Day 44 – April 23 – San Francisco

We decided to head to San Francisco and drive around a little and take a few pictures.  I drove so Rick and Mary could sightsee without killing us.

Eddie (Ed's son) suggested we stop at Treasure Island for a good view of the cityscape from part way across the bay.  I have never been on the island before so that seemed like a good idea.  You can cross into San Francisco via two bridges – the famous Golden Gate or the Bay Bridge.  We would be using the Bay Bridge, which is really two different spans of bridge using Treasure Island as a midpoint.  On the island you drive through a tunnel so it is bridge span, tunnel, and bridge span into downtown San Francisco.  My Dad used to talk about being at Treasure Island Naval Base when he was in the Navy during World War II, so I took a picture of the entrance to the base for him.

Treasure Island Naval Base for my Dad

We had great views of the city and both bridges from our viewpoint.

Bay Bridge and San Francisco

View of the new span of the Bay Bridge

San Francisco - the round tower in the middle is Coit Tower 

We continued on and somehow found our way to Fisherman’s Wharf.  It was such a clear day we decided to take the harbor cruise under the Golden Gate.  We went to the welcome center on Pier 39.

A very helpful woman told us about a “Hop On – Hop Off” bus tour that we are thinking of taking to see the sights without the hassle of driving.

Seals at Fisherman's Wharf

Wider view of the same area

This guy was just enjoying the day - a little back swim to see the sun

The rest of them were soaking up the sun

We took the 3:15 Blue and Gold bay cruise.  The wind was blowing hard on land and once we got out on the water it was very cold and windy.  Here are some pictures from the cruise.

 

San Francisco end of Golden Gate

Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz lighthouse and cell blocks

Old building on Alcatraz

After returning to the car we made our way to Lombard Street – the street with 13 curves in a one-block section.  Houses line the street and someone keeps the flower boxes neat and very pretty – I don’t think there were any blooming this time.  I had Rick drop me off at the bottom of the street and then they circled up to the top.

Another picture of the Liberty coming down

Dorrie is standing up in the sunroof

Other cars coming down

I jumped in about 2/3 of the way down and we drove to the end of Lombard Street where the Coit Tower is perched on Telegraph Hill.  It is named after Lillie Coit, a wealthy eccentric and patron of the city's firefighters.  She died in 1929, leaving a substantial bequest "for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved".  We were told the tower takes its shape from a firehose nozzle.   I found this story from a search of the internet.

"She had a special relationship with the city's firefighters. At the age of fifteen she witnessed the Knickerbocker Engine Co. No. 5 in response to a fire call up on Telegraph Hill when they were shorthanded, and threw her school books to the ground and pitched in to help, calling out to other bystanders to help get the engine up the hill to the fire, to get the first water onto the blaze. After that Lillie became the Engine Co. mascot and could barely be constrained by her parents from jumping into action at the sound of every fire bell. After this she was frequently riding with the Knickerbocker Engine Co. 5, especially so in street parades and celebrations in which the Engine Co. participated. Through her youth and adulthood Lillie was recognized as an honorary firefighter."

Coit Tower with Christopher Columbus in the circle surrounded by flowers

Rick wanted to drive by Saints Peter and Paul church and we managed to circle in front of it before returning to the camper.

Saints Peter and Paul Church.  In 1957 Joe Di Maggio and Marilyn Monroe were photographed outside the church, but were married some place else.