First up my map for today’s driving. I didn’t leave Merced till about noon – I slept and rested. I’m finding it hard to balance lots of sightseeing with getting enough rest – I want to be out there doing things, but at some point I just need more rest than the average human, and it’s frustrating.
From Merced it was a pretty straight run up the freeway and into San Francisco. But lots of traffic, especially the last bits, and confusing despite having a Tom Tom and also google maps. And traffic in San Fran itself (ie after I crossed over the Bay Bridge onto the peninsula) is terrible. Tiny streets, lots of cars, lots of hills. But when the traffic does move it’s lots of fun – like driving a roller coaster with all those hills. Every intersection is horizontal, but there’s a steep hill in between each. Once I got to the hotel I got myself out onto the waterfront, and did some fun touristy shopping at Pier 39.
And remember the saying about restaurants with views not having to provide good food? Well, it holds true here too. I ate at a place at the end of the Pier, overlooking the sunset behind the Golden Gate bridge. But the seafood platter was mushy and tasteless (I could tell the prawns because of the tails, but otherwise couldn’t tell what was under the batter). But still, this was pretty awesome:
Alcatraz:
Sunset behind Golden Gate:
