Day 13: How much can you get done in 6 hours?

For the first time this trip my compulsive planning prior to leaving came in handy. I got to San Francisco at about 4 or 5 and was still able to see and do everything I had planned.

Because of my compulsive planning I knew what cable car I needed to take, what restaurant I wanted to eat at, where the Mrs. Doubtifre house was and where I was going to eat breakfast the next morning. Sometimes over planning can be a hindrance but in this case, where I only had so many hours because I was only there for one day it benefited me marvelously.

Driving to the hotel was a great experience all on it’s own for two reasons. First passing over the Golden Gate Bridge was pretty damn cool. You see it on TV and in movies and here I was actually getting to see it in person. I also passed through the Robin Williams Tunnel on the way to the bridge. That was special for me because he is such an idol of mine so to see those rainbow stripes and read Robin Williams Tunnel was a special thing for me. So I check into the W Hotel and it was by far the nicest room I’ve stayed in so far. Portland is still the coolest, but this was definitely the nicest. I had 3 bottles of water set around the room for me. Only one of which was complimentary so only one of which I drank. They had a complete mini bar and snack pantry with everything from headphones to beef jerky.

So I explored the room real quick then walked over to the cable car ticket booth and got my ticket down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Riding on the side of the cable car was a fun time. I will have more moments this trip that are awe inspiring and remarkable, but getting to stay that I rode on the outside of the cable car, hung on as we went up and down the insane streets of San Francisco is just fun.

By the way, just a quick side note, a word about those streets? Those streets are why people are pretty in San Francisco. If you’re walking anywhere on those damn streets you’re getting an intense workout. Never had I had to walk up a hill with my body tilted downward at a 45 degree angle so I wouldn’t fall backward. San Fran…the hell is that all about!? Anyway, I digress.

So I took the cable car down to the wharf and the first stop I make is at the Buena Vista Cafe for my first meal of the day and some famous Irish Coffee. Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, coffee, sugar, and heavy cream. Again, much like my experience with the Spanish Coffee in Portland, this was good. Someone who actually drinks coffee would have enjoyed it more, but I liked it nonetheless. I also the Cable Car Meatloaf which was delicious after not eating all day.

After having a few Irish Coffees and finishing my food I decided to take a walk over to the Mrs. Doubtifre house. On my way there I stopped at the top of the famed Lombard Street and tried to get some pictures of that ludicrous road. Seriously San Francisco what the hell is going on with your roads? Some are are 45 degree angles and others have 45 degree turns. Figure your shit out. So after gawking at Lombard with some other tourists I continued on to Steiner street. To look at it you’d never know it was a house from a movie or anything. Save for a stone by a tree in front of the house that read “Thanks for the laughs RIP Robin” this looked like a typical San Francisco house. So I got some pictures and I started the trek back to the Wharf. The walk was probably about 35 minutes and by the time I got back down to the water the sun was starting to set. I sat out by the ocean for a little bit and just took in the site. People walked by and looked out over the ocean as the sun reflected off the water. I got up and explored the wharf a bit. Checked out the Ghirardelli store. Fun fact, when you’re gone for 5 weeks that gets you out of buying souvenirs from a place like the Ghirardelli store because they’d probably melt by the time you got home. Deciding there wasn’t much left to do, I got back in line for the Cable Car and headed back to my hotel room. I got back to my room and showered. I sat on the bed in the hotel robe, because of course I wore the robe they gave me and of course I hung it back up EXACTLY how it was so they wouldn’t charge me for it, and thought about the day. I was happy with everything I had seen and had enjoyed my time in San Francisco. It was the first time though that I really thought that I’d come back and visit again. Don’t get me wrong I’ve loved every place on this trip, but San Fran is the first place where I thought “I’d like come back and spend more time here”. It was a very fun place. Now it was back into the wilderness in the morning. Off to Yosemite I go.