Days 5, 6 and 7...oops missed a few!!

So where did we get to....? Ah right, San Simeon - so we spent a fairly uneventful evening, what was left of it anyway, in the Orchid Inn after our mammoth trek down the 1 and then the 101. We were a bit disappointed not to have made it all the way down the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH as us seasoned travellers now call it(!), but we were still on course!

We took full advantage of the all inclusive breakfast buffet at the Orchid, although no pancakes today - boo!

Once stuffed, we headed off to Hearst Castle - a big house built atop a massive hill by a millionaire publisher mogul in the 1920s to 1948 - yes, it took him that long to complete...so Sarah and Graeme, you've got a bit of time yet to beat that!! ;0) But as the American lady on our tour said: "Doesn't it look good for its age?" I had to bite my tongue as all I wanted to say was.."It's only 60 years old... you want to see the real castles we have in the UK!".

I thought it was quite interesting, however, the husband was a but underwhelmed - see his picture comment below. This Hearst guy had basically collected a load of Spanish/ Italian Tat and then built a house in the middle of nowhere around it. What was interesting though was that the architect who designed everything was the first female architect graduate of Berkeley College and one of the reasons it took so long is that he was a demanding client who kept changing his mind! Sounds like it should have been the other way around!

Once we'd done the castle (?!) - it wasn't really a castle though, we headed south on Route 1 again, stopping at Morro Bay for an Ice Cream (thanks Dad!) - basically this place is famous for.....a big rock, just off the coast - so not all that interesting, but a good place for a stop, none the less.

We arrived in Santa Barbara at about 5pm and settled into the Hotel Oceana for two nights. Right on the beachfront/ marina it was a very pleasant place to stay and thankfully we'd picked up the Southern Californian weather too - so it was lovely - dry and sunny!

Day 2 in Santa Barbara (day 6 overall), we awoke to another sunny day and spent the morning lazing by the pool - well I did anyway... A was torn between there and the Euro Final which was showing on ESPN in our room!!! Typical! Once the footie, sorry Soccerball, had finished we headed out to Los Olivos in Wine Country. My designated driver, A, had agreed to do the proper wine tasting effort and not drink (or gulp in my case) the wine.

We had a really good time in the tasting rooms - Andrew Murray (assume it's not the one trailblazing Wimbledon at the moment) and Daniel Gehr. Bought a few bottles, but won't guarantee they'll get home with us - oops!!

Then we stopped off at a vineyard- some might call it trespassing - to take some photos of the vines!! Back into town and off up State Street for an evening wander.

Next morning and we were up and at em again and departed for LA. We've not heard great things about LA from those who've done this trip before us, but we really enjoyed the drive down here through Malibu, guessing which stars lived in the houses on the Malibu hilltops. Then we spent the afternoon driving around taking in the Los Angeles sights...yes that's drive- this city is far too big to walk around. So this arvo we did Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard (we almost saw Will Smith at the Premiere for Hancock, but we couldn't be bovvered waiting for him!!), a Fresh and Easy Store (yes, old Tesco habits die hard!), the Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive, via the mansions of Beverly Hills for which I sang the song from BH Cop all the way around (in the style of Peter Griffin).

We then returned to the safety and sanity of Santa Monica where we are staying, safe in the knowledge we'd done the LA sights in one arvo and that's us done! It's a bit of a sprawling place, with not that much to see really.... so we're glad we're spending tomorrow in Santa Monica and then hopefully Universal Studios. I think 2 days here will be enough. It's a massive contrast to SF or the places we've stayed on the coast.

Anyway, got a bottle of Daniel Gehr's finest to finish and then sleep....zzz.

Good night!

K x

Photo recap part 4

Right, last one. We're about to head north-west out of Santa Barbara to wine country and Los Olivios.

The coast around Big Sur...

Not the (quite) famous Bixby Bridge but another one just before it, we so stupid...

Outside Hearst Castle, the biggest tourist trap in all of California...
The castle itself...
Here today, gone to-Morro Rock...

