Yosemite and Kings Canyon, California

We spent the better part of the afternoon driving across the state to the famed Yosemite National Park. At the entrance we got some information and then drove out to Bridal Veil Campground, snatching up one of the last first come first serve campsites. Exhausted, we opted to hunker down for the rest of the evening.

Excited to be in Yosemite

Overhang rock

 In the morning we packed up and drove farther into the park to Glacier Point, a scenic view point perched high on a cliff with a beautiful view of the entire valley and the famed half dome mountain.

View from Glacier Point

It's a long way down

Wraparound view from the top!

At 7000 ft the air was really dry and the altitude was starting to get to us so we hopped back into the car and drove down into the valley for lunch. The drive offered spectacular views.

Farther down in the valley

The valley of the park was packed with visitors and we scrounged to find a parking spot. We bought lunch at a grocery store and walked around the little valley town. At this time of the year, most of the waterfalls are dry but we were able to see some from Glacier Point.

Watch out for bridge trolls

Deciding between Tuolumne Meadows and Kings Canyon, we opted for the later and headed south to the neighboring National Park. As we approached Kings Canyon from the highway, we noticed a strange cloud hanging above the usual California haze.

Strange cloud? Forest fire? Nuclear fallout? We weren't sure.

As we made our way up the steep windy canyon road, we were following a water truck from the local fire department. A few miles later, the National Park gate attendant confirmed our suspicions; there was a forest fire in Kings Canyon and the park was closed.

Giant pine cones near General Grant Tree

Disappointed after a three hour drive, we decided to visit General Grant Tree, a small part of Kings Canyon that was still open to the public despite the fire. While walking over we saw Fox News setting up to interview the park staff. The tree was massive apparently the second largest tree in the world.

After a much needed stroll through the forest of giant sequoias we made a short drive to the neighboring Sequoia National Park and bunked down in one of their campgrounds.

Giant Sequoia Trees

The general Grant tree

A much needed walk after a long drive

We woke up the next morning early intending to drive to San Diego. The air was thick with smoke. It tickled in the back of your thought and had a distinct taste.

The ride out of the park was full of 360 switchbacks and jaw dropping cliff side views. The majority of the ride down the cliff side had very low visibility due to the entire canyon filling with forest fire smoke. Luckily it wasn't so thick that I couldn't see the roads.

After the massive crowds at Yosemite, the empty smoke filled park actually made for a very peaceful drive.

San Francisco, California

Despite our old friend Tony's hectic work schedule at his silicone valley job, he was happy to host us at his apartment in Mountain View. We went out for drinks at a local bar our first night there to catch up. It had been years since Bill had seen Tony, and I hadn't seen him since my last visit in Dec 2013. 

The next morning we were able to leave our car at Tony's place and take the commuter train into the city. We walked through SoMa to Market street and the Business District and tasted all the delicious samples at the Ferry Building. 

Next we walked to North Beach to east lunch at a restaurant called The House that Tony recommended for us. It was absolutely delicious. 

Lunch at The House in North Beach for some delicious Asian Fusion

Curried udon noodles with BBQ chicken

From here we explored North Beach and Chinatown including City Lights bookstore and some delicious pork buns at Chinatown's oldest bakery.

City Lights bookstore with the Transamerica Pyramid in the background

Checking out City Lights Bookstore home of the 1950's beat generation

Walking through chinatown

San Francisco's hills certainly live up to their reputation and we worked up a sweat walking up hill to Lombard street in the hottest part of the day.

The ridiculously windy Lombard St. 

Lombard St. is known for it's ridiculously curvy road. Originally starting as a cattle path, it's still a public street today, although mostly navigated by tourists.

At the top of Lombard St. looking down

Our walk carried us down hill though Pacific Heights to the Embarcadero. We walked along the pedestrian walk getting some good views of Alcatraz, but unfortunately it was too hazy to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bill with Alcatraz in the background

Alcatraz

Watching the old fashioned street car turn around

En route to Fisherman's Wharf we stopped to watch the street car turn around and to play some old fashioned arcade games for a quarter or two at the Musee Mecanique.

Inside Musee Mecanique 

Hot Stuff

Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's wharf is home to a bunch of wild sea lions. We stopped to watch them play fight and lounge in the sun. We also visited the left handed store on Fisherman's Wharf, where Bill could be among his people.

Our last stop for the day was Coit tower. We hiked up five flights of stairs to get a great view from the top. On the way down we helped a lost kitten find a new owner. If that's not a sign of a good day, than I don't know what is.

Coit Tower

After Pizza at an Italian Restaurant in North Beach, we walked briskly back across town to the Caltrain station as it was quickly getting cool and windy. We caught the 8:40 train back to Mountain View.

Someone had a busy day

The next morning we took the Caltrain into the city once more but this time walked from the station to The Castro through The Mission. San Francisco is a city reinventing itself through controversial gentrification. The process has left a patchwork of neighborhoods each with their own distinct character, some safer to walk through than others.

Dolores Park

We took a break from our long walk at Dolores Park, a popular afternoon hang out spot for students and locals. The Castro is the gay neighbourhood in San Francisco home to awesome night life and cool cafes. Also the historical starting point of the gay rights movement. We took a break here to grab a croissant and a mojito ice coffee at Philz Coffee.

The Castro neighbourhood and it's flagship Castro Theater

Next our walk lead us north a few blocks to the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood. This historic neighbourhood was the epicenter of the mass exodus of hippies to California in 1967 summer of love. Those days have long passed but what is left are some cool cafes and an amazingly huge record store called amoeba records.

So many records/Cd's and movies!!!!!

The Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park

Yep smells like a rose

 

We carried on to the Golden Gate Park. This 50 city block long park stretches across the city to the Pacific Ocean. It's home to several museums, Japanese gardens, the botanical gardens and the rose garden as well as much more.

Entrance to Japanese garden

Gorgeous old houses around the city

On our way back to the Caltrain station we gawked at some of the gorgeous homes around the city. Including the famous Painted Ladies.

The Painted Ladies

The next morning we said goodbye to Tony as he headed off to work, packed up and drove 15 min down the road to the Winchester Mystery house.

Front entrance to the house

 Quite a few people had recommended this attraction to us. The house was built by Sarah Winchester, widow of the Winchester Rifle fortune. With her family having died quite suddenly she turned to the help a psychic who told her she was being haunted by all those spirits killed by the Winchester Rifle. The psychic instructed her to go to California, buy an unfinished house and work on it until the day she dies.

Lots of natural light needed with so many rooms

The result of Sarah's efforts and the better part of her fortune is the Winchester Mystery house. A maze of 160 rooms including windows on the floor, stairs that lead to nowhere, doors that open out to second story drop offs and many other unique architectural features.

The rooftop

We took an hour long tour of the main rooms in the house. Despite being haunted (allegedly) there are many beautiful rooms in the house. We also checked out the Winchester gun museum on site afterwards.

Winchester gun museum

After our tour we headed east to the ever popular Yosemite National Park.