OT: upcoming trip to SF Bay

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Hey Folks:

I've been busy with a new biz. venture lately, so I haven't been very active here on MAK. We do have an upcoming trip to the SF Bay area for a work/ pleasure thing that we're all excited about. None of us have ever been to the area before.

We're going to spend six nights on Half Moon Bay south of the City.  I made a post and some pics/ video about the campsite on my blog: http://www.brownland.org/blog/2007/02/27/campsite-reservations-in-sf-bay-area/  Further details will surely follow.

We're intending to avail ourselves of BART for the most part, for forays in and around The City. Although, I will have to get the bus across the GGB for photo and video ops. Russ Long was very instrumental in planning an itinerary for the Bay Area last year that was scrapped at the last minute. I'll probably bug him some more for further advice prior to heading west... and obviously welcome any from others.

I do have some major maint. to do on the old SpaceShip... the failed back wheel seal, brake drum, and block, front shocks and steer tires, etc. etc. Now that the snow is finally melting here, I gotta shake these wintertime sedentary tendencies out of my life and get greasy (and "bus busy") again.

I can hardly wait!
Brian B.

[H3Jim]

Great trip, but 101 through the city to get there will be a PITA.

[Dreamscape]

Good Luck on you adventure. It will be lots of fun seeing all there is to see. I have been there several times and enjoyed the trips. Take it slow in SF, as there are some tight streets, esp. getting onto the Golden Gate Bridge going north. You must see the Warf and have dinner at Alioto's. Great food by the bay, you can see Alcatraz from there. Not much at Alcatraz to see, just some worn out buildings. The history is neat though.
We are leaving from Abilene tomorrow morning going to Tustin in Southern Cal to pick up our furniture. It will look weird with a cattle trailer in SoCal.
Be safe and enjoy!

Happy Trails,

Paul

Dreamscape

[grantgoold]

Please take time to see Yosemite on your way West. It is something you will never forget. The giant redwoods in the same area are also pretty cool.

I would also suggest that you take time to travel up farther north and see the beautiful coast line or Napa Valley.

Have a great time.

Grant
Sacramento

[bobofthenorth]

My wife's cousin toured us through some giant redwoods south of San Jose several years ago.  The drive up the coast from LA is pretty spectacular too - we've done it in a variety of RVs now, including the bus.  And we've gone north from SF up through OR and into WA.  Wonderful scenery and neat little towns along the way.

[Paso One]

Now Brian don't forget to take your camera   on this trip   That is of coarse if you haven't had it surgically attached to the end of your arm.    Looking at your pictures after your trips is like being there keep up the good work.  By the way don't forget to post the pictures of your bus fix settle the suspense.   Paul

[TomC]

If you're pulling a car, then the half moon bay location will be fine.  If not, I'd highly recommend staying at the campground at Candlestick park just south of the city.  It has shuttle service to the mass transit system.  San Fran is about the only west coast city that you can get around on the mass transit system.
Just a note- San Francisco is the only city (possibly in the world) that has just about every conceivable method of mass transportation.  Whether it be, Amtrack, Metro light rail, Bart (both above ground and subways), buses, elec trolley buses, railed trolley street cars, cable cars, taxis, water taxis, commuter ferry's, commuter buses, limos, helicopter, etc. Just interesting to me since I live in Los Angeles with its' horrible mass transit system.  Good Luck, TomC

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Thanks for the tips, guys!

We'll probably come into HMB from Hwy. 92 over the bay and over the hill to the water. On the day we take the bus to the Golden Gate Bridge, we'll just budget a day to get over the bridge and back into the Presidio. Once in the GGNRA we'll probably stay put until long after evening rush to get back to the beach. Ft. Point is there and we can ride our bikes all over the Presidio... Exploratorium, Lucasfilm, etc. They also run a shuttle service within there.

Paul: Who, me with a camera??  I just checked my hard drive and was shocked to learn that I took over 10,000 images in 2006.  And a couple of them were actually pretty decent!    I just bought an expen$ive High-definition video camera for my biz, so expect to see some cool footage of our travels this year.

Tom: I'm a beach guy, and raising a bunch of beach nuts  so we'll happily stay at HMB for six of the nights. Between Samtrans, Caltrain, and BART (amongst the other modes of transit you mention), I'm not too worried about getting to and from The City on the days we want to sightsee. We also intend to get to the SJ area via transit for some attractions in the Silicon Valley. The biggest issue is not missing the 7:30pm bus back to HMB (Samtrans Route #294) each day. That could be an expensive cab ride! Knowing that there's a CG in the City is very helpful. I'll have to check that out for the next trip.

At some point I'll try to plan out each day so we have a rough itinerary and get the transit schedules all figured out. Just knowing where we'll sleep each night is helpful. On past trips we didn't always plan that far ahead... in order to be "spontaneous". And spent too much time chasing down places to park or camp.

