Day Twenty Eight

Woke up late as it was so dark in room. Got ready and left. Had to be at Pier 33 to catch 10.30 ferry. No time for breakfast. Just walked straight there. Lined up, got on boat. Set out across San Francisco Bay. First glimpse of our destination.

The Rock

Landed on Alcatraz. Headed up to pick up our audio guide which is included in the ferry ticket price. The guide which takes you around the cellblock is narrated by a former prison officer on the island and has contributions from 3 other wardens and 4 ex inmates. It has sound effects which bring everything to life. It was thoroughly fascinating listening to the stories and looking around.

Only when we had finished listening and went back to film the cells did we realise how quiet it was. This was due to everybody just listening to the earphones. Until that point we hadn't noticed that it was so silent. Most famous resident was Al Capone. Too many interesting facts to list them all. Most interesting story was one of the inmates saying that when he was in the pitch black isolation cell, he used to rip a button off his top and throw it in the air. Then he would go around in the dark on his hands and knees until he found it. Then he'd stand up and do it again. That is how he passed the time.

Got ship back to shore, seeing another famous landmark.

Once back on dry land we decided to have brunch as we were starving. Found an IHOP which was virtually empty and ate lots. Next we decided to find a place to buy a daypass for the local public transport system. On our way a man somehow started a conversation with us, just so he could tell us he'd been mugged when getting out a taxi and that he'd given them hell first, giving us details of his martial art background. Crossed to the other side of the street to try and lose him. We then boarded a cable car (like a tram) and travelled about. Decided it was fun so just went up and down another line later on.

By six o'clock we decided we were hungry again so headed back to the Pinecrest Diner that we went to yesterday. On the way there, a man who said he wasn't a bum followed us and told us a long winded story about how he and his girlfriend needed a couple of dollars to get bus tickets, because they had been robbed and that everyone he asked kept ignoring him like he had leprosy. He went on for about a minute as we walked, when he finished I told him that I didn't have any cash on me, which actually was true. He left and started bothering the people behind us.

Having been to New York, Washington, Las Vegas and LA and seen hardly any, San Francisco has a massive amount of homeless people. They have been everywhere we have gone. Tried to work out why we have seen none anywhere else. Are the other cities just better at hiding them than SF? Or do they do more to help them? Most ingenius sign of the day. 'Why lie, need money for beer'.

Whilst eating dinner we agreed that we had now got to the point where we are done with seeing things. Looking forward to heading home, not because we don't want to stay, could easily spend much longer here, but we are now at the point of being fed up with constantly moving. Looking forward to being in one place, not having to constantly repack and move on.

Now back in hotel sorting out everything for tomorrow's flight home. Making sure we have got it all!

Day Twenty Seven

Ate breakfast on the porch of the motel's breakfast room. Sat in rocking chairs whilst watching Hummingbirds feed in front of us. Checked out, filled up with fuel. Got into conversation with man at the next pump as he noticed our Maryland plates. Long discussion about our trip. I wondered how big his gas tank was as it seemed to be ages before it stopped and he said farewell.

Headed on up California 1, the Pacific Coast highway. Scenery was incredible. Entertained ourselves as we went.

Stopped in Carmel (Clint Eastwood used to be its mayor). Then decided to head inland to the main route as we were starting to get behind time. Flew up the rest of the way and arrived at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco at 5pm. Checked in then immediately left to return the car to the local rental office.

Eventually found it after having to go around all the one way streets which were jam packed with traffic. Dropped the car in then went to the actual office to get the paper work sorted. Stood for what seemed like a lifetime waiting for the two clerks to deal with the two sets of people in front who seemed to have no idea about anything. When finally served it took all of one minute to sort us out. Meanwhile the customer at the other counter was still the same one when we left. Sad to say bye to the car. Final distance we covered in it was just under 5000 miles.

Walked back to the hotel as it was only a few blocks away. Gave us a chance to see a bit of 'Frisco.

Hotel is stunning. Room is great. San Francisco is awesome. Went out for something to eat. Put on trousers for first time whilst in the USA as it is much cooler here. Ann suggested The Cheesecake Factory as we had seen one on the way back. It was on top of the Macy's store in Union Square. Walked there and went up to the top floor. Masses of people. Bloke said there was an hour wait for a table. We said thanks but no thanks. Saw a hobo with an iphone! How odd!

Decided to go to another place Ann had seen, the Pinecrest Diner. It was quite small but we got a table immediately. Turned out it was great. Had long discussion about the trip seeing as we are at the final stop. Wandered back to our lovely room. Sleep now.

I'll leave you with something we did whilst on Santa Monica beach yesterday. Hope you enjoy.