California: Highway One

To get from San Francisco to Los Angeles according to Google Maps takes 5 hours 50 minutes, we took the scenic route and it took us 2 days. The Mustang wouldn't go any other way.

Not that we were complaining

I hope you appreciate me having to look over cliffs to take photos

This one was particularly high one

The Pacific is truly magical

Sandy Beaches, why did I move to Dirty D.............

These were everywhere

There was a whole section with these types of bridges from the 1930s

Just the open road of the blue ocean

It did get a little rough

You can just see how it hugs the coastline

This is looking back. It is extra scary going the way we did because you are so near the drop in the passenger side

If you get chance to go to California I really do suggest you try and drive this road. It is just fantastic.

California: Muir woods

Just a few miles north of San Francisco, over the Golden Gate bridge is an enclave of serenity that is known as Muir Woods. It is the closest area of preserved coastal redwoods. It really is worth the trip. This one was about 1000 years old when it was cut up, it is taller than me.

They are even more impressive while still standing

The light and dark is fantastic

You can see why it gets so dark, I think it looks like spider webs

These are only baby ones

A rare bit of sky

Flowers do grow on the floor even though it can be dark

I was wanting the Ewoks to come out from their hiding place

I have no idea which way this photo was meant to go, but I like it anyway

Apparently they have to close the park when these bad boys go. They are not allowed to move them once they fall or it will upset the ecosystem.

The loop we walked on had a little steam going through it

With some fallen trees too


A deer just chillin' on the road
Almost forgot the obligatory stand inside the big ass redwood and have your photo taken shot.....

It makes me look quite thin, eh?

California: Golden Gate Bridge

This doesn't really need an introduction, just remember to click on the photos for the larger images. Here is the view driving across the bridge.

A nice view of the other side.

You get a great view of the bay area from the view point just as you get across the bridge.


also of San Francisco too

It's so cool with the fog. You can just make bay bridge in the background

Here is a rare photo of Loz and I. Don't we look lovely....

California: Getting around San Francisco

This is a slightly geeky post but I like the photos so there. Here is an old school tram. They are painted in the colours of where that individual tram came from. They rescue old trams from all over the US.

Here are some pick from the cable car museum. I love old signs.....


... and old machines. Although this is what all the cable cars in San Francisco run on.

Here is the famous cable cars of SF.

A sideways view from the inside (oops forgot rotate that bad boy)

Here is how they turn them. Technology, aye? It was actually great because this where a crazy man hangs out and shouts at the tourists because they are all going to Hell. He had a hoarse voice that day and was getting heckled by the dudes pushing the car.

The end of the line.....

I love these trees. I think they look like giraffes.

Here is a cheeky view of Alcatraz with the cable car lines


PS Sorry for being slow on the posts

California: Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39

While fisherman's wharf is cheesy tourist trap I still kinda like it. There was even a magic show and fat Americans, who are always amusing.

The coolest thing about this area is the other 'fat' residents of Pier 39. The California sea lions.

They started showing up in numbers after the 1989 earthquake and now there are some just chilling out all year round although most migrate depending on the season.

They are so cool. A few minutes before this these to were 'play fighting' in the water, obviously knacked from this they just tried to look as fat as possible.

Or just have a little scratch....

Here is another view of the tourists and San Fran in the background.

California: San Francisco

After the craziness of the drive to San Francisco it was nice not to have to drive for a while. Here are a few shots in no particular order of our time there.

It's like the Sheffield of America with all them hills (ahem).

It does have some quite famous sights...

.... and some not so famous, but still cool.

The iconic transamerica pyramid

and Lombard St

That is actually the other end of Lombard St here is the wavy bit, with the mustang that we wanted..... well for the next bit of the holiday.

I love taking pictures of tourists...

.... and people posing for photos.

This is the Colt Tower, it gives some fantastic view of San Fran and the bay area. It's worth the climb even for unfit people such ans Loz and I.

Chinatown is always good.

One of the true fishermen of Fisherman's Warf.

The bay bridge which doesn't get as much press as the golden gate.

We had a good time in San Fran. Like I said it was nice not to drive for a full day. Apart from just wandering around the highlights of San Francisco not already photographed include:

The drive in, beautiful green California which was so contrasting to the previous days of desert.

Possibly the best burrito I have ever eaten @Taqueria Can Cun - 19 th and Mission St

Going to a 'dueling piano' bar. Where two piano players play songs for money, they can interupt and try and get each side of the room to compete against each other. It was a very different experience of a bar than in England.

Also a few more that get there own posts.