The trouble with staying in motels is that sometimes the previous room occupant is a right joker. The one who had stayed in ours was no exception as he had kindly set the alarm for a 5 am wake up call for us.
The trouble was the stupid thing refused to shut up. Bleary eyed both Martin and I pushed every button on it in every combination we could think off, but it refused to shut up. Eventually I had to pull the heavy set of drawers out from the wall and yank the plug on the thing - and it stayed like that for the 3 days we were there. In fact it was still unplugged when we left, I wonder if anyone has noticed yet?
In that wonderful AA guide I had read that Mel's dinner, just accross the road, was the place to go, so we walked over to have a coffee, and plan out our plan of attack on the city. Well Mel's might be the place to be but it was the most expensive coffee we had in USA and the service wasnt that wonderful. We vowed to find the Starbucks for next time.
All over the place we had seen muni tickets for sale, but couldnt work out what they actually allowed you to travel on. When we walked down to the wharf the previous evening we had seen the cable car turning point and muni tickets were on sale there, 
so obviously they included the cable car, but what else. There was only one way to find out. Peering at the window wasnt it, 
asking inside was
and soon we had a 3 day pass to cable, street and underground transport all for $11 each (about £10 all told). 
People are wonderfully friendly in San Francisco, we were soon chatting to a couple from Arizona as we explored on the cable car, who suggested we started our tour at the cable car museum. Instead though we spotted signs on the car advertising the 46th annual cable car bell ringing contest, and guess what, it was on that day in about an hours time.
So we carried on up to Union Square, the main centre of San Fran. Desperate for the loos we ventured into Macy's where we were able to get the most fantastic view from the 6th floor and took these fab photos of the preparations going on in the square.
There was a very talanted 'Slot Blades' giving it their all with some '70's funk,
Carl the policeman doing glad handing and crowd control at the same time
the porter from the Shakespear hotel had turned out as a judge,
and the place was overrun with journalists, photographers and even a television crew.
This was obviously a big event and we looked forward with anticipation as we took ring side seats.
The main event was a bit of a while starting as we had to wait for the mayor, the sponsors and the head of the supported charity all to big it up with long speaches first, and explain the rules. These were pretty straight forward, basically anyone and everyone from professional bands to dancers could support the bell ringer.
We had managed to secure the bottom step to sit on, right at the edge of the square and very close to the action. We were going to have a terrific veiw of the goings on. Only ... remember all those journalists, camera men and television crews? All those extra dignatories and hangers ons? As soon as the first bell was rung, they were all there, right up tight against the cable car, in front of us. All the action was in the small space the other side of the cable car, hidden from most of the audience. We couldnt see much of anything at all except the backsides of the media. And those cable car bells are not that loud (see utube for examples, you can actually see on there what we couldnt).
Dissapointed we headed off to grab a coke and a subway sandwich.
It was my youngest ones birthday today - she is 23 already.
Happy birthday hun!
I sort of got called in to work but 2 mins after booking me they called back to say the school had changed its mind. So I went out to Asda instead and got some make up pressies for Laura and a few tops and pair of trousers in the sale. Why am I two sizes bigger on the top than the bottom? It makes buying clothes so difficult. Hopefully all the time I am spending on the wii fit will help improve matters?
Not when we went over to take the birthday pressies and ended up eating huge chunks of black forest gateaux. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
Time to leave Yosimite.
I was really disappointed that we didn't see any bears in the park.
We headed out of Oakland and cut across country towards San Francisco. We had come out of the park at the North end having gone in at the North end, and to be honest the journey back towards San Fran was pretty boring, as for the most part it was all flat farmland. Except as we went through the mountain pass we saw the hugest reservoir ever.
We did finally manage to find where to put the water in the car for the windscreen wash though so at least we could see out the windows as we drove!
Mid afternoon we stopped at a large cafe come attraction area. This had apparently started out as a small stall selling cherries, but over time as its popularity as a stopping place increased, it grew until there was a cafe, a huge veg/fruit shop, a gift shop, a kiddies play park, a train ride and this little mate.
