Day Sixteen

Less noise in the hotel last night. Much better sleep. Got up and went to Starbucks to buy breakfast. Sat outside in the small garden at the front of the hotel to eat. We didn't have to check out until 11am so we did our final activity in Sacramento on foot as it was opposite the hotel.

Rotunda

This is the State of California Capitol Museum. I say museum but it is also the actual Government for the state. Found an entrance and unsure if it was the right way to enter we just blundered through the door. Were met by three security officers and a police officer. They informed us that we were correct. Went through a metal detector. No discrepancies in the groin or buttock areas. They gave us a map and we just walked in. There were guided tours that started at 10am but we just did the self tour. Basically we wandered around wherever we wanted to in the building. Not sure that would happen in England. Saw rooms that were modelled as the would have been over the last 150 years as well as current working rooms.

Governor's Office

Rotunda from below

Stairs

Floor of the rotunda

I'll be back

I won't

Assembly Chambers

Statue of Big Ronnie

Went to the shop. Ann had a long chat with the woman about England. Bought a magnet. Went back out into the growing heat of the day and walked back to the hotel. Ann checked out online. We went and got our stuff from the room and went to the car. Drove out the car park, used the door key one final time to exit out the gate and dumped them in the box of keys as you leave.

Drove to Sutter's Fort as it was on the way out. Ann went to go and get a magnet from the shop. I drove a lap around the block. She got back in the car. No luck, the shop is in the part which is having work done so is not open. Set the satnav and got the hell out of Sacramento.

Headed south on the 99. It was busy to start with but as we got further away from the city it started to calm down. Cut eastwards and the temperature began to climb. Hit 103 as we neared our lunch destination. Shouted at Siri a lot as it couldn't understand the simplest music requests.

Stopped in San Andreas at the hilariously named Patio Drive In. I had a grilled cheese and fries. Ann had something.

Got back in the car and headed a few miles south. Stopped at the angels camp museum. Went in. Got asked by a chap in there (presumably the owner) where in the UK we were from. Ann said Suffolk and then started her description of where Suffolk is with Cornwall. He asked if we knew Virginia Water. We said yes. He said he owns a house there. Must have a couple of quid. He asked if we had come because we'd seen the advert in National Geographic magazine. We said no. He said he had advertised in it in the UK. He asked how we found out about the museum. I said I looked on Google maps as we were driving this way and wanted something to do. Later I said to Ann should we tell him that nobody in the UK reads National Geographic magazine?

Were told that the museum was over three sections over the site. It was suggested to us that we start at the mining and farming barn which was the furthest part away as it has no aircon and will be at the temperature of outside. We followed the advice. Ann made me drive down to it as she didn't want to walk. Went in. It was warm but had some industrial size fans which made it bearable.

Tractor

Loom or something

Printing machinery

Next I was made to drive to site two which was five yards back up the hill. It was a section on carriages and wagons. At this point I think we were the only ones in the museum. There was a man from the museum called Tom in there. He decided he would give us a guided tour of the place. He spent hours telling us about the carriages and wagons. Also he kept telling us about other people who had been to the museum and he had shown around and their reaction to each story which therefore made the original story even longer. He also ran a quiz of things that are obvious and was amazed when Ann kept getting the answer right. He told us about a place near New Zealand called Tonga and another called Samoa where guests had come from and had we heard of them. There was also a little bit of casual racism in there too.

Fire engine

Wagon

Hearse

The Stage

All different types of horseshoe

Eventually we managed to get away. I needed to use the toilet which was situated back at mining and farm section. I walked back down the five yards. Stopped on my way back up to take a photo.

Waterwheel

Next drove up to the final top part of the museum. Not much there except a lot about the frog jumping championships which are held in the town each year. Sounds like a barrel of fun. Bought a magnet and then headed for our accommodation. Stopped to get some supplies on the way as it is self catering. Arrived at the Motherlode Miners Cabin just outside of Jamestown. Unloaded. Read the advice about if you hear a rattle it will be a snake so probably best to move away. Annoyed Ann by making rattling noises.

Sat around for a bit. We had planned to have scrambled eggs on toast for tea as all the online reviews of the place bang on about the owner leaving eggs in the cabin from their chickens and how nice they are. As you can imagine that meant we were left no eggs. That meant we then had to go out again to get something else. 

