San Francisco

Road Trip Day Eighteen

Wifey's Version

We woke in our RV outside San Francisco quite late, about 9am which is a BIG lie in for anyone with a 6 yr old. The swimming pool which had seemed quite warm in the cool night air last night was less inviting this morning. GC couldn't be tempted in past her knees and Hubby went swiftly for the hot tub where we spent most of our 40 min 'swimming' time.

The park and ride train service had us in SF by lunch time and despite me not really wanting to come at all we had a great day in the city. Even managed to get Hubby over the threshold of Macy's though it was only to use the loo!

We decided to pick up the bus and boat tours as there was such a short time to spend in the city. I know that the UK tours of London, Oxford and York have always delivered a fab way of seeing the highlights in a short time. Pah! If your ever visiting San Fran and want to see the highlights - buy a book. See Hubby's resume of the highlights for yourself!

On the plus side, the boat trip was fine and GC really rated the Bubba Gump kids fish and chips, which came in a cardboard boat, and cleared the lot without hassle from me. She was also quite intrigued by Alcatraz (the jail island as she calls it) and repeatedly asked who was put there and why.

The ride back to the train in the town cable car was atmospheric as the city lights came on and we could see for miles from the top of San Francisco's famous hilly streets. The day was made complete as we passed Lefty O'Doul's Piano Bar. I had been there 11 years before drinking their much recommended Irish coffee. Nice at the time but 11 years is still too soon to repeat that experience.

Hubby's Version

After a mess about in the RV park pool and spa we drove a short distance up the freeway to a park 'n' ride and jumped on a BART train into San Francisco proper. We alighted at Powell Street and after a short stop at the visitor info place we opted for a bus and boat tour combo package.

Three blocks to Union Square on foot was quickly done to a calls of "I'm hungry" from GC so we had lunch at a nice cafe in the square. We got chatting to a couple of ladies from Australia and so one and only daughter found some willing playmates with their offspring.

Ladies do playing

We joined the 'hop on, hop off' open top bus tour of the city which rattled past some of the sights accompanied by a rather desperate commentary "...this is a mural. Don't know what it means but it looks nice...this is a Pakistaneeee [sic] place. Watch out the food is hot!...here is a church..." You get the idea. 

We hopped off gratefully at Pier 39 to join our boat ride round the bay. We realised at this point we were not going to be able to hop back on the bus after the boat as the tour buses stopped running at 17.00hrs. What a swiz!

The boat ride was infinitely better and we got a close up view of the bridge with several kite surfers playing underneath and then a circuit of Alcatraz before returning, windswept, past the Sea Lions to Pier 39. This hour or so was GC's favourite bit of the day.

Kite Surfers under the bridge

Alcatraz

Sea Lions at Pier 39

A browse along the pier followed and GC was treated to some left handed items at 'Lefties' and then we adjourned to Bubba Gump's for a seafood based tea. We were given a table overlooking Alcatraz and it was even possible to see part of Golden Gate strait and bridge as the sun set. Gorgeous.

We had a lovely meal and the Coronitarita I had to drink was out of this world. The staff did a Bubba Gump style birthday song for GC, which consisted of lots of clapping and hollering. She hid under the table and who can blame her?

A Coronitarita. Nice!

View from Bubba Gump's at teatime

Definitely no 'hop on' bus to return us to Union Square now so we walked a few blocks down and got the Powell Street Cable Car, actually a trolley car pulled up and down the steep San Franciscan streets by cables under the ground. We were all quickly to bed when we got back to the RV park.

Cable Car being turned for repeat Journey, San Francisco.