Finally we hit the outskirts of San Francisco at 3 o'clock. Martin had read in my AA travel guide book that I had bought with us, that there was a hotel situated in a road containing most of the hotels in the city, with good reviews. We drove around a bit but got completely lost even with a street map. We saw the bottom end of the crookedist road in the world (as used in many a movie car chase), and Telegraph hill with amazing views across the whole of the Bay area, but still couldnt find the hotel.
Eventually we got out and walked, asking people in the street as we passed them. None knew of the place we wanted although they all tried to be as helpful as they could. Finally someone gave us directions but it was a bit from where we were so we went back for the car. When we finally did find the place it looked really run down and totally cheap and nasty. No wonder it had good reviews in the AA book, it was AA registered, of course they were going to big up their own places! Across the road was the Cow Hollow motor inn though,
and at $101 a night was just the ticket. Car parking was free, and we had a room that must have had a floor space equal to the whole of the floor space of our home. We never managed to find the Best Western that Dolly said she always stayed in, but we were more than comfortable for the few days we had left of our stay.
After settling in - and unpacking, finally I could stop living out or a suitcase and hang up my Fisherman's wharf. This was a very long walk, across a park, through a shopping precinct (Safeways to be exact) and up a rather steep hill. We loved the place on sight though. The park was full of dog walkers and joggers, and Fisherman's Wharf reminded me of Margate.
There was a talented sax player busking on the sea front and we stopped to watch a spray paint artiste making pictures of the bay at sunset. We had just the best T-bone steaks in Jack's bar for only £6 each, and finally caught the street car back.
What I should be doing is making my youngest daughter a birthday card for her birthday tomorrow. What I have been doing is playing wii fit, and getting very frustrated with bits of paper that keep refusing to stick where I want them to. So I am having a break and putting some more of our USA trip on here.
On Sunday 1st June we fortified ourselves with a buffet breakfast that was not a patch on those we had had in Vegas (and nearly paid for 3 instead of 2 when Martin didn't spot the waitress had bought over the wrong bill). Then we booked out and set off straight for Yosimite village.
We had a quick look round the museum which was quite interesting but involved a lot of reading and really we wanted to get outside and see the real thing, and walked around the mock up of an Indian village.
We discounted using the tour busses as they took too long having to keep stopping to let people on and off, and set off to drive the 18 miles up to Glacier point.
We were going to go straight up but we were so stunned to see snow along the way that we stopped to take some photos.
We did try to walk out to the snow but the field was swampy from snow melt.
At the top you are 8,000 feet above sea level, and the views are stunning!
There was a real mix of people also enjoying the sights,
from little old ladies puffing and panting up the slight incline, to super fit athletic types who were looking over the edge to see where their next trek was going to take them.
It was a fair drive from there, back down to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. I had never heard of these until Scrapdolly mentioned them on the phone to me, so didn't really know what to expect.
I was very impressed. We opted for the tractor tour, which in some ways was brilliant because you got an audio tour guide with all the history of the Grove and the trees, on the other hand it was jolly bumpy and we were glad to get off at the last stop to walk slowly back to the start point at our own pace.
Having enjoyed the last Best Western inn we had looked up the nearest one to Yosimite before leaving it, in the room handbook. We found the one at Oakwood easily but it was a real disappointment. The pool looked far from inviting, as it sat in a very shady part of the gardens under the trees, and the spa was broken and shut up. The restaurant attached was under notice of new management and there was a queue of kids waiting to use the free Internet connection. We walked down towards the town, I admit the bit we saw looked very sad and depressing, mostly thrift shops or empty cafes. We really must learn to drive ALL the way through the towns though because when we drove out the following morning we discovered we were really still on the outskirts, and the real Oakwood was nestled further round the corner, and was actually quite metropolitan.