Saw Mule deer as we left the drive.  Drove to Walmart at Sonora and got some more stuff. As we left a employee on the door held his hand out. I just looked at him wondering what he wanted. He stared back and went 'Receipt?!'. Presumably I was meant to know that he wanted the receipt. He took it and then underlined the date and gave it back and we walked out. We discussed what the hell had just happened as we walked back to the car. The only thing we could think of is that people in Sonora must buy stuff, get a receipt and then go back and get the same stuff again and then walk out using the same receipt.

Drove back to the cabin. Saw Mule deer on the drive again.

Calm down Deer

View from the deck

Ate dinner and then had some ice cream. Two new Ben and Jerry's flavours, Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch and Vanilla Caramel Fudge. Very nice.

Put a wash on as we are staying here for two nights so we'll have time to dry it.  Cabin is now about the right temperature. The aircon is having to work super hard to cool the old place with its tin roof. Hopefully it won't get too hot in the night.

States visited - 4

Mule deer watch - high

Rattlesnake watch - low

Day Fifteen

Had a bit of a sleep in. There was quite a lot of noise in the hotel during the night. Went to Starbucks under the hotel for breakfast. Brought it back to the room to eat.

Eventually headed about around half past ten. Drove down towards Old Sacramento. Parked up a little bit short of it as it was free parking outside the old part of town as opposed to being charged in it. Headed to the californiarailroad.museum in the already very warm day.

Went in and learnt about Sacramento's first railroad and then how the person behind that was then involved in completing the first trans continental railroad across the USA. Also lots about his wife who supported him and was involved in documenting stuff via paintings and pressings for when they took the idea to congress for backing. There was lots of information about the difficulties building the railroad and the conditions for the workers especially the ten thousand Chinese migrants who worked for the company. 

It was quite warm in the museum and it turns out the air con had stopped overnight and now was struggling to cool the whole building down from scratch.

Took a fair few pictures of trains and stuff.

Surveyors camp

First train in Sacramento

Depiction of Chinese workers

Red diesel

Ann for scale

A few model trains

Once we had seen it all we bought a magnet and moved out into the intense heat of the day. It was now over 100F so we tried out best to stay in the shade. Wandered around the old town. Was a bit disappointed because a lot of the buildings were empty or for let. Ended up going in here to cool down and get some refreshment. Frankies Pizza Old Sac. It was ok but not the best. Main thing was we got free refills on our drinks and we were thirsty.

Went back out into the furnace. Ann said she wanted an ice cream so we went to sacsweets.com.

Cones

Stood in the shop eating it under the air conditioner for a while before going back out in the sauna. Wandered a bit more in the old town and took some photos.

Old Railroad Yard

Steamer

Sign

Old Town

Headed back to the black metal oven or car as its known. Used the feature on the keys that lets you start the engine and air con as you are walking towards it. Drove the short distance to the California Automobile Museum. It didn't look that busy and we weren't sure what it would be like as it wasn't in the nicest of areas but inside it was very good except no air con. Luckily it wasn't as warm as the railroad museum. There were lots of volunteers inside eager to talk cars with the punters. As it was quite empty and we were some of the only punters they kept wanting to talk to us. Heard the same things repeatedly. We wanted to wander fairly quickly around and take some snaps and then move on but kept getting stopped and talked at. We were typically British, very polite whilst at the same time thinking please leave us alone. Anyway here is a plethora of car action for your delight.

Big Silver Car

Big Light Blue Car

Jeep

Marilyn Monroe's Car

Pontiac Firebird

$1.5million worth of car

Linda Ronstadt's Porsche

The car John Dillinger stole when escaping from jail

Long black car

Lambo

Bought a magnet from the shop and headed out into the afternoon kiln. Started the aircon from a distance again. By now it was 4.40pm. We wanted to try and get to one other place but it was shutting at 5pm. Set the satnav for Sutter's Fort SHP and drove there. Initially we thought it was shut as the big gates were closed but we drove a circuit around the block and found a smaller entrance open. Did another circuit to get back to the best place to park. Got out and hustled in. They told us it was shutting in four minutes, we said we know, we just want a quick look. It is currently free entry as there is building work going on hence why we didn't mind only seeing it very quickly. Sutter's Fort was the first European settlement in central California. It is named after the guy who founded it, his name was John Sutter. Makes sense. Took an obligatory photo or two.

