Heading home

Had a day in Seattle today. Weather was gray and cold, but we walked around some of the tourist traps and other areas of downtown Seattle. Looks like a nice town, but or energy level is on low, so can't say we made the best of it. 

So... I guess that's all folks! We are going home.

Crap!

Seattle

Yesterday we drove 12 hours. Stopping for gas/food/peeing 3 times, with a total of 30 minutes off the road. 1240 km in one day. NOT BAD!!

We ended up in Tacoma, about 45 minutes outside downtown Seattle. Just beacuse we had not booked a hotel, and figured it would be easier to look along the highway, were the are all lined up. We got a room in the first one we tried. 

Woke up today to 8 degrees (C) and rain. Crap. Well, still going to make the best of Seattle.

Heading out. 

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San Francisco - Saturday

Last day in SF. 

We went to the Red Bull Soap Box Derby in Dolores Park, together with 75 000 other people. Lots of fun. The sun was out, beer was flowing, and people was smoking whatever. Unfortunately everybody left at the same time, so it took us 2 hours to get a cab back...

Not much else happened during the day. We were saving up for our last night out. Of course at The Buccaneer (correct spelling this time). We went out around 9 some time. When we came there the place was absolutely packed. Red Sox. Again. We came back later, and half the people had left. Just enough room to get to the bar. Perfect. 

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San Francisco - Friday

So... It is Friday, and the blog is finally up to date.

Again today, we were going to try to get breakfast at a place called Mamas. Which supposedly is the best place in town for breakfast and lunch. We think that is true, because for the second day the line of people waiting for a table was outside on the pavement. Again we went around the corner. They make pretty good scrambled eggs there, so we survived. 

On the way there we drove down Lombard Street. It is supposed to be the worlds most crookedest street. 

Ole on his second round.

Our goal for the day was the hot rod shop of Roy Brizio. King, who we met up in Washington, told us that we had to visit the place while in SF. So we did. NIIIIIIIICE!

Perfect match!  

After that we drove around town with no particular aim… We ended up in the financial district. We looked like stupid tourists when coming down a 6 lane road, we tried to turn left on to a one way street. Not going our way…. And we did get some looks when trying to back out and turn in the middle of the intersection. Damn GPS and high rise buildings. Yes, it was the GPS’s fault, and that’s the story were sticking to! We span out of there like a bat outta hell, and headed for a area called Haights, which is much more calm. Good time for lunch…

Ole got a tip on a great steak house. We got a reservation at 9, so it is time to head out. Changing pants and heading to Buckaneers for a pit stop. See Ya!


Not many pictures today, but have a look anyways -->

San Francisco - Thursday

Today’s tourist goal was Golden Gate. We were very lucky with the weather. No fog, just sunshine. Even though SF is the most pedestrian friendly place of the towns so far, it is still nice to have a car to get around. And we got to see the bridge from all angles.

We were “suddenly” very low on gas, and plotted the nearest gas station on the GPS. We ended up in Salinas on the other side of the bridge, and discovered a community of house boats. Looked a bit hippie. Great stuff!

Just driving around afterwards, we decided to head for Twin Peaks. A mountain top overlooking the city. Great view.

Up there we met Van from Vietnam. She had just come out of the restrooms, and discovered that her tour bus had left. As the perfect gentlemen we are, we of course escorted here back to her hotel.

Then it was time to change from day mode to evening mode: Change in to pants and head for Buckaneers. We will at some point try to get some pictures taken later then 5 PM, but no such luck yet…..

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San Francisco - Wednesday

We are in San Francisco!

We ended up in a small hotel called the Castle Inn, in the Russian Hill area. We did not know much about the area, but it turns out we were pretty lucky. Russian Hill is within walking distance from a lot of the things you would like to see in the Bay area, but just of the main tourist track.

On our first day, we took the trip out to Alcatraz. One of the things we figured we had to do while here.

We found our favorite bar already the first night, so every night starts and ends at the Buckaneers (will have to double check the spelling later :) ) . Just down the street and to the left. Great small pub, and a hangout for ex Boston people. So don’t go there when the Red Sox are playing. Packed full and steaming hot! But good people. You will always meet somebody, and the first night we ended up in a taxi with a couple of locals to some other bar we can’t really remember, and then over to Chinatown for a late night snack (they also serve beer after hours…)

We got lots of tips on places to go at night time, and this night we ended up at Zeitgeist. Recommeded for the more alternative rock & punk interested people. Big outdoor area in the back, with benches and ashtrays...

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Carmel to San Francisco

Up bright and early today. Discovered that we actually had a room with an ocean view.

We took a short drive around Carmel. Nice small town. Looks like many of the inhabitants are in the upper level incom region… 

We actually stumbled on the “17 mile drive” and decided to take it. Think the fee was $8. As all along the coast, they have great scenery in there, but really not anything more than other places. Actually, the people who live there is a better reason for paying. With all the big houses, high fences and expensive cars, we felt we were in a drive trough zoo, with only the non carnivores being allowed out, and they are usually found on the golf course. Somebody should put up a sign “Do not feed or interact with the locals, as it will disturb their fragile eco system”  

Then we drove to Santa Cruz for lunch. Drove out on the pier, and had some great seafood. 

We were starting to feel the tempo we had been keeping for the last days, so after a short cruise trough town, we set the GPS for fastest route to SF. 

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Hearst Castle and Big Sur

Up at 8 AM today. To early, but it turned out that the estimated 3 hours trip to Carmel actually took 10 hours... Lots to see.

Our first goal for the day was the world famous Hearst Castle. We decided to be full on tourists, and took one of their many toured guides around the castle. If you don’t know it, google is your friend. Stay here for the pictures.

For the rest of the day, the plan was just to see the nature in Big Sur. A picture says more than a thousand words. Check it out.

With no definite plan for where to stop for the night, it was dark when we came to Carmel, so here we are. Found a best Western on the GPS, and they had vacancies. Pricey, but we were ready to just check in so that we could look for a place to eat. 

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