We enjoy the coast road to San Francisco but the GPS delivers us to the wrong end of Lombard Street.  It’s on one side of the crooked part of the street and we are on the other. The ride through the city is surprisingly easy – except a small traffic jam where the road was closed for President Obama’s motorcade.  Before long the bike is safely tucked away in the car park in time for us to explore the old Cow Hollow area of the city.

 

 

 

 

 

A happy face

 

 

San Francisco is a cool city and easy to get around. We jumped the trolley car, wandered along Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoyed some good seafood.

 

 

 

 

 

Lombard Street

 

 

 

Before leaving we took the bike down Lombard Street – the guy in the sports car in front of us seemed a little concerned that we were going to end up in his boot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rode across the Golden Gate Bridge and were blessed with a clear, calm day. Some days the bridge is shrouded in fog or beset by strong winds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The giant redwoods

 

 

 

The last time we visited Muir Woods it was cold and wet. This day it was warm and sunny and the enormous Redwoods were an awe inspiring site.  These trees can reach over 1,000 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUr little cabin in the woods

 

 

A quick run through the Napa Valley and then we are back on the coast heading to Point Arena. We hit Highway 1 – and it is a hidden gem. Everyone, us included, raves about the Big Sur. Highway 1 north of San Francisco is even better and magnificent for motorcycles. The coastline is rugged, the winds whip up the whitecaps and the waves crash against the rocks. Wow.

 

 

 

 

The rugged coastline

 

 

We take a week off the bike at Point Arena , about 200 ks north of San Francisco and right on the coast. It’s cool but we have sunny days to explore the majestic coastline.

 

 

 

 

 

The view from the road

 

 

It seems like every corner we turn has another breathtaking vista.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Point Arena main street

 

 

 

The tiny towns along this part of the road are home to hippies and retirees who enjoy the isolation and the great outdoors. The supermarkets carry predominantly organic produce.

 

 

 

 

The ride out of town took us through the Redwood tunnel

Our week off the bike comes to an end quickly – it’s recharged our batteries and we are ready for the next part of our journey…and this will include camping for the first time. We’ve invested in some good sleeping bags and a tent. It will be an yet another adventure.