Lots of pictures

We had a reservation for a city tour on a historic cable car (now motorized!) the next morning. We had a little time to spare, so we checked out the free Musée Mécanique ("mechanical museum") at Fisherman's Wharf.  They have all these very old penny arcade games that still work. I say free, but we spent several dollars playing games:). 

On to the cable car tour!

First stop was the Palace of Fine Arts. We only had 15 minutes so we speed walked around the lagoon, snapping pictures as fast as we could. It was beautiful and breath-taking, in a different way than the redwoods. Originally built for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in 1915, it was so well-loved, the people decided to keep it around. It was easy to see why.

Next stop was the Golden Gate Bridge! We drove over and almost got blown away, stopped at the viewing vista for another 15 minutes, then drove back across. 

This picture was taken right after Elle's hat flew off over the ledge. 

Thankfully, her hat stuck against a small bush close to the wall. I ignored the sign, jumped over and retrieved her hat, all the while thinking, "I'm going to get arrested at the Golden Gate Bridge."

We cruised through much of the city after that, seeing Pacific Heights, the Presidio, the Victorian architecture, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Union Square, Coit Tower, the Transamerica building and finally ending back at Fisherman's Wharf. It was a fun way to see all the cities' highlights in a couple hours. Not to mention none of the stress of navigating the streets ourselves! 

Madison spotted this In-N-Out burger at the start of our tour and we headed there for lunch when we stepped off the cable car.

Apparently, riding on the tour for a couple hours and a lot of walking did not tire Elle out at all. 

We walked down to Ghirardelli square after dinner at the Bistro Boudin. I learned that there is a specific lactobacillus used to make the sourdough bread named for San Francisco?! We had only one day left before we had to head back home! 

If you're going to San Francisco...

Make sure you clean out your rental car well.

We got in to San Francisco late that afternoon and went straight to the airport to turn in the sweet mustang. There's something about the airport that always makes you feel anxious and rushed. Mom dropped us off at arrivals and we hurriedly got our suitcases and bags out. She would go turn the car in and then meet us at the hotel shuttle stop. She was back with us in record time and we rode the shuttle in to downtown, to our hotel near Fisherman's Wharf. As we settled in the hotel room, I realized I couldn't find the redwood earrings I'd just bought anywhere. Mom had wrapped several pairs in napkins and I remembered laying mine on the floorboard in the front seat. And that's where they still were. I was a little bit heart-broken. We called the rental center, but got a message that they were closed for the day. The next day we got in touch, but of course, the car had been cleaned and "no earrings in a napkin" had been found.

I made my peace with the loss and we walked down to Fisherman's Wharf to sight see and find some place for dinner. We ended up eating at a little place called Chowder's on Pier 39 and I had some very rubbery calamari. I'm sure the chowder was delicious. The calamari was not. But Elle and I rode the double carousel, we watched the sea lions, admired Alcatraz and just enjoyed the sights. It did get very chilly as the night wore on and we walked briskly back to the hotel for a good night's sleep!

That's a WWII liberty ship in the background next to a WWII submarine!

Elle is a lefty!

California, Day 3-Part 1

We took our time the next morning, getting breakfast and packing up to start our trek to San Francisco. Mom and Maddie rented a sweet convertible mustang, mainly for their scenic drive up the Pacific Coast from LA to Monterey. But now that convertible had to get two more passengers, plus suitcases a little further up the roads. We crammed in, and started with the top down, but that didn't last long. It's much cooler in the back than in the front and the back seat two were shivering. We planned to take a small detour to Big Basin Redwood State Park near Santa Cruz. And even though "all roads in to Big Basin are curvy", Mom was a champion driver and we made it without any more sickness. 

Don't Mom and I look cute with our heads slightly tilted to opposite sides?!

I think this is one of those times where the pictures just cannot do it justice. They are so magnificent and breath-taking. We walked along one of the trails, then had lunch at the Snack Bar. We found a few more fun souvenirs in the camp store--a bag of rocks for Elle and some really pretty redwood stud earrings for me. 

This one was called the Chimney tree. The tree is still living and growing, but is entirely hollow from base to top. I learned that redwoods are able to resist many of the effects of fires and the Chimney tree is one that has lived to tell about it. 

This is what they call "redwood burl". Most experts say burl wood is composed of dormant buds. Elle was busy trying to make a walking stick. 

It was gorgeous weather and the warmest we would be. I even took my sweater off briefly and just had on a long sleeve shirt! I drove the windy leg out of the forest and down the mountains until we stopped for gas. Then we headed to San Francisco!