BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip

Subject: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 10 Oct 17 - 10:43 AM

My wife and I enjoyed a trip to San Francisco, Death Valley, Grand Canyon and the West Coast last month and people were very helpful before we went in making suggestions as to where we might go. Joe Offer was particularly helpful but we appreciated all the input from those who added things which undoubtedly helped us visit some places that otherwise we might not have gone to. The previous thread is here - Previous thread. We managed to visit nearly all the suggestions apart from Muir Woods because it was just too busy to get near on the day we were travelling past - so we went to Marin Headlands and Point Reyes instead.

An example. We went to Avila when in the area and had a lovely afternoon. There was an excellent live band on playing outside on the front; a lively market; and I saw two whales including one breaching - which I had never seen before. And the missions were interesting. Still surprised that all the national park areas are charged for. I don't really begrudge paying but scenery is free in the UK so it was odd.

And couldn't get over the cost of day to day items in supermarkets and shops. AND the practice of not putting prices on things in shops so you are at the point of payment before you know what something costs - eg an apple for a dollar is madness.

I did say that I'd post some pictures in case anyone is interested.

I like to create photobooks as a memento of trips and one is in the process of being printed. One of the nice things they do is give the option of sharing the book in preview form. The quality isn't fantastic but it works. If you want to look it is at - photobook preview. It asks for a password which is 'elephant'. It does have a lot of pictures. But for the princely sum of £10 you can't go too far wrong can you?

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 10 Oct 17 - 10:45 AM

The book that I'm having printed costs me £10 - the preview is free...

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 03:08 AM

Nice job, Nick! you have a real gift for composition. Thanks for sharing your photos with us.

I took a 10-week driving tour last fall, and hit 31 states and 31 national parks. That would have cost me a lot in park admissions, even though more than half had no admission charge at all. I have a senior pass that cost me $10 when I turned 62, and that covers admission to all national parks. The price is now $90, but it's still a bargain. I wonder if it's available to people from other countries.

When I was in the UK, I was taken aback by how many notable sites charged admission - Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's, for example. We had a pass in Scotland, so I didn't really notice having to pay.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 09:11 AM

Joe - there was indeed a pass that would have covered all of them for a year for (if I remember) $90 as it is for you. I think we had been to a couple by then. Sure you recognise the places we went.

It also took us a while to understand how the buses in San Francisco worked on payment. So we overpaid on the first day (though it did include riding on a tram which we felt we ought to do the toursit thing). We thought the bus service was great to get around and we covered most of San Francisco north of Market (and a bit south of it) by foot or bus.

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Raggytash
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 09:20 AM

Hi Nick, just a thought, the photo's would work better with captions

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 09:27 AM

They would. But I ran out of time before I had to submit the book for printing. It was a cheap wowcher deal and I had less time when I returned to do everything I wanted to. I have done them with commentaries and captions etc in the past but this one was a bit rushed - I prbably took too many pictures when away and sorting them out took too much time

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 08:55 AM

Thank you for sharing your pictures, Nick. You even got a hummingbird - that is a real achievement.

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 12:38 PM

I saw two hummingbirds when I was there.

The first one was on Pier 39 which was the last place I would have thought one would be. On the decking at the top by restaurants and shops there are half a dozen flower tubs. And there was one there about 5ft away from me but I missed getting a shot. I was gutted! I just couldn't get it in focus and it was bombing from tub to tub.

Then we were by the sea somewhere north of San Luis Obispo and south of the Elephant Seal beach and we stopped and obligingly the hummingbird was on some flowers and, after going away, had the good manners to come back when I was ready

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: olddude
Date: 14 Oct 17 - 03:08 PM

Awesome job, but did you wear a flower in
Your hair
Like the song

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: Nick
Date: 14 Oct 17 - 05:39 PM

Absolutely.

Only bad thing is I went for an x ray the other day and appear to be missing a major organ from my chest

Subject: RE: BS: Some pictures from San Francisco trip
From: olddude
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 08:23 PM

Lol perfect