotel to find that the notorious San Francisco mist had rolled in.
I was strolling down Lombard Street where my hotel is and going towards the Presidio, an area of parkland, but formerly a military installation when I glanced down a side street and saw a yacht. That drew me down Broderick Ave towards the Marina District, an area of huge, beautiful houses on immaculate, tree-lined streets.
I reached the Marina then turned towards the mouth of the bay for my first view of the Golden Gate Bridge. I didn't get the best view possible... as you can see for yourself.
IHOP
I was feeling pretty tired by now so took the easy option for dinner and ate at the International House of Pancakes, usually abbreviated to IHOP but wasn't really impressed. Never mind, I'll make sure to find somewhere more adventurous tomorrow.
Now it is bedtime and I'm hoping the traffic noise echoing around the courtyard of the hotel subsides overnight.
Goodnight.
Stats - Day Thirty
Distance travelled - 143 - Salinas to San Francisco via Santa Cruz
State count - 16 + DC
Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212
Ahhh... "My city by the bay..." Did I mention I was born in SF? At the Presidio, to be exact!
ReplyDeleteIHOP sucks. I loved their pancakes as a child, but really can't stand the place anymore.
Anyhoo... Be sure to get down to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf... Ghiradelli Square... Golden Gate Park... check out Haight-Ashbury... Chinatown... SO much to see and do in this great city! Maybe even a Giant's game!!! How cool would that be?!
Hi ya!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're having a lovely time. I was going to tell you about the tunnel just north of SanFran which is the entrance to Toontown in Roger Rabbit. But when I looked it up it turns out it isn't in SanFran, it's in LA (I was....misinformed it appears :-(
But I did find this great web page.
http://www.movie-locations.com/
I loved your Die Hard Nakatoma/Fox building spotting. For me, if I go to the States I want to see the stuff you see in films and shows more than some of the tourist stuff. Try this
http://www.movie-locations.com/places/usa/sanfran.html
It is missing "So I Married an Axe Murderer" but when I was there I found a great view AND a view from the film at Alamo Square (for more locations http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/SoIMarriedAnAxeMurderer/)
Anyway, have fun I hope the sun burns through the mists soon.
Mark