We ate in a huge dinner three doors (ooh sorry should have measured that in blocks) which was virtually empty. We had our first course, and thought we could possibly force down some apple pie and ice cream., We waited and waited, but it didn't arrive. Finally the waitress came and asked us (again) if we needed anything else, we reminded her we had ordered desert. Now I know from my brother that if cafes make mistakes, many Americans expect to have the meal for nothing to make up. When we visited him in Arizona he delighted in attempting to discover mistakes just to get a freebie. But of course we Brits are not like that and the poor waitress was so grateful that we made no fuss, she kept coming over and thanking us.
*Kelly fixed up her laptop as a webcam, and showed me her house! Now I am waiting for her to be on line again as I have figured out how to use my Fuji as a webcam too.
*Applied for a reading recovery teacher job
*Supply work very thin on the ground in last weeks of summer term
*Martin is on a 7 day week due to training to drive his forklift truck.
*We joined Laura and and Wayne for a drink at the pub quiz last night
*Mum and Dad got a new dvd player/recorder and
I GOT A WII FIT!!!!
Ollie had promised to look out for one for me on the stock register, and texted me at half 3 to say Ashford sainsbury had 2 in store. I phoned to reserve but both the customer service desk and the electrical dept manager denied having any in. I texted Ollie back who ten mins later phoned to say he had reserved on for me if I got there before 6. I was supposed to be staying in for a phone call from some market research firm, but hey! Wii fit is far more important. Of course when I got there I am first told they dont have any, then my name is recognised but the dept manager is in a meeting, but finally some 15 mins later I have it in my grasp. I am so grateful to Ollie as these machines really like gold dust, and so proud of myself for driving the 22 miles there without getting lost.
Of course having got on it and had my BMI and weight recorded I am not so proud, but the edge was taken off this when Martin was told he was also overweight and his BMI was too high too.
OK I did some paper crafting. I have been busy getting page kits ready for my weekend away with all my pad friends, meeting most of them for the first time, but Make the Moment Last were having a sale so I treated myself to a few bits. When they arrived I was instantly inspired and had this one made within an hour.
Its all very 3 D but my camera cards are still full with stuff from our road trip so I have had to use the scanner.
Road trip continued - Yosimite.
After Martin had snoozed for a short time, we set off once again to go into the park itself. Shadows were getting long in the afternoon so I was a bit concerned about paying to get in, but it turned out to be $20 for a 7 day pass. The river continued to tumble along beside us the whole way in and I took heaps and heaps of photos which I wont bore you all with here but it really was stunning to follow.
*Note to Yosimite park rangers, giving tourists a 3 inch thick guide book to drivers as they go through the gate is a bad idea, especially as the book contained the map yet we were driving a single track road with no stopping points!
As we drove on the views were stunning
but even we were not prepared to turn a bend and see this!
We finally reached the car park and got out to follow the slippery and somewhat steep, yet not too far trail to the bottom of Bridelveil waterfall.
Now all the photos I have been sticking up here are unedited, (you have to wait for the LO's for the edited versions) so quality is not brilliant, especially those shot through an increasingly dty car side window, and my camera is getting to be a bit of an old lady now, I really am due an upgrade. I know I cant compete with the Japanese who walk round with 3 expensive bits of equipment slung about their person. So when a young Japanese lad offered to take our photos I really was expecting brilliant shots.
I guess he didnt realise water is wet and effects the lens! I had the curtesy to wipe the lens dry and protect his camera from the spray as I returned the compliment and took his photo.
We were so amused, that although not very PC we had fun spotting the tourists, the Germans who had come kitted out in sturdy hiking boots, backpacks, hats, and carrying shooting sticks, the Americans taking feet after feet of movie video of trees and rocks, the English in their shirt sleeves carrying only their mobile phones.
We had intended carrying on to see the park from Glacia point, but half way there realised that we needed petrol. There are no petrol stations in the park so we turned round and headed back to the hotel where we knew a station to be. Talk about a captive audience. I know that we had laughed at the Americans moaning about gasoline prices, but this place really took advantage of its position as the only place to get petrol for 2o winding miles by charging well over the odds. Martin was not best pleased, but a drink in the bar, a swim and a spa soon cheered him up before we collapsed yet again into bed.
