San Francisco and it's mild

Last time we wrote we were in Cambria which was beautiful. Next morning we left early for Hearst Castle to catch the 9.00am tour. What opulence. A huge mansion, not really a castle, built high on a hill overlooking the ocean. It's hard to do it justice in words. Wait for the video. Huge outside swimming pool was the first thing we saw then onto the magnificent guest bungalows. Gold inlaid, tapestries woven in gold, masterpieces from Europe in every room.

We then moved into the main building which looks more like a cathedral than a castle. Incredibly high ceilings, again massive tapestries and paintings by the masters. 3,000 year old Egyptian statues from Tutus tomb, 400 year old French paintings, 500 year old Italian chairs carved by hand in the lounge room. On to the dining room which seated no less than 30 people ... all silver of course. Again amazing tapestries and paintings. Next was the ladies room then the billiard room for the men with huge tables and paintings. You could imagine the Presidents, Actors, millionaires, entrepreneurs, Directors and tycoons of the 20's through 40's talking and gossiping, setting world opinion and creating plans for the future in these rooms full of the most expensive food, wines, spirits and cigars.

The final room was the indoor swimming pool ... gold lined ... gold tiles inlaid above and below the water. Incredibly beautiful deep blue with an evenness that created a curved optical illusion.

Back into the bus to take us down the hill and back into the cars.

The drive along the Pacific coast was breathtaking. Raging seas crashed against barren coastline. Deep blue waves contrasted to the dry beige landscape of rock and boulders as we wound our way North. The drive was occasionally broken by massive green and brown of Redwood trees rising sharply in the gorges.

We stopped briefly at the Bixby Creek bridge to take photos and watch the Sea Otters playing in the surf far below.

Next stop was Carmel, a pretty town populated by the "well to do" just south of Monterey. We found a great little shop that specialised in Christmas ornaments and trinkets.

Onto Monterey to meet up with Brian and Anita and head to the Aquarium. The Aquarium was very impressive built over an area the side of a football field. No sharks or whales but plenty of unusual creatures such as clams that drill through rock, more bat rays, sea cucumbers, huge jellyfish, a weird looking sun fish plus plenty of creatures for the girls to touch. Very nicely down and better than expected.

That night we has a big Mexican meal with Brian, Anita, James, Thomas and William before heading to our hotel, the Econo Lodge. Doesn't sound much but would have to be the best value for money so far.

Next morning we left early for the Roaring Camp Railway with the Baileys. The camp features a narrow gauge railway trip of just over an hour up into the Redwood forest. These are huge trees many, many hundreds if not thousands of years old. It was a delightful spot to have lunch and chat.

As we traveled on to San Francisco was say heaps of pumpkin patches (Halloween is only weeks away and pumpkins are a key part of the festivities). We also say strawberry fields, brussel sprouts and some other vegetable we couldn't quite figure out. Maybe artichokes.

Suddenly we were in San Francisco. We came over a hill on a two lane highway along the coast and within a few minutes joined a 14 lane freeway into downtown San Francisco. The Baileys headed on across the Bay Bridge to Berkley to find an REI store to remove a tag on a jacket but the traffic was so heavy we decided to head straight to our hotel.

Finding Fishermans Wharf was quite easy with all the signs as was the Hyatt. We checked in, looked around Fishermans Wharf including watching the sun set over the Sea Lions basking on the pier then called Peter and Liz for dinner. It was wonderful catching up with the Calfs in a nice little restaurant close to their hotel. We talked for ages about what they'd done and what we'd done. They provided lots of tips on things to do in SFO.

After dinner we all piled into the van Peter had hired and headed for Lombard Street. Lombard street is the twisting, winding, one lane street in the heart of SFO. The kids had a great time as Peter drove down ... nice and slow so they could enjoy every corner.

Peter dropped us off at the hotel, we took a couple of photos in our room and said our farewells. Incredible we only live around the corner but have to travel half way 'round the world for dinner.

Next morning the Baileys met us at our hotel and went walked around fishermans wharf again. After an exciting trip on the cable car back to the centre of town and a brief look at shops we decided to catch a bus to Toys R' Us. All the girls we desperate for a Tamagotchi ... their wish came true. Back on the bus to the Baileys hotel, a coffee and chat then onto Kims wish ... dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was fun ... good food, music and the girls loved it.

As we walked out to hail a taxi down came the rain for the first time on the holiday.

Next morning was an early start as we were picked up for our guided tour of the city including Golden Gate Park, a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge and stop at the top of Twin Peaks to look over the entire city. The bus then dropped us a Fishermans Wharf to wait for the tour of Alcatraz. Lunch was a really tasty Clam Chowder ... Kims favourite ... so good we had two bowls.

The trip on the ferry to Alcatraz was made interesting by the Blue Angels, six bright blue US Navy F18 fighters, practicing for the Fleet Week Air Show set for Saturday.

On the Island we decided to join a short tour conducted by one of the Park Rangers to hear about escapes. Though they say emphatically no one escaped what do you call 3 convicts climbing onto the roof, shimmying down a pipe, getting in a raft they made and never being seen again. They only call it an escape if those that got out and we caught ... Americans have a funny set of definitions.

We then went on the audio tour of the cells which was fantastic. We saw the cells they lived in 23 hours a day, where they ate meals, the "hole" for solitary confinement, where the birdman spent his time, Al Capones cell, and a host of other stuff. Incredible.

As we walked out of the cell block into the open air the Blue Angels practice was in full swing. Yarro and Phil were captivated as the jets, at incredible speeds, roared overhead. They flew at each other, away from each other, into formation, out of formation. They dove down and swung up, then shot high into the sky with plumes of smoke making patterns in the sky. The noise was deafening as they passed by.

That night was a real highlight. We went to a ribs and seafood restaurant between the wharf and our hotel. Outside the restaurant we met this dark man who was very funny and gave us a coupons for free appetizers. Well, as we had dinner the adults decided a stretch limo ... and I mean sttrreettcch limo drive would be fun. Phil went down to the funny guy and asked him to arrange it. The guy decided he was going to be Phils long lost half brother ... Uncle Morgan. Uncle Morgan came to the table to entertain the girls as the car was arranged.

The girls had no idea ... it was huge surprise. They came down the stairs of the restaurant to see Uncle Morgan inviting them into this incredibly long stretch limo. It fitted all nine of us comfortably. We were driven to the Baileys hotel, then down to Union Square in the middle of town so we could catch a cable car home. The girls loved it ... the smiles were enormous.

The cable car ride back to the hotel at the Wharf was fun. The car we were on actually broke down. Kim and Phil had to get off and push.

Anyway, another big day ahead so we better get to sleep.

We'll write again soon.