Chapter 14 - Lots of Scooter Riding - San Francisco

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Hi again - 

On May 21, we left Los Angeles and continued driving up the Pacific Coast Highway.

We made it as far as San Luis Obispo.  Lots of agricultural fields along the way.  

We stopped at a roadside stand and bought the best tasting strawberries.

The coastline along the drive was stunning...in this case a railroad track next to the water.

We stopped to have pizza for dinner.  We were shocked to pay $50+ for a pizza that was about the size of an 8" x 10" cake pan.  It was also our first experience with tipping when ordering at the cash register.  This was a sit-down restaurant.  We think you should tip after receiving service and good.....not before.    

And it didn't taste very good either.

On May 22, we continue our trip to San Francisco.  

Along the way, we stopped in San Simeon and toured the Hearst Castle.  It is a National Historic Landmark that was built by William Randolph Hearst, a publishing tycoon, between 1919 and 1947.  Hearst called his castle “the ranch". His father George Hearst had purchased the original 40,000 acres estate in 1865 and Camp Hill, the site for the future Hearst Castle, was used for family camping vacations during Hearst's youth. In 1919, Hearst inherited some $11 million and estates including the land at San Simeon. He used his fortune to further develop his media empire of newspapers, magazines and radio stations, the profits from which supported a lifetime of building and collecting.  Incredible place! 

We saw so many different landscapes on our drive to San Francisco; agricultural, prairie, big trees, lots of beautiful waves and a few lighthouses.

Video driving in Big Sur

Long bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway.

We stopped at a gas station in Mendicino and regular unleaded was $8.79 a gallon.  We saw a new story stating that specific gas station had the most expensive gas in the U.S. in May.

On May 23, we drove the scooter over the Golden Gate Bridge.  




Another beautiful view of the bridge from the Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint.

Driving through the underground tunnel on the way to the viewpoint.

Walkway out to the Torpedo Wharf and Point Bonita Lighthouse.


Underground tunnel on the way out to the lighthouse.

Point Bonita Lighthouse

We also visited Fisherman’s Wharf.  

You can see Alcatraz Island from Fisherman's Wharf.

At Historic Pier 45, I bought $22 worth of taffy.  

Yikes!  I had no idea the taffy weight would add up so fast.


We also saw the SS Jeremiah O'Brien WWII-era ship and US Pampanito WWII submarine.

We couldn't believe that people actually lived in this submarine.

We stumbled on a historic arcade museum at Fisherman's Wharf.

Corp couldn't resist getting a fortune from the "fortune teller" machine.

Here is his fortune.

Pretty fitting fortune for him - "A trip around the world is in store for you.

I loved the animated amusement park made of toothpicks.


We drove the scooter down Lombard St., which is the crookest road in the U.S. 



Miles and miles of attached housing like these on a grid street pattern. 
I loved this as a city planner.


The world-famous "Painted Ladies" houses.

Chinatown was something to see!

Driving the scooter through Chinatown.

On May 24, we left San Francisco and stopped at Muir Woods for a hike.  That was a no go because you have to make parking reservations in advance.  Lesson learned....state/national parks need to be researched in advance.

Pretty nice view when having lunch after leaving Muir Woods.

Gleason Beach....say cheese!

The colors on the cliff were beautiful...too bad the pic doesn't capture it like the naked eye.

Beautiful overlook along the way

Along the way to Fort Bragg, we stumbled upon the Sea Glass Chapel.

Such a peaceful and serene place.


Video of the Sea Ranch Chapel.

In Fort Bragg, we stopped at Glass Beach.  

It was nice, but there was very little beach glass left. 
I found a few pieces of beach glass for the photo but left it behind for others.


Pretty dunes with houses facing the water at Glass Beach.

On May 25, we stopped at Belinda Point before we decided to head back to Minnesota.  

Corp posing at Belinda's Point.

We stopped in Soda Springs, CA to take a roadside pic with snow because Corp hadn't seen snow in 17 months.  

Right after Corp got back in the car, a brown bear ran across the road. 
I wasn't fast enough to get a picture.

It was neat to see snow on the mountain tops in Lake Tahoe.  First time for me.

Corp thought this video was hilarious.  I was so tired coming home. 
He is blasting Megadeath and I was sleeping.

Miscellaneous random cute/funny/interesting/weird pics/videos below...




I loved the grid pattern street system in San Francisco. 
You could see buildings for miles down the street.

Our scooter get-ups.
We stopped and picked a flower on the side of the road.  
We saw the start of a wildfire just outside of Colusa, CA.

These stuffed bears in the car at the Golden Gate Bridge were super cute!

On May 28, we arrived back in Minnesota and decided to rent a triplex on Lake Minnetonka where we have our boat slip until December 1.

Next chapter.....Lake Superior Circle Tour in September.  

Until next time....

Corp & Tammy












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