San Francisco, Day 2

We started off with plans to some things, wound up doing about three times as much as we thought.  

Woke up way early, do to reverse jet lag, that was the first thing that was wrong, so I  busied myself with lots of plans.....

We left the room at 8, and located a McDonalds on the GPS.  Hmmm.  It seems that while the hotel is very nice, the McD's is inhabited by lots of street folks.  We ate quickly, and headed for our first stop, which was Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park. 

First problem of the day.  Even though the website and the master list for stamps says it opened at 9, it didn't until 930.  So that got me yet another lecture from Bette about why don't I call ahead.

No problem, we went back up the street to Target, since we needed to get batteries for my blood tester, so we did that.  Got back to the building, which turned out to be the "Administrative Building" for a park that sort of isn't really a park yet.  Turns out there are about 5 or 6 loosely connected sites that are in various stages of renovation, and they are building a new visitor's center, but it won't be ready for some time.  There is also a big Liberty Ship, The USS Red Oak Victory which is part of the park, but it wasn't open today.  (I knew that, see, I read the web page!).  Well, we got lots of literature about what will be in the future, and I did get a couple of stamps. 

So, this park will have to be revisited one day, when we are in the metro area again.  We are planning to go back this morning to see the Red Oak Victory. 

Next, we headed about 15 miles off to the interior of the area, on a beautiful drive to the town of Martinez, Ca., and stopped by the John Muir NHS.  Mr Muir is considered the "father" of the National Park System, and gets credit for convincing President Theodore Roosevelt to put areas into the system.  This was his homeplace.  Got a stamp here for the site, plus a bonus stamp, which is a quotation from Mr Muir, "The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness", and also a stamp for the Juan Batista de Anza National Historical Trail. 

 The home of Mr Muir

This really was a pretty drive out-  just within a few miles, you leave the hustle and bustle of I-80 and hit verdant green hills, with working cattle ranches...  California as I remember it from the old days. 

By this time, it was only 1015 or so, so we were way ahead of the game.  I had originally pondered a trip south to Concord, CA., where the Eugene O'Neil site is, but you need to make an appointment for that one, and the Chicago Naval Magazine as well, since it is an active military base, so we passed on those two, and will do them on a future trip. 

Bette had mentioned that she would like to check out Chinatown for a mah jong set, so that was our next destination.  By this time, morning traffic had become reasonable, so we made good time back over to San Francisco, via the Bay Bridge.  We struggled a bit to find a parking space, but with the help of a local, found a nice garage for not much within walking distance of Grant Street. 

We looked at several shops, but she didn't see anything that was suitable, so that was crossed off the list. 

From there, we headed back over to the San Francisco Maritime NHP, which is down by the Embacadero.  We were able to park on the street right next to the Visitor Center and the park itself. 

 This is the main visitors center- and to the right is a view of some of the boats they have displayed, that you can but a ticket for a go visit.


This is the gift shop, had some beautiful things here



Bette in front of the VC





This was the view of the GG from the pier. 









There was a nice group of Rangers at the main VC.  We talked about the stamping club, and about their park.  The VC has some very nice exhibits, including a large room that had brochures from a lot of the Western Parks of the system, so I helped myself to lots of them- that will help in future planning visits.  I got 3 stamps-  and a couple of pins. 

Well- now it was still early, so we decided to head originally up to Point Reyes National Seashore, since we were way ahead of schedule, so off we went. 

The GPS took us on a very strange route, and over the twistiest, nastiest s-curve road I think I have ever been on.  No way could we have navigated that in the motor home-  and there were even signs warning that vehicles over 30 feet should not attempt- 

The bonus for the route, other than the scenery, was that we ran into John Muir Woods NM, which we were also planning on visiting, on the way back.  So that became the next stop. 



An overlook on the way to Muir Woods




The entrance, obviously!




This is just after you enter the park



 



By now, it was about 330.  We had a snack at the deli (all organic- Bette had a bottle of $4.50 tea!)  We asked how far it was to Point Reyes, and were told another hour- I wasn't sure about that, so I asked about Marin Headlands, and he said just down the road, so we opted to go there next. 

Great choice!   Marin Headlands is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation area.   There are like 30 locations here you can get stamps for-  so off we went.

Another drive over twisty roads, and then we found the way in.  Wow-  some scenery.... 

As you drive in, you meet up with a tunnel-  the only one I've ever seen with a 5 minute red light-  There it is!

We sat for like 4 minutes.....     

We got to the Visitor's Center, and hit the mecca for stamps, there were 7 of them!  Also finally found a Passport book for Lighthouses here!  Yea!  The Bonita Point Lighthouse is here.....  Coudn't get to it, because of construction of a bridge to it, but you could see it.  

Marin Headlands was essentially the Army installations that protected San Francisco over the years.  There are several WWII era gun emplacements, an old Nike Missle site, and maybe some other things they don't want you to know about, and the other obvious thing is the views.   I'll let the pictures speak for themselves..  (Bette took most of them)

Bette noticed this tree, looks like a deer on the right!



Yikes, Frogs on the road!



                                Well, it was a full day! By now, it was nearing 5, so we headed back through town, got over the Bay Bridge, and to the hotel, stopping by a sandwich place for a light dinner, then to the hotel to crash. 

 Obligitory San Francisco shots, the Golden Gate Bridge, ($6.00) and the Transamerica Building, on the way over to the Bay Bridge.

Today, we're halfway sleeping in, its near 8 and Bette is still wiped out.  Think we may just stay on the East side of the Bay today, and do East Side things.  Think we'll do Point Reyes another trip, might go see the Red Oak Victory, there's an old Presidential Yacht, the USS Potomac here, the USS Hornet, Jack London Waterfront, Alameda Naval Air Station Museum, and Oakland Colesium, home to the Oakland A's to see. 

We will be spending the night in Newark, Ca. which is about 10 miles away from the San Jose Airport, where we will take off from Friday morning headed for Los Angeles.

I just realized I left off our visit to the Presidio, I'll do that in another post.