Big gate and guns

Stuff

Camp mock up

Couldn't see any magnets so headed back to the hotel. Sat in the room with the aircon on for a while just cooling down. Decided to head out for dinner at Mel's Diner as we had done the night before. This was because we couldn't be bothered to find anywhere else. Discussed, as we have on previous trips, the issue of homelessness in American cities. We have seen tent cities in Anchorage, Honolulu and Sacramento on a scale you just don't see in the UK. We are still debating whether that is because we hide it better or more is done to help people back home. 

On the way back we tried to find some of the large murals that are dotted around the city as Ann wanted to photograph them.

Johnny Cash

Got back and made sure the aircon was still on full blast. Just heard what I hope was fireworks but could also have been automatic gunfire. Just found out that Sutter's Fort has a shop but it closes at 4.30pm hence we couldn't see it. They do a nice magnet. Might have to try and get one before we leave Sac tomorrow.

Ann now asleep.

States visited - 4

Car watch - high

Train watch - high

Day Fourteen

Had planned to go out and get breakfast then return to pack up and check out of the hotel, but in the end we slept in and we weren't ready to go until 11am. Whilst not going out I checked how much we have so far spent on the credit card. Whilst doing so I saw that as a gift from Barclaycard I get five months of free Apple music subscription. Activated the subscription immediately. Started asking Siri to play random songs. 

Checked out. 

Had a Knightley family Saturday (night) pub quiz whilst sat in the hotel car park still connected to the hotel wifi. 

When that was done we nipped to Starbucks down the road and got some breakfast to go. Drove the half hour or so west to our only stop of the day, Bodega Bay. Whilst driving we used Apple car play to turn Siri in to a DJ by requesting songs constantly.

When we got there it was utterly rammed. People and cars everywhere. Masses of people queueing to get to get food. Turns out it is a very popular holiday destination with the Californians. We, however, were there for a different reason. Those discerning movie watchers amongst you may well know that Bodega Bay is where Hitchcock set The Birds. Carrying on our movie location visits from previous trips we decided to try and find some of the sites.

Initially we drove through the town just having a gander and ended up on the far side going up on the headland. The ranch house from the film where Mitch Brennan lives was up on this hill but was demolished years ago. Turned around and went back to the main part of the town where The Tides Wharf restaurant and shop is. Parked up and went in. This was the location of the diner in the movie although the original building has been demolished and the whole area has been changed around. The gas station is still in the same place. Spent quite some time mooching around in the gift shop. Got the prerequisite magnet.

Decided to eat, not in the main restaurant, but at the little side kiosk. Sat and looked out across the bay imagining Tippi Hedren motoring across on a small boat. Googled facts about the film whilst we ate. Discovered the owner of the Tides Wharf during the sixties, Mitch Zanich, gave Hitchcock permission to use it in the film on three conditions: 1. The town in the film had to be called Bodega Bay 2. The lead character had to be called Mitch 3. He had to have a speaking part in the film. Hitchcock met all three conditions.

Saw a seal swimming in the water as we looked out the window. Went out and took some photos on the deck across the bay.

Got back in the car and drove to Bodega five minutes up the road. Stopped at this house and took some photos.

School house

It is now a private residence but at the time it was an abandoned school house. The film crew patched it up and used it for the school in the film. You can see that here: Crows Attack the Students - The Birds

The church was also used

As we arrived there was a group of people in the middle of the road with a camera on a tripod taking a big group picture in front of the house, all posing in a mock screaming manner. Looked quite funny.

Now we have been there we can clearly see where the footage has been cut about etc as the house is nowhere near the coast. Also that the trees have grown and awful lot as the road is nowhere near as open as it was. You now cannot see any of that hill in the background.

Set off to our hotel in Sacramento which was a couple of hours away. Spent most of the journey berating Siri for not finding the right song to play. That and being stuck in traffic. Crossed the Napa river and saw lots of vineyards.  Once we hit the I80 things started to move a bit more. Got into Sacramento and entered the hotel's multi storey car park. Not much headroom. Instinctively ducked as we drove in hoping not to hear the car roof scrape on the barrier. Made it up to the guest parking floors. Got out the car. It was 36 degrees. Way hotter than anything else this holiday. Two hours earlier at Bodega it was a bit chilly!

Checked into the hotel. Went out for dinner here: The Original Mels Diner

Now back and planning our day in Sac tomorrow. Just found out the parking is free on Sundays in most areas. Result.

