Let's not say it's easy crossing the International Dateline...in fact after the delays to our connecting San Francisco flight at LA airport, it's fair to say we were lagging well behind the jet! Hungry and tired we made it from San Fran airport by means of a subway train and the lovely old San Fran trams, to our accommodation at Fort Mason, right on San Fran Bay. From our bedroom window we had views across the bay to Alcatraz and part of the Golden Gate Bridge. We managed to stay awake somehow and even found our way up the famous San Fran hills to Chinatown for dinner that night before we finally collapsed.
We spent the next couple of days exploring San Fran, including the world's most winding street, riding the trams and streetcars and wandering round Pier 39. We also visited the infamous Alcatraz prison. It was a choppy boat ride out to the rock, followed by an interesting audio tour of the prison island; including the solitary confinement cells as well as a rerun of the most famous escape attempt. The story goes that no-one escaped Alcatraz and whilst a number were drowned, shot or recaptured... three escapees remain unaccounted for...
Whilst in San Francisco we caught up with a friend of John's from hiking the Appalachian Trail four years ago. Pearl was hiking the AT with her then 11 year old daughter Avery. The 2,200 mile hike was a challenge for anyone but even more so for an 11 year old! It was great to catch up with Pearl and reminisce about hiking "the Trail".
We picked up a hire car and soon we were crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and heading for the Napa Valley. Having visited vineyards in both Australia and New Zealand, we felt it was important to complete our tour of New World wineries! We visited one of the many Napa Valley vineyards set in beautiful gardens. After sampling some of their excellent produce we sat outside in the sun for a while listening to a Louisiana Blues band that just happened to be playing.
Just by chance we found yet another motel with a hot spring/spa pool so relaxed that evening in "the tub" whilst chatting to a quite mad guy from Sacramento!
The next day we headed off towards Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada, stopping at Oakdale overnight where new hiking shoes were purchased for John. It was a fairly steep drive up into the national park and on seeing a little motel just before the park entrance in Groveland, we pulled in and booked 2 nights in a little cabin. With accommodation sorted we headed down into Yosemite Valley. Imagine our surprise after the hot Californian sun in the Napa Valley to be confronted with a significant amount of snow at the higher elvations. As a result of this many of the more remote areas of the park were closed with noly the Valley open. After gaining height we then had to lose height and the road began a steep but spectacular descent into the valley. We enjoyed the valley in the most American way.....from our car.....but it allowed for some lovely scenery and we were able to plan our hiking the next day. On the way back to our cabin we stopped for a short hike in the snow but this was discontinued when Sarah's feet became cold and wet!
Waking up to beautiful blue sky we headed once more down the precipitous road into Yosemite Valley and in non-American fashion, took bipedal transport on a hike taking in the half-dome mountain (from the bottom!) and the many waterfalls in the park. We also had to ford a mountain stream which was somewhat 'refreshing' on our bare feet!
That evening we visited the oldest saloon in California with an interesting array of stuffed fauna, including a massive moose head and a whole bear....the food and beer was quite good also!