Thanks,
Brian

[ChuckMC9]

Brian, I lived in The City just pre-dotcom. Sounds like you have your agenda, but fair warning - I think you will spend a *lot* of time on public transit with your plan. There's also a place in Pacifica which is quite a bit closer, http://www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/ you might consider a day or two. I'd rent a car if it were me.

Taking the bus in to GG park and north should be mostly ok, but do *not* venture very far eastward from there unless you like 45 degree grades! They can sneak up on you with no recourse.

The Wharf is mostly junk but the kids might like it. I thought Alcatraz was pretty keen but only with the audio tour. Neat ferry ride regardless.

I know how the location of a secret nude beach close to HMB if you get adventurous!

[Sean]

Chuck, those nude beaches are hardly secret... there are at least two between Devil's Slide (Montarra) and HMB, and two more between HMB and Santa Cruz.  There's also one in SF city limits!

Brian -- don't know if you've been this far north on the coast before:  expect very cold temperatures in HMB.  It's definitely not a "swimming" beach, and I expect you won't be doing much sunning, either.  We lived in the bay area for 20 years before we went full-time, so drop me a note if you need any pointers.

What are your dates in April?  We'll be in the bay area from April 12th to around the 20th, then off to Stockton for the Escapade.  If we overlap we might try to stop by.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Wow, nice to have some former Bay Area denizens here!

Nude beaches? Nah. If they're anything like Black's in S.D. it'll be populated mostly by a bunch of fat old dudes. Anyways, we're not one of those kinda families... not that there's anything wrong with that. 

Chuck: We're going to a least try the transit system. We can always rent a car if we find it too limiting or time-consuming. If the schedules are reliable, we should be able to catch the #294 bus from HMB at 7:46am, it will drop us off at Hillsdale Caltrain Station @ 8:30am, take the 8:51am train into The City and be standing a few blocks from the Giants' stadium by 9:30am. That doesn't seem too bad to me vs. finding my way in a car and dealing with parking, hills, directions, etc.

Sean: Yes, seems my wife is the one that was misinformed about Bay Area beaches. She went out and bought a bunch of sundresses and such. I had to tell her it'd be long pants and sweater weather there with the wind blowing in early April. But even if it's gray and blustery, I'm OK with that. I love being near the ocean.

Aw shoot! We're in HMB 4/3 - 4/9 and then heading to the East Bay, at Pleasanton Four Points (hotel-camping) on 4/10 & 4/11. I can't believe we'll miss each other by a day. I'd really love to see The Odyssey in person.

Anyways, I'll start refining plans and might drop one of you guys a PM about Bay Area ins and outs.

Thanks!
Brian

[DrivingMissLazy]

I think you will be a month or so early to visit Yosemite in April. I hit there the first week of May one year and there was still a lot of snow on the ground. The roads had been cleared and the parking lot overlooking Ole Faithful, but the park was still closed. I really do not know why the gates were not closed but I got in with no problem There was not another visitor in the park as far s I could tell. I know I never saw anyone.
Richard

Please take time to see Yosemite on your way West. It is something you will never forget. The giant redwoods in the same area are also pretty cool.

I would also suggest that you take time to travel up farther north and see the beautiful coast line or Napa Valley.

Have a great time.

Grant
Sacramento

[niles500]

DML - he's talking about Yosemite not Yellowstone - HTH

[DrivingMissLazy]

Well, I was close!  Thaks Niles. Sure is tough getting old.
Richrd

DML - he's talking about Yosemite not Yellowstone - HTH

[Barn Owl]

SF is one of my favorite cities (if I look beyond the politics). Been there 2x. Within a very short drive north you can see the costal redwoods. http://www.visitmuirwoods.com/location.htm
Windy road but the tour buses didn't have a problem.

I liked Alcatraz and agree with Chuck, if you go, the audio tour is a must.

If you want the classic Golden Gate bridge shot, you have to go up Conzelman Rd.; No problem for a bus.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=alcatraz&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&z=17&ll=37.828599,-122.482806&spn=0.004593,0.009195&t=h&om=1

Conzelman Rd is where I took the picture below of the bridge.

Warf is OK; we did it just to see it.

Tea gardens, museums, street cars etc. there is so much to do.

Don't forget Lombard St., obviously not bus friendly.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Lombard+St,+San+Francisco,+San+Francisco,+California,+United+States&layer=&ie=UTF8&sll=37.829785,-122.482152&sspn=0.036743,0.045404&t=h&om=1&z=19&ll=37.802087,-122.418761&spn=0.001149,0.002299&iwloc=addr

Love your camping site location, let me know what you think because I am planning a trip out there with my bus.

Looking forward to the Brownland update.

Laryn