Day 34 San Francisco - Alcatraz
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
43
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
San Francisco,
California,
United States
Monday, June 9, 2008
Again the shuttle bus into the city centre and dropped off near/in China town, we are by this time seasoned San Fran tourists and know where to catch our bus from to enable us to catch the ferry to Alcatraz.
Uneventful challenge catching the bus and then walk from pier 39( we found the famed , Sea Lions at the end of the pier that we had some how missed the day before, as Earnie points out that is a story within itself, we will take time out to explain for those that choose to listen to the "untold part of the trip when we arrive home) to pier 33 to hop on the Trip to Alcatraz. We had time for a coffee before departure, but Rick being the only Caffeine addict was the only one to participate.
Loaded up we ventured forth to the famous Island, Rick certainly appreciates the fellow travellers taking the tourist trips for the 2nd time, to allow him to experience them for the first time.
The introduction and safety features are pointed out, we then sat through a short but informative film about the history and background of "The Rock"
Then off we head to pick up the self guided audio tour.
This has to be so far the best self guided audio tour we have experienced, and according to Karon & Earnie it was a great improvement from last time.
It was amazing the information and sights we experienced and also the speed that real time past us by, yet being totally absorbed in the audio it felt as if it stood still in the time the prison was alive and working.
HOW did those 3 guys dig their way out through those grills, and then the unanswered question of "did they survive?" After the effort they went too lets us hope they were rewarded for the effort, because they obviously repented and didn't get picked up, to be returned to "the Rock"
We returned to the shore and had lunch, being a hot dog and trimmings for Earnie and Karon and Rick chose a Strawberry crepe, (with whipped cream of course.)
Then we caught the hop on again off again bus to re-visit the city tour, We feel we know our way around fairly well by now.
We returned to our Castle at around 6:45pm tired and satisfied we have "done the tourist trip to San Fran"
Fish done on the barby and vegies for dinner, a shower and bed is the next scheme planned.
Tomorrow we tackle the Golden Gate bridge in "the Castle" towards the north, Muir Woods then a RV park around 35 miles out of town.
We plan to take an assessment of the trip forward from there to sort out how we can make the deadline to Alaska and pick up the fourth member of the party (Marian we haven't forgotten!) and if we can experience the trip via ship on the inside passage or not.
We will keep you posted, hope all is well back there and we do (occasionally think of you! Yeah right!)
Regards
The travellers.
