California trip.....pics and stories...as promised.....

Our trip started with a drive down to Atlanta on Thursday (10/6), early!  But that was worth it since it got us into San Francisco around 11 am.  Got to the car rental, ready for the compact we had requested...but no, let me upgrade you...nice guy in the car park says...."You're out of compacts, huh?" That would be correct, but we could have our pick from the line of full sized models.  So, we are looking at this row of large grand-ma 4 doors that I'm having to think about driving up the curving coast of Hwy 1...and there among the land yachts...a red beetle.  Full size?  Really?  Not a huge fan of VW, but we take it so we won't have to worry about getting the large vehicles through the narrow streets of San Fran and up the coast.  Turns out to be fun...with the steering/turning capacity of a truck and the suspension of a jeep...but as I make my way down an alley with cars parked on one side and a delivery truck parked illegally on the other...I squeeze right by!  Too cool for school!

Pics from China town above which we explored after a great little lunch of perfectly cooked fish with rice, green beans sauteed with mushroom and chili's, and spring rolls at the Slanted Door.  Brent was in heaven, cause we were on the wharf, and it was Fleet Week, so we could eat and watch the Blue Angels zoom by overhead.

Who would'a thunk it???  Little ol' me zooming down the streets of San Fran in a red bug!  Have to say...the traffic and drivers were a breeze compared to Atlanta!!!  Let's hear it for the laid back folks in CA! - c