Good luck to Kelly who starts her new job today.
When I was a kid, we never had holidays until I reached the grand old age of 7. My dad didnt drive a car until then, only a bike and sidecar (that often broke down or ran out of petrol while we were out). Then my dad bullied the driving instructor into passing him, and bought a Bedford dormobile van.
From then on holidays were spent on my aunts farm in Norfolk (which in those days with no M25 to slow you up and the M2 newly built, was a good 4-5 hour journey away, or touring. How I hated touring. Stuck in the back of that caravan fighting with my brother and borred half to death. Plus my dad was never too keen on comfort stops, eating out, or just stopping the bloody thing for longer than it took to fill up the tank with petrol again. Or at least thats how it seemed to me as a child, I dont suppose it was like that at all, but I admit, I still dont like touring holidays.
All of which is why I would have been quite happy to stop now and spend a few days doing nothing. However, after our complimentary breakfast and a quick email to Laura, we were back on the road and heading for Yosimite. We decided to cut across country instead of taking the main international highways. I have to say, it was by far the most interesting part of our journey, with ever changing scenery, starting off in the misty and cloudy mountains, then through the pass, followed by burnt brown grass and rolling hills bathed in sun.
These very quickly gave way to very flat farming land and finally villages would appear out of the miles and miles of cherry orchards lining the road.
A dead straight road that seemed to go on and on into the distance.
The we reached Yosemite, where the road was flanked by mountain cliffs on one side (complete with the 'beware falling stones' signs, this photo shows where the road had been completely wiped out and we had to cross the river to use the temp road while they built another new bit),
and the boiling bubbling river on the other side.
20 miles of this took us nearly an hour to cover as the speed limit was very low and the road literally hugged the river so took several twists and turns. It was all very beautiful and we were lucky to visit when the rivers were so full, while the ice caps on the mountain tops melted.
We stopped at a huge restaurant and motel called Cedar Lodge for lunch, there were only customers in this warehouse sized cafe,
and the barman was so friendly and funny. He recommended the home made crisps which Martin had, I stuck to traditional chips I am afraid, but they were wonderful, even better than Martin's home made chips and that is really saying something.
Each table had one of these!!
Scrapdolly had told me that she had stayed at Yosiimite View Lodge, and had really rated it, but when I looked on-line before we left, it had been fully booked for the whole of June. I still pointed it out to Martin as we passed though. On a whim he turned the car round and went back to see if they had any rooms. Yes they did, and at a not too bad price either. With three pools and who knows how many spa's, a shop, and from our balcony a view of the mountains, river and one of the swimming pool what more could we ask.
Martin promptly fell asleep.
Gosh lots to add...
Saturday
It was the 18th birthday celebration of my cousin's youngest boy so mum, dad and I drove up to Dartford as (unusually) we had been invited to the family get together. The girls had been invited but Kelly was busy decorating and Laura was at cricket.
Anyway I had a lovely time chatting to my two cousins, Terry and Gary. Gary is researching the family tree on my mum/aunt's side. He had been to visit a Medium and as he was leaving he mentioned that he had come to a dead end with the search, having discovered that my Great Grandfather had written and sung popular music way back in the 1800's. 'You will go to a big library and find it there, but more importantly you will find the book' she told him. Well he knew nothing of a book, but his search took him to the British Library where he found several sheet music copies of great grandad's songs, and also a copy of an almanak GGD had written and published. Turned out he had published it for 5 years, and Gary has since discovered another 3 issues still exist.
We come from a fairly talented bunch of artistes, because alongside GGD, my grandad was a talented violinist, ventriliquist and cartoonist. He had written/drawn 6 books of his life in the Navy from boy to man through the second world war. These he bequithed to Gary but Gary has now loaned them to me. Yippee, been wanting to get my hands on these for like ever!
Did you know that my nan's sister's daughters were also well known as The Beverley Sisters? And still on that side of the family, my mum's cousin's son went to Kings School on a saxaphone scholorship? Which is probably why both Gary and Terry plus Terry's son were able to give us all a jamming session on their guitars?
