Smart Car

Here's a photo showing the dimensions of the Smart Car. Mark could sit inside the car and touch both the front windshield and rear windshield at the same time. However, we definitely both had adequate room inside the car both of us and our luggage. See the second photo to see how much luggage we brought.

Day 6 - Transportation

Day 6, February 2, 2010

Happy Groundhog Day. I don't actually know if we are in for 6 more weeks of winter or not, but I'm hoping for an early spring.

Today was a great last day in San Francisco. We got a somewhat early start from the hotel and headed out on the F-line (street car) along The Embarcadero from the hotel to the Ferry Building. We were hoping to catch the Tuesday morning farmer's market, but it didn't open until 10am.

Instead we tried the streetcar museum right there, but it didn't open until 10am either! So, then, we opted to walk along the Embarcadero towards Fisherman's Wharf. We started at Pier 1, and ended at Pier 47. The sun was out and the weather was perfect for a stroll.

We stopped to read some of the history signs along the way and learned that the coastline as we walked on it today was actually 100 feet farther into the ocean than the coastline during the Gold Rush. Apparently, there was such a rush to get more land, that the settlers dumped everything they could including old ships, trash, and other junk into the ocean to create more land. Well, that just made me feel safe standing there. =) I'm sure it's more stable now.

We went out along Pier 39 and watched the Sea Lions bark at each other for a bit. Afterwards we started our history lesson of the shipyards. We viewed the SS Jeremiah O'Brien submarine and then the only Liberty Ship still in existence. We walked over to the NPS Hyde Street Park and Maritime Museum area. There were quite a few ships and boats to look at.

By then it was lunchtime, so we headed back to Boudin for another clam chowder bread bowl. Mmmm, still tasty. We had to be back at the hotel to pick up our bags at 2pm, so we had just enough time to take the cable car to the Cable Car Museum and marvel at the huge spinning wheels that pull the cables across the city. I wish we had more time to spend there and I took pictures of the signs I didn't have time to read so I could go back and look at them later. All the cables go through this building. We learned how the cable cars operate and how the accelerate and slow down for stops. The brakes have to be replaced every 2-4 days!

Alas, we had to leave, so we took the cable car back to the hotel, grabbed our bags, and then hopped on the BART train that took us to Oakland and then the AirBART bus that took us to the airport.

Today was definitely a day of public transportation. We made it to the gate with 15 minutes to spare before boarding time, so good timing. =)

The flight home was uneventful and now we are back in Houston. It's always good to be home after a trip. Hopefully I'll be able to spend some time sorting through my photos and let you know when they are posted for viewing.

Thanks for reading and as always, visit http://markandjoannatravel.blogspot.com for the full blog.

Day 5 - Car Travel

Day 5 - February 1, 2010

We woke again to a slightly foggy and overcast morning. I think this is a pattern for the area. ;-) We checked out of our Motel Inverness with no problems and decided on the stop to drive south on Highway 1 until it was time to turn around. The rental car needed to be back by 5pm.

So, onward we went and the more we traveled the more sun came peeking out of the clouds. Once we were south of San Francisco it was even at warm 56 degrees outside! Most of our stops were simply to view the ocean from various road turnouts. We did get a chance to photograph the Smart Car as well.

More notably, we stopped at the Pelican Point Lighthouse. Just as we parked a school bus arrived full of children and their overnight bags so they could stay in the hostel there. It turns out many lighthouses in the area are also hostels. Luckily we were able to steer clear of the crowds while they ate lunch and we learned about the perils of working this lighthouse. This one seemed less dangerous than the one out in Point Reyes, but of course operating a lighthouse is still a big job.

The drive was beautiful. Many fields were colored bright neon yellow with some type of blooming flower. The yellow was very brilliant in color and many hillsides were covered. We tried to go to Anos Nuevo State Park to see the elephant seals there, but the parking was priced a little too steep for what would be only a 30 minute stay at best. Finally we turned around at a cement plant north of Santa Cruz and came back towards San Francisco.

Once our car was returned to Avis and we checked into our hotel room, we took the cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf. Our Parc 55 hotel is right on the cable car line and the BART line in Union Square. We learned about the cable cars last time we were in San Francisco, but this time we got to ride them. I am really amazed at how they work. Hopefully tomorrow we can make it to the cable car museum.

We started in Ghirardelli Square with dessert and then took an evening stroll along the main street in Fisherman's Wharf to Boudin Bakery. At the bakery we were able to get our clam chowder in sour dough bread bowls. =) As I mentioned earlier, this was my main goal for San Francisco.

And now we are back in the hotel winding down and getting ready for tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 4pm, so we'll have the morning to be tourists.