It has been a busy few days where we either didn’t have internet or were in San Francisco (SF) being worn out by the Morins… They were the best tour guides one could ask for!
Let’s back up to September 28th where we had triple digit heat and high 80’s over-night. With or without humidity that is hot. We left early Tuesday morning and headed to SF. As it was only a 50 minute drive we started late and finished early. After checking into our campground, we once again turn the A/C on as it was hot. Jeff, Dan and Rachel Morin (our tour guides for the next few days) came over for some Mexican Food… enchiladas that Arda made. As usual, they were delicious. It was fun to make plans for the next day and then Arda shanghaied us all into playing Farkle… yes she lost even though she kept score.
The next morning (Wednesday) we drove to the Larkspur Ferry where we took the 10:10 AM to the SF Ferry Terminal, which is about a 30 minute ride. This particular ferry also went by San Quentin where many of the prisoners we out in the exercise yard. Not a very inviting site.
Jeff was waiting for us with Dan and Rachel joining us shortly. First stop, Fisherman’s Wharf. This really is a tourist trap but it was interesting as we were able to see a lot of little shops (from the outside that is J), some seals sunning themselves in the harbor on floating docks, and some old ships which were really fascinating. We grabbed some lunch at a restaurant that Jeff knew… there are tons of them in SF… an eater’s delight! Next we took a cable car to the top of the hill (one of many) near where Jeff lives. We went to his place where we had a glass of wine while sitting on the roof-top enjoying the views. There are many different views of SF depending which way one looks. It really is a beautiful city.
After Jeff’s, we went to Dan and Rachel’s. Actually Jeff went to his final (as it turned out) basketball game while the rest of us moved on. They live in a really neat building and have a very nice apartment. We took Dan’s car and headed over the Golden State Bridge. The bridge was encased in fog but Dan took us to a place where we over-looked the bridge and where able to get some neat pictures. After that we went to a sea-side restaurant in Sausalito called the “The Fish”. Guess what they served? You are right and it was delicious. After dinner, Dan drove us back to the trailer for coffee. What a day!
The next day (Thursday) we again took the 30 minute ferry ride into SF. Only one problem, the Giants were playing a day-game and they are fighting with San Diego for a play-off spot. So, needless to say, parking was at a premium. I let Arda out so she could buy the ferry tickets while I found a parking spot… we should have walked from the campground. Oh well, onto the boat with 1 minute to spare.
We met the Morins at the terminal again. They had planned an entirely different day for us. Dan drove and took us on a 49 mile scenic tour of the bay area. We drove about 30 of the total miles but what we saw was beautiful. SF is really a clean city with a lot of beautiful architecture which you can see later in the pictures.
We had lunch in another one of Jeff’s favorite restaurant (not fish this time) which where the food was excellent! After lunch we headed back to the wharf where we took a ship to Alcatraz. This was extremely interesting. The first building on this island was a lighthouse… the first one on the Pacific Ocean and is still in operation today.
Next the island was one of three forts used to protect the SF Bay Area. There were two larger forts, one on each side of the bay and then Alcatraz which was smaller but was in a direct line with incoming and outgoing ships. The Government used the facilities as an Army Prison for a short period before it became a Federal Prison and the main cell-block was built. Only the most incorrigible prisoners were sent here with only about 5 of them being notorious. The rest were trouble-makers from other prisons. As conditions go, this was not a bad prison as the food was a top priority. If you were a trouble maker, you paid the price by going into solitary confinement where you were in the dark 24 hours a day and let out for 1 hour each week. The expense of keeping the buildings in good repair is what finally closed the prison and it was turned over to the National Parks. If you are ever in SF, a trip to Alcatraz is a must!
After Alcatraz, we went to another of Jeff’s restaurants in another part of the city. This was not a Chinese Restaurant but it did have a Chinese flair… the fish was superb! Dan, Rachel, and Jeff all fought over Dan’s chocolate dessert but Dan won out.
Here are some pictures of our time in San Francisco
After dinner it was back to the ferry for our trip back to our 5th wheel… we were exhausted but we had a great time. We can’t thank Jeff, Dan, and Rachel enough for all they did for us! Hopefully we can return the favor some day.
Well time to leave the bay area. Friday morning we headed NE towards Fallon which is just east of Carson City & Reno. We stopped at a RV Park across from a casino after driving for about 4 hours… long day J. Guess where Arda went after dinner? This time she didn’t make a donation but came home a winner! Yeah!
Saturday morning we headed SE this time toward Ely NV which is about 5 hours from Fallon. The road we took, Hwy 50, is called, “The Loneliest Highway in America”. We drove for miles without seeing any inhabitants… human or otherwise. It was beautiful in its own right as the small bushes (Sage?) go on for miles right up against the mountains. We travelled through at least 7 passes of which most were in the 6700’ range. We also ran into a couple of rainstorms in the desert which was novel. Rain in the desert… who’d of thought it?
Another interesting (unique?) sight was the signs that told people to put chains on their cars or they couldn’t travel any further. Not what you would expect when the temperature is in the high 80’s and the landscape is totally brown except for a few small trees once in a while.
Tonight we are in Ely. Yup, you guessed it… We are parked in another casino parking lot. Arda has spent an hour inside and returned with a profit of 1 cent… yeah! A big winner so far. I think she is going back though so we will see...
Here are some pictures from today’s travels… Across Nevada
Until next time, keep your loops open!
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