Photo recap part 3

K on one of our bikes...
The Bridge...


Carmel Mission. We only peered over the wall and didn't bother going in. Unfortunately, this may have led one group in a camper van to think it was shut and head straight back out of the car park!

Photo recap part 2

San Fran...
Lombard Street...

Tram and ALCATRAZ!
Dutch windmill in the Golden Gate park

Photo recap part 1

Well I've finally got around to gettting the piccys off my own camera and on to the 'puter. As usual, I've been taking far too many, much to the annoyance of K at times...




Anyway, here's a few randoms from our hol so far...

ALCATRAZ!!!

"Hours of boredom, seconds of terror". Sounds a bit like your average poker tournament to me...

The Dining Room menu. Can you smell what The Rock is cookin'!

Piccies from Day 4 (part deux)

On the road!
Big Sur coastline and the Bibby Creek Bridge
Road block!!!
Golden Hour through a wing mirror
The road well travelled! Just a little detour!

Piccies from Day 4

Santa Cruz is not that far...
Monterey Cannery Row
Colourful jelly fish at the Monterey Aquarium
Carmel Beach

Santa Cruz is not that far....

Well today was jam packed again and started at 8am with another Lori’s breakfast right across the road from our hotel - pancakes and bananas all round - mmm set us up for the day nicely!

Next job was to pick the car up….so we traipsed up the 2 blocks to the Dollar car rental shop where they presented us with a typical American plastic/ steel shell of a car , a Dodge Caliber, with 4 cup holders. When you shut the doors on this thing it doesn’t have that satisfying clunk that our Audi has, instead it’s more of a tinny rattle. I wouldn’t like to say what the calibre of this car is, but it’s not one that I would buy, however, on the plus side it was a free upgrade from the Ford Focus we’d ordered (thanks for the tip, Chris W!).

So having negotiated our way out of the underground car park we were on our way to Monterey! Ace navigator, aka the hubby, did a sterling job finding us a route out of SF that meant I spent the minimum amount of time on the SF streets where there are three things that could have happened: 1 - Tramp jumps in front of us, 2 - we get rammed by a cable car or 3 - I go the wrong way up a one way street!

An hour and a bit on the road later and we’re feeling a bit more confident and arrive safe and sound in Monterey at Fisherman’s Wharf… actually quite similar to the Fisherman’s Wharf area in San Fran. We had a bit of a wander and then headed to the Monterey Aquarium - the largest aquarium in the USA. Had a good nosey round there, we particularly liked the sea otters - a bit of a cross between a beaver and a seal.

Then back in the car, and off to Carmel to see the sea. The beach was lovely, if a little breezy, with golden fine sand. Then back in the tin truck to the Mission for a quick piccie stop and onto Highway 1 - the Pacific coast highway for a leisurely 100 mile drive down to San Simeon (or so we thought). We did, on the way out of Carmel, see a sign that said something about the Highway 1 being closed in 30 miles, but we chose to ignore it as we didn’t see anything else that would suggest it was closed!!

This was it… one of the main reasons for our trip, driving along the cliff tops overlooking the Pacific Ocean, making regular piccie stops and some absolutely breathtaking views - pure bliss! However, there was what we couldn’t decide between lingering mist or smoke in the air - we found our answer in the shape of 2 Highway Patrol officers, who informed us that we would have to turn back as a 30 mile stretch of the road was closed due to the Forest Fires in the area which were only 2% contained (I had heard something vaguely like this on the radio in SF and thought nothing of it really - oops!). So we had to drive back to Monterey and then onto the much less scenic route 101 - boo! Although luckily we’d seen a good chunk of the road and could imagine what the rest would be like.

So just arrived at the hotel at 9.30pm after our 155 mile detour (see piccie)! Anyways we’re both tired again now… must be all the sea breeze laced with forest fire smoke!! Off to Hearst Castle and Santa Barbara tomorrow. Good night!

