San Francisco - Here we come!!!

To catch everybody up with what has been happening - Helen and Rob arrived.  Karen was waiting on a text from Helen saying they had their bags and would be catching a taxi so she could walk down to the office to greet them.  Instead - we got a knock on our motor home door - and there they were.  Found us with no problem - although - there wasn't many in the park - and we were the only Winnebago Brave in the group - so she had it pretty easy.

We stayed the day in LA for them to begin to get over their jet lag.  They managed to stay up the day - even took a bike ride up to Venice Beach - about 7 miles away.  Not bad after a 14 hour flight I would say - and they arrived before they actually left - as they flew over the International Date Line and went back a day.  They left Auckland around 8am on the 5th of Feb and arrived in LA at 6:30am on the 5th of Feb.  Not bad - right?

We left LA Sunday morning going North.  ended up in Pismo Beach - along the coastal route.  It had been our intention to drive up Rte 1 - along the coast - stop at Hearst Castle along the way - etc.  Instead - I decided to go up US101 - mainly as we have discovered a problem with the Hydraulic Levelers - got a major leak on one side - this caused alot of hydraulic fluid to be on the exhaust - and hence for the motor home to smoke alot when we started it up on the Monday morning.  We were 90% sure it was from the leak - but I didn't want to chance the coastal route if I had a problem with the engine.  So up the 101 which was a pretty enough drive - although slightly boring the 2nd half of the trip.  Karen and Helen decided to spice it up for me - by requesting a chance to see Carmel by the Sea.  Although out of the way - I figured it was the least I could do - forgetting that if any place was not built for a 11' 11'' tall/ 34' long motor home - it is Carmel by the Sea. Rob used his IPhone to direct us to the Scenic Drive - absolutely lovely - but totally impractical for a motor home.  After negotiating this small, twisty and tree lined street - Helen in all innocence says - can't we stop so I can look around?  Stop?  I wasn't even sure I would make it out of there with a roof left on.  Plus - prior to going down the street - a big sign said not suitable for vehicles over 20' long - so I thought 'what part of this warning didn't she get?'  But that is Helen - ever the optimist.  Long and short of it - that day - there wasn't much traffic and we actually came to a parking section with a bunch of open spots so I was able to pull over and at least give her a chance to take a few photos.  Not what she was hoping for - but more than I expected.

After Carmel - she wanted to see Santa Cruz - as her brother had highly recommended it.  Again - parking was an issue - although we were able to find someplace that would accommodate us - for $25.  I was willing - but after seeing the board walk - we decided that it really was just a slightly upmarket Blackpool and not worth $25.  So after a drive through - we were off again to San Fran.

Our camp site is directly across from Candlestick park - too bad football season is over.  We pulled in at night - with Karen trying desperately to get me to understand what 'straight back' means when backing in the motor home.  It is actually more difficult than people realise when it is dark out and you don't know what you are going straight back into.  But eventually much to the amusement of some of our neighbours - I succeeded in getting it where she wanted it and we have settled in for the night - more later...