USA 1998
Day 21 - May 26
Rohnert Park to San Francisco
The friendly chatty group waiting for Mass assured me that I would have no trouble understanding the priest, as he was Irish, and the accent was certainly there.
After breakfast, in a room of the lobby, to which we wheeled Veronica in her chair, we checked out, and headed in the direction of San Francisco. It was bright sunshine, except for an odd shower, now and then, so we thought we would take the opportunity to go up Mt Tamalpais, which had been cloud covered when we came this way with Fran. We drove up to the car park near the summit, where once again, Veronica stayed in the van while Peter and I went walking. We took various pictures of the views from the summit, and got up to the fire watchers tower on the summit, before walking back down to the car. Peter saw a turkey vulture on the journey down the mountain.
Peter at Fire Tower
View to NE
Towards San Francisco
Before going back over the Golden Gate bridge, we thought we would have a brief look at Sausilito. When I was buying a burger all round, I heard a Yorkshire accent, and met up with a couple who were on holiday in the area, also after a burger.
From Sausilito, we headed back into town, and Veronica thought we ought to try to buy a video about Alcatraz, which she had seen when we went on the trip round the island, but had not thought to buy at the time. After we had given up trying to find somewhere to park, we headed for the hotel. I was sure Stockton would do us fine, and we would not get lost - until we got to Columbus - right turn only. It should not have proved too much of a problem, a couple of lefts got us back on track, after which the only delays were two girls in an open-topped car which had literally lost its wheels (the axle had apparently snapped in half and the two girls where lying on reclining seats taking in the sun in the middle of the street whilst waiting for help to arrive) and the density of traffic near Union Square down to Market. I stopped outside the hotel long enough for Veronica and Peter to get out, and we unloaded the van of everything but my coat (in the pocket of which were all the rental documents), and then I headed back to the Hertz office on Mason. The problem here was that they were digging holes in the street, and it was somewhat difficult to swing into the Hertz entrance. To be more accurate, it would have been difficult to swing into the Hertz entrance, if it had not been impossible due to the other cars already blocking it. As I waited, blocking the rest of the traffic in the street, a Hertz man came out, checked the odometer, took the keys, and waved me into the office, to complete the paperwork. Somehow he squeezed it up to the roadworks enough to let traffic pass down the street, and by the time I came out of the office after all the formalities were completed, he was trying to back it out of the roadworks, so that he could get it into their garage.
I was glad that I had my coat, as by this time the sun had gone, and I walked back to the hotel through a fairly heavy shower. The hotel maintained its reputation for character. The plumbing in the room Veronica and I were sharing was incredible. I’m sure that the controls for the shower must have been recovered from the debris after the earthquake of 1906 (was it?). I do not think they would have been considered ‘modern’ once Victoria was no longer on the English throne. Peter had trouble with the doorknob of his room - it tended to come off in his hand!
In the early evening, Phil arrived, and he treated us to dinner together in the restaurant next to the hotel, where we had eaten several times before. After the meal, we returned to the lobby of the hotel, and started taking pictures of the party, until we ran out of film in the camera. After which I walked down to the car park with Phil, before making our goodbyes.
Peter, Phil and Veronica
Phil with Flabs
A last check of email summed up why I use CamNet when I am at home - email notification temporarily suspended. There were actually two emails waiting to be picked up, as I found when I got home.
Day 22
Home
Start Page
Last updated
26th
August 2000