We got up this morning to a dew-soaked tent. At least we were dry, and our furry friend from last night's antics had gone to bed. We wiped down the tent as best as we could, packed the shell and poles, and put the soaking wet fly in the top cargo container to let it dry out some while we drove. We made ourselves a quick coffee and tea, packed up and hit the showers. Although yesterday's showers were the pits with no hot water, we've had pretty horrible luck with showers while camping down the coast. Today was the turning point for that, though. Hot showers, no waiting, and no need to feed it coins, either! They were free showers. It's about time.
We hopped back onto the US 101 to get down to San Fransisco. It took us a little inland, through San Rafael and Sausalito. Brett panicked a bit just before we were heading onto the Golden Gate bridge. It's a toll bridge, and the fee to cross is $6 US. Brett didn't have exact change, so we made an emergency exit up to the Marin Headlands. After driving around and around the Headlands, we finnaly found their 'posted' visitor centre, nesled deep in the hills. We asked about camping, and they said they had a few cancellations, so we could camp for one night in one spot, and another night in another spot. "It's a half-mile hike into the sites, so you can park here or here." "Uhhh... what about some camp spots where you camp where you park?" "Well, you asked about camping, so that's what we have around here." Not gonna happen. We have way too much stuff to cart around. So there went the camping idea.
After consulting the driving atlas, we decided to head back up the US 1 highway, which ran back along the coast. We soon ended up in Point Reyes National Park, where we saw some campground signs on our map. After closely consulting the large posted maps in their visitor's centre, we realized that they were all hike-in sites, as well. Our last ditch effort was to camp at China Camp, a natural area just outside of San Rafael, and right on the San Fransisco Bay.
We wound our way out of the Point Reyes area, through San Rafael, and down to the China Camp area. Once again, we were foiled by the walk-in camps. That was it, we're gonna hotel it here. Brett entered Motel 6 into the GPS, and we soon found ourselves back in San Rafael at their Motel 6 location. We checked in, laughed at the bedspread, tried and tried to connect to their wi-fi network, and finally gave up. We decided to head into San Fransisco, with a toll ready and see what Fisherman's Wharf was all about.
The GPS got us into the area just fine, but finding parking was a litlle tricky. We happened upon a private parking lot where a lady was kind enough to give us her $20 all-day pass. We paid her back $10, which was how much it would have cost us to park there just for the evening anyways.
Our fist stop was the original Del Monte Cannery, which is now converted into a series of shops and small pubs. Right outside, we encountered a booth advertising tour tickets. We asked about Alcatraz tour tickets, and she immediately took an interest in Rhonda. Rhonda apparently qualified for free tickets and parking for the tour if she just attended a short seminar on time shares... "and you can go too, if you want, I guess" she says to Brett. Not interested. We just want the Alcatraz tickets. Well, she can only sell us a package deal that includes our choice of bus or boat tour. We go with the boat tour and the Alcatraz tour. She calls someone, and fills out a very 'official' looking piece of looseleaf. "You can pick up your tickets from the guy out in front of Joe's Crab Shack tomorrow. That'll be $150 for tomorrow, less a $20 deposit right now." Hmmm. We paid the $20 and proceeded to spend the rest of the night wondering if we had just been swindled. We didn't pay too much attention to the sights, with this concern in our minds. We soon departed after a walk up and down the docks, and retired to our hotel room.
With all the running around we did, we put on about 250 km's. And everybody's kickin' it back in the hotel room with some pizza for dinner.
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