Well, I made it !
I jumped on a train from the Airport and ended up about 3 blocks from where I was staying, I reached my Hotel at about Mid-day, they let me check in early so I was able to have a quick shower then I was out the door.
I headed off in the general direction of Fishermans wharf and then onwards to the Exploratorium, I figured it wouldn’t be that far.. only about 20 blocks to Fishermans wharf and another 30 blocks to the Exploratorium.. along the way I saw heaps of .. piers.. from Pier 1 to pier 47 to be excact, I took photos of random stuff on the way and did the obligatory stop at the famouse pier 39! to take photos of Alcatraz (figured that would be the best spot) and took a few photos of the resident Seal/sea lion colony.
Just Past Fishermans wharf and about 2pm I found a guy on the footpath next to a 40′ Boat selling tickets for a 1 hr Scenic boat trip under the famouse Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz.. only $10.. sweet!!! so I jumped on (with the other 25 or so passengers) and we headed off.. it was windy and cold (somtimes wet from sea spray and a bit of light rain) but great all the same, we went right under the bridge and then circled Alcatraz.. I took Countless photos.. a few of which are in my Gallery now.
After I got back onto Solid Ground @ about 3pm I was feeling a wee bit famished, (I had only eaten a small amount on the plane earlier) I didn’t feel like crab.. (which it seemed was about all on offer at Fishermans Wharf) time was getting on and the Exploratorium museum closed at 5pm I figured it was at least another Hrs walk to the Exploratorium, so I sucked it in and carried on (hoping to find some sort of cafe there) It was starting to Drizzle a little harder by the time I finally got to the Exploratorium just befor 4pm, I went inside and made a B line to the cafe on the other side of the Huge building like an Aircraft hanger that was the Museum, (the Exploratoium is one of the biggest Childrens Science Museums in the world.. lots of cool stuff to play with) I found a Bleak lookingCoffee, Hot Dog and a Ham and Brie Sandwich which i downed in about 3 min, feeling much better I had a good look around and played with “Stuff”
By the time the Museum closed the light Drizzle had turned into a Torrential downpoar! I didn’t have my brollie on me and so didn’t feel like a 2hr walk in a Mid winter Downpoar, I called a cab and waited.. and Waited.. and waited.. Typical USA ! after about 30-40min (it was now very dark outside) the rain calmed down a bit and I decided to walk back to the hotel.
the path home took me through a Small park up a hill through some trees.. no one else around.. it was really peacefull, and then somthing ran out across the path in front of me.. it looked like a large domestic cat.. it ran up a tree just a couple of meters from me.. on closer inspection I saw it was a Racoon!! sooo cute ….. I imediately grabbed my camera set it to manual focus(no way it was going to focus in the dim light) opened the flash and poped a couple of rounds in the Racoons General direction.. (as you can imagine the results were far from perfect and it spooked the poor little guy, he ran out of sight further up the tree) yay anyway, my first Racoon sighting !!
So I made it back to my hotel in one piece.. wish I had more time here to look around.. didn’t get the chance to head up any of those amazing steep streets you see in G.T.A, pretty much just did the waterfront… if only I had more time….
Oh well thats it for now, next stop Indianapolis (Again.. )
Until next time.