Oh Taste And See: Day 16

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

California

Today we continued on our way back to the coast and San Francisco.

Fog hung low, enshrouding much in its cover and the Golden Gate Bridge was barely visible.

We left our campsite 2 minutes before our aim, a record, although we had to stop at the dump station. The morning was bathed in the glory of the rising sun and the sun dappled leaves and trees bathed in its splendour.

love this morning view out our window

As we drove along, we saw city skylines, beautiful flowering bushes in the median of the road and as a hedge along the road. We drove over bridges and saw stacks of straw bales and other unique things in fields. We saw rivers and foggy skies.

hmmm... anyone need its services??!!

Arriving in San Francisco, we found this lookout over the bridge, while trying to find a place to park. And since we weren't going to drop the camper, we had a hard time finding a place to park. At the lookout, there was a smash and grab incident. I felt so bad for the family. Those signs were everywhere. We ended up driving across the bridge and coming back over to find our parking spot. Smash and grab spots were a threat no matter where we parked, but at an information center seemed to be less likely. Our San Francisco experience turned out a bit differently than we had anticipated, but we got to see a few things and that was good. (We had planned to park our vehicle and walk across the bridge and into the city for a bit. And Titus wanted to taste clam chowder.)

till all was said and done, we went through this tunnel numerous times trying to find our way around

on a building at the bottom of the trail

driving across

the city

We walked part way on the bridge, to the first big pillar. 😀 It was very windy and chilly!

Alcatraz Island

there was a walkway underneath the bridge and you could see the maze of steel structure underneath the bridge

Point Bonita Lighthouse was just a few miles away so we took that sight in as well. It is closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday for school tours, and today is Wednesday, so that was a bummer. This lighthouse you are allowed to go up in it. Brandon found another trail so that we could at least see it.

Point Bonita Lighthouse

oh the goofing off as we walked the trail... pushing, shoving, hitting underneath the shoe in front of you... really??!! on and on it went...

After walking this trail and seeing the lighthouse, we travelled on towards our campground. Scenery continued to be ocean blue with rocky shorelines.

We did a spur of the moment stop for ice cream. They had Gelato instead. It was a fun little stop for a stretch. Cute place!

sea lion

and these gorgeous flowers that I thought earlier were lupines

(yes, I was disappointed but once I knew it I enjoyed these for the beauties they are)

And on we go.... enthralled with ocean views. So, of course one must stop a time or two at the convenient pull offs to gaze and take a picture or two. This one stop had lots of sea lions and other birds on a reef or peninsula.

aww... a tender moment??!!? maybe or simply bored or in need of a new position

The roads were quite wind-y with short and tight curves and often inland rather than following the coastline. Since San Francisco, that was quite different.

We arrived in time for the boys to go swimming one last time in the Pacific waters. It was quite chilly but Carlin was DETERMINED to go in and was mentally prepping his mind for the experience.

Titus and I first went to see how the beach was.

It was secluded and no one there! (wishes of Sheldon )

So... should we or should we not??!?

Our takeaway is...

- it's cold!

- but it's the last time for a swim

- let's just do it

- well, we'll see what the boys say...

beauty in all places...

These tower like cactus plants at the end of the campground's lane, were tall and had small purple flowers on the large plume. They were very fascinating!

This was behind our campsite. It looked like it could be a beach or at least a shoreline nearby, but it was always so foggy and a lot of grassy brush to navigate. I just took pictures...

After eating and convincing them to let's just do it, we went. And Carlin really wanted to go for a swim and spent some time 'preparing' his mind for the occasion.

And... he was the first one in! While the other two were quite skeptical!!

The waves were very strong and powerful as Carlin found out!

Ahhh! It's cold!!

Am I crazy?!?

Well, yes we might be...

trying to convince and persuade them to join him...

and they did...

As middle child said, "We don't want to let younger brother get the best of them..."

and... the other two also experienced the power of the waves!!

drying off

And in conversation on the way back to our place, "people must think we're crazy!!", says one. And in response Carlin says, "Well, that's ok. We have the memories and they don't!"

Yes, son, so very true.