2023 Trip 2: San Francisco: February 21

Whitecaps forming on San Francisco Bay

San Francisco, Feb. 21

The wind is the big story of the day, consistently over 30 mph. It picked up around noon, while we were walking along Fishermans Wharf and Embarcadero Boulevard. Our journey today started with a bus ride. The number 8 bus runs right along side the Hilton and goes directly to Fishermans Wharf. Or at least, most of them do. We got on a number 8 bus after waiting all of one minute. We had just missed another one so we we happy to hop on this bus. After only four blocks, the driver said: (politely) end of the line, everybody off. So all four of us got off since evidently this number 8 bus did not go all of the way. We crossed the street, waited another minute, and caught the next number 8 and this one took us within 3 blocks of the wharf area. Close enough.

Chris was looking for postcards and there were more than enough options of stores selling tourist trinkets that she was able to pick up several postcards, none of the Presidio or Golden Gate Park though. In another store, the man on duty was telling us of his connections to Minnesota and that this week, numerous school districts have closed for a week of vacation. San Francisco has not, but suburban ones yes. That may help explain the crush of families we encountered Monday at the Academy of Sciences. I wonder if there is a national database of school vacation closings??

Our next stop might surprise you. Chris saw a magic shop and we went in. She is still impressed by the card tricks we encountered at the Exploratorium. Chris made two purchases and plans to spend a little time to try to learn a few magic tricks. Results may or may not be published in future editions of the blog.

We checked out the sea lions, they were still there and made a snack stop at Boudin’s bakery. Same bakery as Sunday but in a different location. Pastries were just as good. We were feeling like a couple of hobbits having our second breakfast.

At the Cartoon Art Museum

Our next destination was several blocks away at the Cartoon Art museum. This small museum is dedicated to cartoon artists and their methods. Panels from many artists were present and we picked up information about new heroes that are peppering the books younger people are now following.

As the winds were picking up, we decided to head back to the hotel. It was still sunny but the temperature was dropping and we had accomplished our goals for the day. The Cartoon Art museum is not far from the turnaround point for the Hyde Powell cable car line so we that was our means of transportation to return. The waiting line today was short, we hopped on the second cable car and got off in Chinatown.

Late lunch was at Ladle and Leaf, a small San Francisco based soup and sandwich shop with a touchy feely mission statement posted out front. Food was good, the staff even cut off a hunk of butter from their stash for me to use on the bread that goes with the soup. I guess they normally expect you just to dunk the bread in the soup since there were no knives around to spread the butter.

Tomorrow we pick up our rental car early and head north towards Muir Woods.

Our cable car ride back to the hotel

Ed and Chris, San Francisco, February 21