Guess its why Laura can write poems and Kelly can draw, and why I enjoy crafting.
Sunday ....
We had missed out on Father's day last week because dad had had to run Kelly and Ollie to Gatwick and Martin had had to work. So we had a bbq to cover it this weekend instead. It was rather windy, I had done the food from scratch rather than go shopping so there wasnt as many usual goodies (although there was still heaps to eat and lots left over) but I think we all had a pleasant time. Bailey dog enjoyed himself anyways.
Monday... Trevor was home from his heart repair op so we went over to see how he was doing and to catch up finally on how Joey is doing. It would seem that Jo didnt fall off her horse, her horse lost his footing and they both fell over. What Jo ended up with was very bad whiplash on her brain, and nearly 3 months in a coma. Now she has been 5 weeks in a special neuralogical hospital and is making amazing progress, surprising her doctors and therapists with her determination. Thankfully all her brain functions are still there, but the coma has left her with very wasted muscles and these have to be built up again while her brain has to be taught how to communicate with those muscles again. A long painful process for a very brave young lady.
So back to California.
After our stop over at Santa Barbara I had thought we would head straight up to San Francisco, spend some time there and then go on to Yosimite, but Martin thought to go towards Yosimite, stopping a night at San Jose. But before hitting the famous I-1 coast road we needed to fuel up on gas and coffee, as well as get out some more cash. Would you believe just how difficult it was to find an ATM machine? It took us nearly half an hour of walking after our Starbucks.
Finding the start of the I-1 wasnt difficult.
We took a small comfort stop in a small hick town where a really friendly lady in the cafe told us how lucky we were to be going along the beautiful coast road. Excited about the adventure ahead of us, we set off again. The start of the journey was quite beautiful and the roads were good.
There was a proper coast road, much like we were used to on the South East coast of England and we were really enjoying ourselves. We saw a sign for the Elephant seal colony were not prepared for the amazing sight when we stopped.
They were as far as the eye can see, and taking absolutely no notice of the tourists who had stopped to take their photos. No so the little squirrel/rat type critters who were all over the carpark begging for food. 
These little guys just would not leave you alone. I took this photo to show just how tame they were, I think they are Californian ground squirrels, and have to say I wasnt too keen on the way they got so close, in packs, hunting for food. In fact I admit I panicked a bit and made Martin chase them off, and was quick to get back in the car. Good instincts because apparently their fleas can carry some pretty nasty diseases. Back on the road, and although I had been looking forward to some stunning scenery I was rather dissappointed.
The road narrowed to one lane and soon hugged the side of the cliffs.
Which would have been fairly pretty but for two things, (1) I was too short to see properly over the crash barrier, and secondly we had been really spoilt for good sea/cliff hugging views in Maderia which I thought were far better than the ones we were seeing.
Poor Martin couldnt see them at all so he must have been fed up as the driving was not easy, all twists and turns. It was hot too and our car had no air con (something I thought came as standard in american cars.) I admit it was a long and somewhat boring journey.
I was glad when we finally reached Montery for lunch. Montery seemed huge, and full of nothing. Lots of museums, art houses, roads with little or no direction (we drove round one part three times) so we abandoned the car to see if we could find a place to eat on foot. Little joy until we walked all the way back the way we had come and eventually found the peir. This was were all the cafes and restaurants were, although it did seem they were only serving fish and chips or clam chowder in a bread bowl. The whole place was rather depressing so we soon munched our food and got back onto the open road.
Finally around 5 oclock we joined the I-101 and soon found ourselves in a bit of a spaghetti of internation roads heading north, either to San Francisco or San Jose. Guess who (despite his navigator telling him he was wrong) took the lane to SF rather than SJ? And like all men he has a huge phobia about retracing steps, convinced the road he is on will eventually take him where he wants it to. Of course when we found ourselves heading deep into the residentual area I finally put my foot down and made him turn around.
