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Showing posts with the label Golden Gate Bridge

California, 17th November, we're on our way to Alcatraz

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I had booked the Alcatraz trip several weeks before our departure to California as I had heard that it was always sold out and we had gone for the 8.30am departure in order to maximise the day. We were due to change hotels for the Westin by the airport that evening so we made an early start and stowed our luggage with the porter. Then followed a fantastic breakfast at Searles. I decided that breakfast was the one culinary thing I would miss about the States, although pancakes with maple syrup and crispy bacon is not too difficult to rustle up. Early morning San Francisco was fairly quiet as we walked down to catch the muni train to Pier 33. The city seemed so laid back, people not rushing to work early as in London, but rather taking their time about the day. The pier became quite congested as there were 3 boats lined up to take us over to the island, each taking more than 100 people. Our tickets were checked twice, no stowaways allowed on this ride! Having

California, 15th November, San Francisco morning and obligatory dawn shot

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Before we got into San Francisco there was one thing to do; get to the north side of the Golden Gate bridge and take the dawn shot. So at 5.30am we packed up our bed and drove the short distance to a dock just by the coast guard station, joining a number of other people there for the same thing. There was no fog, so unfortunately there was no magic of the bridge rising above the sea of mist. However we watched as the sun came up over Bay Bridge and the city. As the sun rose more cloud came until a thick layer covered the sky over the bridge. We were due to get the car back to Lost Campers for noon. We had breakfast down by the dock and had a clear out of all our rubbish. The cafétiere, which had leaked before, luckily chose this moment to break completely, so we threw that out as well. Having packed up, there was till some time to go before midday so we had a tour of the Marin County side of the bridge.  We started at Fort Baker, a 1905 built former US ar