Pictures from Day 3

The painted ladies of San Francisco - on Alamo Square
Dutch windmill in the Golden Gate park - nowhere near the Golden Gate Bridge
A on the beach in front of the Golden Gate Bridge
The view from under the bridge, before we cycled up the hill to get over it!

Day 3 - Up and down

Pancakes and maple syrup. They go together like bacon and eggs. In fact, they go better together when all-together... with sausages, and hash browns...



So started day 3 in Lori's Diner with a heart-attack on a plate. Good job too with the amount of excerise we ended up getting.

We gave San Francisco's bus system a try today. It's just like London, complete with the obligitory one-mentalist-per-bus quota. Anyway, off we went to see the number one thing to do in SF, according to the Rough Guide, a row of 5 or 6 different coloured houses on Alamo Square. Wow, what a let-down, they're not even nice houses, just coloured in some long since sun-faded pastels. Still, the park opposite was nice and you could see the whole city over their rooftops.

Then it was off to the Golden Gate park, which I always thought was near the similarly named bridge... nope! Walked for miles and miles from one end to the other down at the beach. Its a very pretty park with lots of lakes and a Japanese tea garden which was worth a look. Still, I would much rather have had one of the Segways that one group of tourists were using. Those things are utter genius but quite abnormally freaky when you see them in action up close.

Once we finally made it to the beach, it was back on the bus to take us back up the hill and to the Fisherman's Wharf area. We skillfully dodged the tourist trap of the Wharf itself after yesterday's mistake to head for lunch at In-n-Out Burger. I'd heard so much about this place from a mate that lived on the West Coast a few years back that we had to try it. I was all fired up for ordering from their so-called Secret Menu and get a 3 by 3 burger but after breakfast I settled on only having a double-double. I did however partake in a Choco-vanilla swirl shake which was ace. The burgers are great too, probably the best fast-food ones I've ever had. Definitely be seeking out more of these on our way down the coast.

Then for the second part of today's exertions. We hired bikes to cycle across the Golden Gate bridge and to Sausalito. The bridge itself is awesome and hopefully I bagged some nice piccys to show it. Once across, it's a 15min speedy freewheel down the other side into Sausalito - a quaint little coastal town with lots of boutique-y shops and cafes. Unfortunately, the ferry back to SF was about to leave so we couldn't stop, and we weren't about to attempt cycling all the way back up that darn hill if we missed it! Definitely one place to spend more time if we come back though.

Another cable-car took us back downtown. Hanging off the side of those things is a joy as it flies up and down all the crazy, inclined streets.

Finished the day in SFMOMA for the late Thursday opening. Saw some nice stuff but half the photography floor was shut which was a bit of a let-down.

So that's the first part of our trip pretty much over as tomorrow we pick up the hire car to head down the coast and Route 1.

A.

Photos from Day 2

The dreaded standby line or queue to us Brits
Alcatraz
On board our vessel that helped us escape from the Rock
Lombard Street - the crookedest, but one of the prettiest, streets in the world
Alcatraz from the top of one of San Fran's many hills

The rock and rolling

The jet lag kicked in last night and despite all my efforts to 'power through' it- I dozed off at about 8.45pm local time (4.45 am UK time)...and slept like a log until 5am this morning undisturbed by the Powell Street cable car bells right outside our window!

I'd been particularly organised, list and all, (even though we're on hols I can't give up my Monica-ish tendencies!) and booked the Alcatraz ferry for the 9.30am trip. Having woken up early, we thought we'd have plenty of time to get there using the famed San Fran street cars which run from about 20 yards from our hotel.... however, what I hadn't bargained for was that the famed Hignett late gene would kick in. We went for a leisurely stroll to Starbucks for a customary skinny latte and muffin for brekkie and then joined the queue at the cable car station...so far, so good... but what I hadn't bargained on was that the cable car was a nicety rather than a will get you where you want to go method of transportation.

