Didn't leave my heart in San Francisco

Although it was very nice.

Caught the cable car to the cable car powerhouse. Fascinating. One of the cable loops has 4 miles of cable. The wooden brakes on the cable cars need to be replaced every 3 days or so. All so quaint Returned to the hotel and extracted the car from their ridiculously small garage. Drove down Lombard street (which claims to be the crookedest street but it isnt...a must do touristy thing anyway). Would hate to live there with endless rubbbernecking idiots like me driving past at all hours of the day and night. Then drove over the Golden Gate bridge (stopping at the vista point first) to Sausilito.

Lovely little place with great views of San Francisco, Alcatraz and the bridges. Had lunch by the bay and then drove back to the hotel and went down to the pier for the alcatraz night tour.


Great tour. The nightime adds an interesting dimension and the audio tour is really interesting. Returned in time to get some very ordinary vietnamese food and sleep.

Left earlyish to head for Yosemite which took us over the Bay Bridge. Bit of a contrast and a good deal longer than its famous brother. Stupid satnav took us the long way around into Yosemite but in the end it was interesting with some scenery we otherwise wouldn't have seen. Some great vistas of half dome, El capitan and the valley in general. As we were running late (stupid satnav) we went directly to the hotel. Built in 1879 it has a gone with the wind feel about it and I suspect the waiter at the restaurant is Clark Gable's father. Could also do with some maintenance here and there but overall is very nice. NO INTERNET OR TV OR FRIDGE. Ice can be acquired from the front desk and entertainment is the piano man called Tom in the lobby. Not sure I can survive. Actually I picked up a wireless connection but it is secured and the front desk deny its existence. Clearly not for guests. Doesn't matter as the scenery and keeping an eye out for mountain lions and bears is enough.
The hotel has close to a full quota of residents this weekend so despite the shortcomings it is still very popular.
Full day of touring the park tomorrow with the giant sequoias, glacier point, yosemite village and perhaps the tioga pass road if time permits. The most expensive "gas" we have come across so far is available next door (around 90c US per litre!!!). Unfortunately due to going the long way around I need to fill up. The yanks would scream if they had to pay our price for petrol.