A road sign to San Francisco covered in stickers.
Latest blog posts
21st July 2024 at 13:39 - Damian
Along the Marina Boulevard are a jumble of quirky quaint houses.
It's a long, flat walk to the bridge. Plenty of people out walking and cycling making the most of a sunny weekend.
Quaint beach houses.
View of the bridge from Chrissy Field. An old Airforce base that was taken over by the army in 1974 and turned into a hazardous materials dump. From 1994 restoration began and it's now part of the waterfront path to the bridge.
21st July 2024 at 13:30 - Damian
Cable cars used to be everywhere in SF. Now there are only three lines left with 1/10th the original length at 8.5km.
They use traditional wooden block brakes and cables that run at around 15km/h. Both of which wear down and have to be replaced frequently. A "grip" (the driver/operator) and a ticket collector. It's a costly operation.
They're very popular with tourists and there are long queues to get on during the day. We caught one at 0730 when it was quiet.
An empty cable car.
21st July 2024 at 13:10 - Damian
Today we had an early start with a cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf. From there we walked along the waterfront and then up and across the Golden Gate Bridge and on to Sausalito for lunch. Returned by ferry to the Ferry Building followed by a walk along the crowded piers, back through Chinatown for an early dinner and home again. 18km walking all up. Tired feets.
More photos to follow.
A view of the Golden Gate Bridge through the chain link fence on the approach. No fence once you're over the water, just nets below to stop jumpers (and hats that blow off heads).
21st July 2024 at 08:40 - Damian
Let's talk about the price of ice cream in San Francisco. NZ$12.70 for a single scoop once you include tax and tip. Not generous scoops, either. We've been into a handful of ice cream shops and nothing cheaper than that. We've not been able to bring ourselves to indulge at that cost.
20th July 2024 at 12:14 - Sally
Alcatraz far, far away. Damian still trying to drum up support to Liberate the Lane.
[edit by Damian: California is largely Democrat/blue and I think they see my red shirt with some political-sounding words on and mistake me for a GOP supporter. It's awkward.]
Alcatraz in the distance.
20th July 2024 at 12:05 - Sally
Walking tour of Fisherman's Wharf today. Starting in Ghirardelli Square. Fountain by Ruth Asawa who spent a lot of time in a concentration camp in Arkansas after the war.
Fountain in Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf.
19th July 2024 at 14:51 - Damian
Bit of a bad start to San Francisco. SIM card issues, Clipper travel card issues, emerged from the subway to the aftermath of a carjacking and a lot of druggies on the street.
But managed to get to our hotel and took a walk around our neighbourhood, had a beer in a lovely casual bar and then nice dinner at a place called The Grove nearby.
Now back at the hotel watching the absolute mind numbing shitshow that is American politics with Trump speaking at the Republican National Convention.
18th July 2024 at 19:00 - Damian
It was peak hour when we needed to go to the airport and we're away for a month so rather than fight traffic and pay for parking we decided to take public transport. Bus, bus, train, bus.
$7.70 each and 1h40m all up.
Perhaps twice as long as driving but time's not an issue for us right now.
17th July 2024 at 09:37 - Damian
Tomorrow we're off to the States for a month. Back on 20 August.
Inspired by the excellent https://seat61.com blog we're taking the train across the country on the California Zephyr and Empire Builder routes with an initial diversion to Yosemite.
We're traveling el-cheapo in coach class breaking the journeys up into manageable chunks: San Francisco > Denver > Chicago > St Paul-Minneapolis > Portland > San Francisco.
We'll be doing a bit of hiking and cycling and a lot of eating.
Map of USA with train routes San Francisco > Denver > Chicago > St Paul-Minneapolis > Portland > San Francisco
4th July 2024 at 12:36 - Damian
11.5km morning walk today from Northcote to Takapuna via Tuff Crater and Patuone Reserve and back via the Akoranga bus station motorway overpass and Northcote Te Awataha Greenway.
You can mostly avoid roads these days and even the sound of morning traffic from the motorway makes it more pleasant because you know you're not in it.
Walkway around Tuff Crater.
Walkway in Patuone Reserve.
Route from Northcote to Takapuna and back. Mostly avoiding roads.
29th June 2024 at 15:04 - Damian
We left Matakana early this morning stopping at the Ringawera Bakery for a sourdough baguette and a couple of sweets. From there we headed toward the west coast and Atiu Creek Regional Park.
There's a place for self-contained campervans at the entrance near the highest point with million dollar views so we'll stay here the night and see if we can catch a nice sunset.
We ambled the 2.5hr 7.8km Oruawharo River Trail on arrival and have blobbed out watching storms and sunshine blow through.
Views over the Kaipara Harbour along the Oruawharo River Trail.
29th June 2024 at 06:31 - Damian
The roads around Matakana are treacherous for cycling or walking but the local community has built a path between Matakana and Omaha that uses a combination of quiet backroads and dedicated paths.
Only 15 minutes cycle from our digs to the pub and a safe meander back in the dark
Silky 8 Wired 2018 oak barrel aged 11% stout.
A wooden walkway section of the path between Matakana and Omaha.
29th June 2024 at 06:14 - Damian
Our main reason for coming up this way was to catch up with friends at 8 Wired Barrelworks in Matakana for their Matariki dark beer festival.
We found a park over property nearby with tiered level pitches. Only $10 for the night with an honesty box at the top of the driveway. They had eggs in the honesty box at $8 at a dozen so we grabbed a carton as well.
Our accommodation for the night. Level gravel parks for self contained vehicles.
29th June 2024 at 05:58 - Damian
Leigh Eats fish and chips for lunch. Consumed just down the road at Matheson Bay on the beach. Beautiful little bay but a steep pebbly beach with waves that were causing grief to a couple of sit-on kayakers attempting to launch. Much laughter from their family picnicking on the grass.
The snapper was pricey at $10.50 per 100g but they gave us extra so all is forgiven. Delicious.
Leigh Eats fish and chips.
Snapper and chips with Whitlocks on the beach.
Maps and more
New Zealand 2021-
Europe 2019-2020
Scandinavia 2017
UK/Europe blog 2017-2020