California Trip 11/24/22

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Day 5

This morning we started our day by driving to see the Painted Ladies in San Francisco. Next, we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge, stopped briefly, then went back across. After that, we stopped at the Palace of Fine Arts, and while there, we walked around the manmade pond and fascinating architecture. Following that, we went to the Wave Organ and got a nice view of the GGB and of Alcatraz Island. Then, we drove down Lombard Street again on the way to Pier 39. We parked about a block away from the pier, and the parking was free because of Thanksgiving! A couple of things we saw there were seals, musical stairs, a crepe shop, a Christmas tree, and an old railroad ramp. We walked around for a while and eventually decided to catch a streetcar (twice) before heading back to our car. As we rounded the corner to our block, we noticed our empty suitcase sitting at a bus stop. Someone (most likely a homeless person) had burned the cords that were tying it down, taking our air mattresses and bedding that were inside, and left the empty suitcase (probably because the wheels didn't work too well). We were disappointed by this, but at least air mattresses would be helpful for someone homeless, and besides, the one Kade had been using had a leak anyway. Unfortunately, because it was Thanksgiving day, we couldn't buy new stuff to sleep on and we ended up having to get a room with three beds (which was twice as expensive as usual). Our last stop in San Francisco was Coit Tower in Pioneer Park. We couldn't climb it because it was closed, but its prominent location on Telegraph Hill still gave us a great view of the city. After that, we left San Francisco and started driving back south. On the way, we noticed some rocks out in the ocean and drove up some very steep, windy, narrow, residential streets to get to see them better. Following that, we briefly stopped at Pigeon Point Light Station, and later at Natural Bridges State Beach. After more driving, we ended up spending the night in Taft.

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