Houses on Francisco Street, near Russian Hill. ^S
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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.
29th June 2024 at 05:35 - Damian
Mānawatia a Matariki!
Yesterday we drove the long way to Leigh for lunch.
We stopped off at Pakiri Beach¹ because we plan to do a day walk later in the year starting at Te Arai (where we stayed a couple of weekends ago) down the coast finishing at Pakiri which will involve crossing the river there at the end. It looks shallow enough to wade across and will be a refreshing end to a 12km beach walk.
Church at Pakiri.
15th June 2024 at 14:21 - Damian
Instead of spending the night at the bach we've made our way to Te Arai Regional Park¹ near Mangawhai just north of Auckland. It's raining but it's remote and right on the surf beach and only costs $21 for the night.
Stopped at the markets in Mangawhai just as they were closing and had the most amazing pie from the coffee truck there; called 'Porky Pickle' with pulled pork, ham, pickles and salty mustard.
Parked up at Te Arai Beach. Hen and Chicken islands in the distance.
Sunrise over the point
15th June 2024 at 14:16 - Damian
This weekend was supposed to be a regular scything/mowing weekend at the bach but started badly with getting stuck in the sopping ground. It resulted in a stressful hour or two of getting it unstuck, turned around and back up the slippery driveway abandoning the whole idea.
The van firmly stuck on the grassy bit of the driveway at the bach.
Our orange Adria Twin looking splendid in the Honister Pass in England's Lake District back in 2019
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