Karen (Scrapdolly) had told me that when they visit California they usually stay in the Great Western Hotels, and as it got later and later, with no seemingly main place or hotels in sight, a tightness of chest feeling was gripping me again. Whose silly idea had it been to come out here with no beds booked? (Actually it was the travel agents but who was counting?) We stopped to fill up with petrol and Martin was just about to ask the proprietor where the motels were when he spotted, immediately across the road, none other than a Great Western. Within minutes we were parked in their carpark, booked in and relaxing in the spa. Not only that there was free internet access, and I could email home.
Today I needed some painting therapy. I had applied for a job in a school I have been doing regular supply work at but had failed to be shortlisted even though they were looking for 3 staff members and I thought I had many of the skills they wanted. The head did call me into her office and was really nice telling me in person but she didnt really say why I hadnt been shortlisted so not really helpful feedback. Anyway this morning I saw on the net that they had re-advertised the foundation stage post which was the one I was trying for. Very odd since I had been told she had been unindated with applications.So back to my painting therapy. I had discovered that cuprinol do heritage colours in their paint range a couple of years back and had chosen a lovely pastel green to do the table and bench with. So I thought maybe I would carry on and match all the garden woodwork. The trellis was half blue and half brown so deffo needed some unity, But I could only do the parts where the clematis wasnt growing, the rest will have to wait until it has been cut back. The shed just needs painting badly anyway so I made a start but ran out of paint. So now both are only half done.
I also did a bit of digi scrapping.
Road trip begins
Time for us to leave Vegas, we really enjoyed it but 3 days was just about right. We tanked up the car, stretched out the map to check out our route and set off - after the final obligatory buffet breakfast of course.
We were rather early taking off because at 5.30 am we had been woken up with a text message from home. Kelly had just heard she had got a new job. I am sure she had forgotten about the 8 hour time delay but good for her. Consequentally we were up and showered, breakfasted, packed and on the road by 9.30 am.
We had looked at several routes which would hit the I-101 at various points but in the end we worked out we might as well retrace the route we had come by as it worked out the shortest. Again there is not much you can say about a straight road through the desert, except it was fairly easy driving and we arrived in Santa Barbara with only 2 comfort breaks by 4.15 pm!!
Santa Barbara looked so pretty, but we needed to find a place to lay our weary heads first so we stopped at the visitor centre to ask advice on a few choices. She was really helpful and gave us a huge map with hotels marked on it. We had asked for medium price range places, but Martin got chatting to her and was persuaded to try the one she worked in (presumably a second job) which was just up the road.
Which is why we ended up in a budget motel, the Pacific Ocean. It was clean, reasonably comfortable, but definately budget. It still had a bakerlight telephone for calling reception! After dropping off our cases ( it seemed odd not to be unpacking) we went for a bit of an explore and a drink on the seafront.
Of course Martin is hopeless at parking anywhere near were I would like to go so we ended up on the part of the beach nearly all the way out of town, pretty but probably not the best part to enjoy.
Then we went to downtown which we really liked. It was quite and full of a good mix of boutiques and trendy cafes, even a small Macy's Plus finally Martin got his sandals!!!! And despite the heavy police patrols, it felt really safe. We did see one guy being arrested and cuffed for Jay Walking (allegedly), but it didnt worry us enough to put us off having a small bite to eat.
so obviously they included the cable car, but what else. There was only one way to find out. Peering at the window wasnt it, 
and soon we had a 3 day pass to cable, street and underground transport all for $11 each (about £10 all told). 
People are wonderfully friendly in San Francisco, we were soon chatting to a couple from Arizona as we explored on the cable car, who suggested we started our tour at the cable car museum. Instead though we spotted signs on the car advertising the 46th annual cable car bell ringing contest, and guess what, it was on that day in about an hours time.
So we carried on up to Union Square, the main centre of San Fran. Desperate for the loos we ventured into Macy's where we were able to get the most fantastic view from the 6th floor and took these fab photos of the preparations going on in the square.
There was a very talanted 'Slot Blades' giving it their all with some '70's funk,
Carl the policeman doing glad handing and crowd control at the same time
and the place was overrun with journalists, photographers and even a television crew.