Ann is awake. Must have been the lie in this morning.

States visited - 4

Seals watch - high

Bird attacks - low

Day Thirteen

Was rudely awoken by Ann telling me it was ten to four. No other instructions were given. Got up. We were in the lobby by 4.45am. We weren't the first. Still managed to get on the first shuttle to the airport at 5am. 

Checked our luggage and then headed for security. Long queue. Eventually got to the front of it. Went through the body scanner. Was asked to stop because I had 'a discrepancy in the groin and buttock area'. That is the direct quote the security guard gave me. He told me he was going to do a search and asked me if I wanted to be searched there or in a room. I said there. No discrepancy was found. Whilst the search was going on I looked at the screen. It just showed a red square in said area. I presume it was the button fly on my shorts. 

Having been touched up by a stranger, we got our stuff and made our way to the gate. Thought we would get breakfast at the Starbucks there before we boarded. Turns out it was the slowest Starbucks ever. By the time we got our order it was time to board. Got on. Flew. Arrived in San Francisco having completed the sixth of seven flights this trip. Last time we were here was 2010. Thirteen years since our first trip! Doesn't seem like more than five since we were on Alcatraz. Absolutely ridiculous. 

Deplaned. Went to baggage claim. My suitcase arrived first. Wasn't sure what was happening or how to react to this. Thought that Ann's one might jump out just before mine reached us on the conveyor but it didn't.

Next we needed to pick up the hire car. Now I've realised that airport car hire plays on the fact you are trapped and, whether you pre book or not, you have no choice but to choose from the selection they have. When I was booking the car a month or two ago, I realised that if we collected from there we could either get a smaller SUV or a premium one at a large cost. Presumably you can't get a plain full size one so that people have to take the expensive one instead. What I did find was that at another Enterprise about seven or eight minutes from the airport you could get one, so I booked it from there instead.

This, however, left us a conundrum. How do we get to the pick up? We couldn't walk so we would have to get an Uber. Ann checked the App and the cost was going to be about $40. Far too much. So I had hatched a plan. There was a Hyatt Regency a couple of mins walk away from the pick up and there was a free shuttle bus to the hotel for those staying (which we weren't). We went to the bus pick up and waited. Got on. Got dropped at the hotel. Got off with our suitcases. Waited for the bus to depart and then walked to the Enterprise office down the road. What a cheeky little move. Ann said it made her feel nervous. I suggested we reverse the trick when we drop the car back. She says no. We'll find out hat happens in a later blog. Picked up the car. Black Chevy Tahoe, a car we have had before on previous trips.

The Beast

Filled up with fuel at the nearby garage and then set the satnav for our hotel about an hour and twenty minutes north. The progress was slow as it was Friday night rush hour. Lots of traffic and lots of traffic lights as we headed through the west side of San Fran. Eventually we ended up crossing quite a famous bridge.

Eerie

It was misty. Luckily it wasn't hit by an earthquake, tsunami, tornado or aliens as normally happens to it and we made it across.

Slowly we continued until we reached our destination cambriasonoma.com. It is very nice and has a price tag to match. Checked in and dumped our stuff. Headed out for dinner at mikesatthecrossroads.com. I had a Grilled Cheese a la Miguel. Ann had something. It was a a good place. Ann and I discussed writing a book about American road trips and all the tips we would put in it. One would be to follow the locals when it comes to picking places to eat. Mike's was full of locals and more and more kept coming in. We did well to get a table. It is the sort of place where there are never any other visitors other than us, which is just how we like it.

Nipped to Safeway to buy a 24 pack of water to put in the car. Headed back to the hotel. Ann couldn't remember if breakfast was included with our stay so asked at reception. It wasn't. Ann looked at the prices. Needless to say we'll head out somewhere to eat instead.

My book has been found in Hawaii. The lady who's apartment was going to post it and we were going to send her the money but the cost of posting it anywhere is more than the cost of the book. We've told her not to bother. She says she'll read it instead. I'm more devastated that my five euro note I use as a book mark is in it. Been my bookmark for seven years.

Now watching a double header of Pretty Woman and Big. They just don't make films like these anymore.

Ann is still awake. Another oddity in a day of them.

States visited - 4

Discrepancies on the groin and buttock area - 1

Times violated by a stranger- 1