Entering California, we made a little detour through the Redwood National Forest. We really wanted to see them, and we did, but if we had a known all the curves and roads traveling in the R.V. down the coast, we might not have done it. These tress are amazing and huge.
If you ever wanted to live in a tree, this would be the place to do it.
The pictures shown here are not the biggest trees we saw. There were several along the way that were bigger than the RV along the road. If you've never been there, the road winds through the forest and your passing semi's going the other way as the the road twists and turns through this imaginary forest where a full size motor home and tractor trailer look like toys compared to these things. They really are unbelievable until you see them for yourself. The pictures that we posted here are the same woods that Return of the Jedi was filmed in. We chased an Ewok for a few minutes but had to get back on the road... Headed for San Francisco... Don't ever... drive... from... the Redwood forest... to San Francisco... on Hwy. 101... In an RV!!!!
-Brutal-
We were so excited to take this route because it was going to take us right over the highly anticipated "Golden Gate Bridge". Well after driving 10 hrs up and down mountains, through twists and turns, OMG it was truly miserable, we finally got to the bridge! Yay!
Below is the most we ever saw of it in two days, even after driving across it. (I'm not kidding)
And now, are you ready for the most memorable part of the bridge that we experienced after we drove across it still full of this massive excitement that had just been corrupted? At the Golden Gate Bridge, you go through the toll plaza after the bridge instead of before it. The toll plaza is completely unmanned and there are blazing signs blinking "Don't Stop - Automatic toll by plate - Keep moving" so in our sea of emotions we run right up to the middle of the toll plaza at about 40 MPH and then realize "Oh Snap!" we're not going to fit through that gate! LOL, its funny now, but let me tell you... It wasn't, funny then. Towing the Camry that we can't back up, in a full onslaught of traffic.... WOW. Well we crept up to this gate, opened up the RV windows, folded in the mirrors on the bus and crept through that thing at a top speed of 0.002 MPH, and cleared the gate by about 1/2 of an inch on each side. Didn't put a scratch on Old Betsy (That's what we're calling her now). Sorry I don't have a pic for you. Things were a little intense right then.
The city was a lot better but anything near the water was plagued by "The Fog". Alcatraz Prison (above)
China Town was really cool for the first two blocks. There was really no need for the other five. One thing that I have seen enough of on this trip is souvenirs made in China. Especially at the Mt. Rushmore Memorial gift shop in the National Park (That's another story for later).
We ate lunch at Pier 39 and explored the shops. The food was fantastic! We had the clam chowder in a bread bowl, some clam strips and I had a local beer. The street performers near the water in San Fran were some of the best I've seen so far. They not only showed considerable talent but were also very gracious & humble. The waterfront in SF gets two thumbs up from us. Its roomy, relaxed, and very friendly. The rest of the city inland... not so much.
After leaving San Francisco, headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, we made a pit stop near Los Angeles. This was Sarah's stop. We stopped at Wal-Mart in Santa Clarita, 30 minutes North of Los Angeles. Sarah, Josh and I took the Camry and headed to Los Angeles. Mike stayed back and napped. Driving blindly, not really knowing where I was going, my nerves were already shot. The traffic was horrible to top it off. Needless to say, after approaching signs that said Hollywood, I made Sarah choose what she wanted to do and all she really cared about was seeing the stars on the Hollywood Boulevard. So, thats what we did. I was not impressed with Hollywood, whatsoever. It's a been there, done that and wont do it again. Too many creeps, druggies and the city was nasty. Not what you see in the movies. We walked the strip one side and came back the other and made our way to the car. It took us an hour to get back, which should have taken only 30. Mike was well rested and was glad he didn't go, but I would have preferred if he did.
On our way to Las Vegas, Nevada
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