Firstly, the cars wait across the street for a break at their last stop prior to commencing their next route, I can only assume that the drivers are heavily unionised and require frequent rest stops. Then just as we were about to board we will told, no hot beverages - again a litigious matter!! So we had to wait for the next one. Once happily settled on board, we were on our way, although a little bit nervous at how quickly we could get there, especially when at the first stop, the 'gripman' entered into a dialogue about the whys and wherefores of new passengers, where they could board, what they could do.....we weren't going to get there in time...eek! After about 10 mins we'd made it to Union Square (about 2 mins walk up the road) -so in a vain attempt to make it...we got off and ran. But alas Pier 33 was too far to go in the 10 mins we had - so I was red faced and hot having run for miles (well at least 2!), displayed the 2nd Hignett gene of having a rant in the street and we hobbled to the Pier for 9.40am. I was convinced we'd blown it... the tickets were very clear about no transfers or refunds, so that was it... no tickets available until Saturday... when incidentally we'll be in Santa Barbara - very helpful! On the off chance we turned up at the ticket office and what I can only describe as grovelled. Immediately the kindly lady pulled out a roll of stickers and said not to worry that we could wait in the standby line....how happy was I. A nervous wait with 2 other ladies who'd befallen a similar fate and we were on the 10am boat instead!!! Hurrah!!

Alcatraz was cool!! A really interesting audio tour in the cell block and loads of things to see and learn about, although there were a ridiculous number of giant seagulls who looked ready to either peck your eyes out or deliver an aerial parcel on you at any second!

After making our way back to the mainland, we headed to Pier 39 for lunch... hadn't really known what to expect and as it hadn't made the top 23(why 23 I'll never know - it's not exactly a round number!) things to do in the rough guide to San Fran, I wasn't hopeful and we were right! It reminded me a little of Alton Towers, very commercial and a bit fake... and the guidebook said that the locals shudder as they walk through it.... it is really different from the rest of San Francisco. However, it was a good spot to grab a cheap pizza lunch and to see the famed sea lions that bask on the docks!

Our next stop was Coit Tower, an observation tower that sits atop Telegraph Hill and provides great views over the bay and beyond. Was a really cool place to stop and well worth the excruciating climb up the steepest steps ever! The story behind the tower is also quite interesting... basically a local eccentric lady was a bit fireman obsessed and the legend is that the tower was built with £100k that she left in her will and looks like the nozzle of a fire hose (or a part of the firemens' anatomy which she apparently had good knowledge of too!)

After the tower, we scaled Lombard street - the crookedest street in the world - again very cool, even more so for the brave skater boyz who were winding their way down it.. along with the sheepishly driven cars.

We then caught a cable car (all the way back to the hotel this time!) and rolled up and down the San Fran hills - much easier than walking up and down them!!! The hotel had free Californian wine on offer in the lobby on our return so we partook in a couple of tipples - would have been rude not to and then we continued on to the Grand Hyatt for drinks in their 36th floor observation bar, with dinner at Morton's traditional steak house - yummy - although needless to say our 'smaller' portion steaks were still huge.

Very tired now... but looking forward to another jam packed day tomorrow..... we're hiring bikes and cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge (amongst other things!). Having a fab time so far, will let you know how we get on tomorrow!

K x

Hey, how you doing?

Umm... hello? New to this new-fangled internet web logging malarkey, but here goes...

So this is the "blog" (hey, it's what the kids seem to be calling it so let's just go with it shall we?) of A and K's trip to San Francisco, LA and Las Vegas, culminating on A taking on 6000-odd of the world's best poker players in the World Series of Poker Main Event for an $8.5m first prize. Easy.

So, this is A. I'll be the one writing in normal fonts. K, A's better half, will also be chipping-in but in italics.

Like this... hello!

So, why AnK Suited? Well, for those non-poker-playing readers out there, AK suited is a nice hand in Texas Hold'em, an Ace and a King, both of the same suit which makes it more valuable to making flushes. It also jst so happens that our initials are A and K and well, we quite suit each other... :o)

So, we have arrived, safe and sound, in San Francisco. Had a good afternoon wandering around and getting fed and watered,... and I've now been up for almost 24h straight and can't...keep...my...eyes....open...any...longer...