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31st July 2024 at 05:49 - Damian

Set the alarm for 0430 in order to catch the bus to Boulder for a hike and beat the heat of the day.

11km walk along the river and up the Anemone Trail with good views over Boulder and Denver in the distance.

Incredibly dry. Apparently only 7% humidity which, as an Aucklander, I can't compute.

Along the trail.
Along the trail.
View from the top. A bit boring but it's always nice to be up high.
View from the top. A bit boring but it's always nice to be up high.
Back down near the river that flows through town.
Back down near the river that flows through town.
The trail.
The trail.

31st July 2024 at 05:28 - Damian

Lunch in Boulder at the Bohemian Biergarten. Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage. Actual rabbit and actual rattlesnake 🐇 🐍.

Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage with sauerkraut, fries and pretzel bread.
Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage with sauerkraut, fries and pretzel bread.

30th July 2024 at 10:41 - Damian

We tried out the app GPSmyCity as an alternative to a traditional walking tour. They have a 3 day trial but it costs US$19/year subscription. We'd be happy to pay that if it was any good but it was stale and dry. The self-guided tour we sampled of downtown Denver missed some quite interesting features (such as the Big Blue Bear) and tried to take us through a construction zone. Uninstalled.

30th July 2024 at 10:35 - Damian

Self-guided walking tour of Denver today. A bit hot out so we cut it short and went to a pub.

I thought these were sausages from afar but they're supposed to be water balloons.
I thought these were sausages from afar but they're supposed to be water balloons.
I don't know what this building is but it was near the Civic Centre Park. (edit: it's a new hotel designed to look like the bark of an aspen tree)
I don't know what this building is but it was near the Civic Centre Park. (edit: it's a new hotel designed to look like the bark of an aspen tree)
Denver Art Museum.
Denver Art Museum.
Big Blue Bear outside the Convention Centre.
Big Blue Bear outside the Convention Centre.

29th July 2024 at 00:49 - Damian

It's 0630 mountain time and we're passing through a little town called Helper somewhere east of Salt Lake City on our way from San Francisco to Denver on the train. Although the coach seats are huge we both didn't sleep well. Couldn't get comfortable. 20 hours in and only 12 hours to go to Denver.

A Union Pacific logo on the side of a freight train.
A Union Pacific logo on the side of a freight train.
Sunrise in Utah.
Sunrise in Utah.

28th July 2024 at 05:01 - Damian

Yesterday our bus from Yosemite to Merced was rescheduled which meant we missed our connecting train by 30 minutes. Which also meant we had to wait for four hot (40°C) hours in Merced for the next train. No biggie; we're on holiday.

We stayed in a hotel in Emeryville last night near the train station in preparation for the California Zephyr trip to Denver this morning.

Little Oven Pizza in Merced. Top notch!
Little Oven Pizza in Merced. Top notch!

28th July 2024 at 04:56 - Damian

On our last day we chilled out and walked to Yosemite Village, the Yosemite Falls (with many tourists) and took a loop bus down to the foot of El Capitan to swim in the Merced River.

A crowded Yosemite Falls.
A crowded Yosemite Falls.
View of El Capitan from the Merced River below. I recommend the documentary, Free Solo which is about climbing this face!
View of El Capitan from the Merced River below. I recommend the documentary, Free Solo which is about climbing this face!

28th July 2024 at 04:50 - Damian

Here's where we didn't stay in Yosemite. The Ahwahnee hotel. Flash as.

The Ahwahnee hotel.
The Ahwahnee hotel.

25th July 2024 at 06:47 - Damian

11km flattish valley walk yesterday. Today a 13km hike up to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. Early start at 0530 to beat the heat and to get through a section of track they close at 0700. 950m climb.

Half Dome on the left. Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls on the right.
Half Dome on the left. Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls on the right.
Yosemite Valley loop including Mirror Lake.
Yosemite Valley loop including Mirror Lake.
Mist Trail and John Muir Trail including Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls.
Mist Trail and John Muir Trail including Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls.

23rd July 2024 at 13:58 - Damian

Our accommodation for the next four nights. There have been bears hanging around so it's strictly no food in the tents. There are bear-proof lock boxes outside each tent.

Our tent at Curry Village.
Our tent at Curry Village.

23rd July 2024 at 13:56 - Damian

Yosemite! We arrived here mid-afternoon. It was 43°C in Merced (where we changed from train to bus) today and low 30s up here. We're going to have to start hiking early tomorrow to avoid the heat.

Someone had set up an easel in the meadow near our camp. Half Dome in the distance.
Someone had set up an easel in the meadow near our camp. Half Dome in the distance.

23rd July 2024 at 01:49 - Damian

Early start to the day. Taking the BART to Emeryville and heading by Amtrak to Yosemite for a few days.

A quiet train before the commuter rush.
A quiet train before the commuter rush.

22nd July 2024 at 16:02 - Damian

Substituting beer for ice creams we've crawled a fantastic range of craft beer bars:

The Lark
Liquid Gold
Black Hammer Brewing
Otherwise Brewing
Zeitgeist
Toronado

Toronado in Lower Haight.
Toronado in Lower Haight.

22nd July 2024 at 15:51 - Damian

Lots of murals in the Mission district. Lots of Mexican and South America eateries, too.

We had the best burrito and quesadillas at La Taqueria at 25th and Mission for lunch and pizza at Yellow Moto at 18th and Valencia.

Mural on the Women's Building at 18th and Lapidge.
Mural on the Women's Building at 18th and Lapidge.
Mural at 6th and Bryant.
Mural at 6th and Bryant.

22nd July 2024 at 15:43 - Damian

They like to keep their fire engines clean. They are clean machines.

A classic San Francisco fire engine with long ladder.
A classic San Francisco fire engine with long ladder.

22nd July 2024 at 15:26 - Damian

The ride was incredibly smooth. It drove confidently but felt safe the whole way.

Turning a corner.

22nd July 2024 at 15:22 - Damian

We've seen a heap of these Waymo self-driving taxis around and decided to try one out today.

We felt safer in this than we've ever felt in a taxi before. Seeing on the screen everything the car is aware of is reassuring. Cost US$15 for a 13 minute 3km journey.

Waymo driverless car arriving.

22nd July 2024 at 15:00 - Sally

53 years old and asked for ID at the bar! God bless the U S A.

21st July 2024 at 14:07 - Damian

San Francisco sourdough has a great reputation but a lot of bakeries cash in on that so it can be a bit hit-and-miss finding a good example.

This olive bread sourdough bun from Acme Bread Company in the Ferry Building was excellent. Especially when dipped in our tiny First Press extra virgin bottle we kept from the meal on the flight over.

A small olive sourdough bun.
A small olive sourdough bun.

21st July 2024 at 13:46 - Damian

Early dinner at House of Nanking in Chinatown. Came highly recommended by an old workmate (thanks, Melissa!). Lousy service but delicious food.

House of Nanking sign.
House of Nanking sign.
Seschuan chicken.
Seschuan chicken.
The signature sesame chicken dish. Deliciously sticky.
The signature sesame chicken dish. Deliciously sticky.

Maps and more

Link to map of NZ travels New Zealand 2021-
Link to map of European travels Europe 2019-2020
Link to map of Scandinavian travels Scandinavia 2017
Link to blog of our UK travels UK/Europe blog 2017-2020