Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
Morning folks. For those of you looking forward to dinner here’s this morning’s breakfast that’s just been scoffed. Filipino pork belly, eggs, rice and pickled veg. First for me, well the Filipino side.
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Last edited by DSL on 31st Jan 2023 2:02 am. Edited 1 time in total
30th Jan 2023 4:01 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23831
Great pics and dialogue Del.
I haven't been to SF for 25 years, but I remember being a little shocked by the amount of homeless and beggars on the streets.
I was told that SF has long been a very tolerant city for "street people" and therefore acts as a bit of magnet for them.
Not as shocking as East Hastings Street in Vancouver. I've been to Vancouver several times as my late sister and her family lived there for 40 years, but only discovered the cities dirty secret on one of my later visits.
The "undesirables" are corralled into the one street like a ghetto. It really is reminiscent of a scene from The Walking Dead.
2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
30th Jan 2023 4:25 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
And prob going to get a lot worse in Vancouver when they legalise hard drugs.
Good day today, most of it spent on USS Hornet. Local ferry to it gave fantastic views of SF from the bay.
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And the ship itself.
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Not the one Doolittle did his raid from (CVA-8) but the next one with the Hornet name (CVA-12), commissioned just after the aforementioned CVA-8 was scuttled. Also learned about launching a/c out of the side of a carrier hanger deck! A few pics of the a/c on the hanger deck, incl a great F-4 having a paint job. Only downside to going to the Hornet was that we missed our return ferry, massive wait until the next one, so hoofed it a couple of KM and caught a different one back to SF. From lazy(ish) day to lots of walking!
Fantastic array of aircraft in the hanger deck.
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And if you’re a Tom Hanks fan you’ve seen this Sea King at the end of the Apollo 13 film. It was put into storage not long after filming so kept the 66 paint scheme.
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Not forgetting the F-4 (will see if I can find out which type but I think early G or S) undergoing paint job. Gorgeous!
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Couple of views from the flight deck, which was still wooden! That’s a surprise since this carrier server at Yankee Station in the Vietnam war and had jets flying from it!
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And this is where they experimented with launching AC out of the side of the carrier. Not sure it was such a great idea but s’pose if needs must. The opening just under and f’wd of the Viking.
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Few pics from back in the day. Crazy or what!
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On something like the Hornet I should have taken dozens of pics but we were just too absorbed in the ship, that and making sure we saw everything. We took way longer than we usually do and was great talking to the volunteers that run the museum. Well recommended if anyone is heading to SF.
And then after the walk to the ferry, glad to be off our feet but with great view of SF on the way back.
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Not forgetting the SWEEEEEEET historical tram to take us from the ferry terminal to Fisherman’s Wharf and our hotel.
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Tonight scoff will be clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. Pic to follow, just got to go out and get it.
Unfortunately my timekeeping has gone for a burton, I thought we had 2 1/2 days left here, the half for then heading out to SFO. Unfortunately we only have one day and the half day, so suddenly “so much to do, so little time” springs to mind.
Thanks for all the suggestions re things to do, unfortunately we can’t do half of them (lack of time and/or our own transport) but the suggestions are appreciated.
31st Jan 2023 1:13 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
And the promised chowder in a sourdough loaf. After passing these historic trams.
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Absolutely scrummy, loaf as crisp as a crispy thing, chowder deeeeeeeelish. Loafs have a bit of a journey to get there.
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Excuse SWMBO’s t-bag of the day in the middle.
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Now slobbing in front of the TV with episodes of Castle, recognising places we’d been to in NY!
31st Jan 2023 3:23 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
PS The F-4 is a J model and looks like it’s getting painted in VF-151 colours.
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31st Jan 2023 4:38 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26775
I remember the chowder well, with the conveyor system for the sourdough’s. I can’t remember what the place was called?
31st Jan 2023 7:09 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
Boudin Sourdough.
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Lots of SWEEEEEEEEET animal loafs.
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Resisted the lure of said bread wildlife, just got some cinnamon cake instead for lunch.
Morning on Alcatraz. And they let me out!! More later, coffee and cake first then back out on The Streets of San Francisco. Now that ages me!
Last edited by DSL on 1st Feb 2023 12:20 am. Edited 1 time in total
31st Jan 2023 9:13 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
Good day out to Alcatraz and wander around the FW area. One pic but a bit more later.
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O’Brian was closed, will get there tomorrow before we head off to hotel at SFO.
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“Dinner” tonight, hot choc fudge sundae from Ghiradelli’s. Sat in the sunshine, sharing the sundae (body is a temple after all) looking out over the Nat Parks ship museum and Alcatraz.
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T’intetweb says Ghiradelli’s is the best hot fudge sundae on the planet, not sure that’s true.
Oh, not forgetting the sea lions!
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Sweeeeeeeeet, if not a bit noisy and smelly. Only about 20 there today, was great watching most of them squeezing on to one raft. There was some serious hugging going on there!
1st Feb 2023 12:12 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73089
Right where were we? Did the usual tourist trip to Alcatraz, not busy and plenty of room on the boat, great views on the way out and perfect weather, if not a bit chilly with frost on the ground!!
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As it wasn’t busy it looked good for the cell area, which can be a bun-fight. We didn’t bother with the audio tour (we never do, too many name, dates, facts or opinions, most can be read on the boards) so just wandered through the hall taking it in. One of the park rangers might have spotted we weren’t wired up so asked if we were looking for the famous cell, Al Capones. No sez I, we’re looking for where Sean Connery broke out! We got a great private tour of that part of the cell block and had a great chin wag that wouldn’t have been on the audio. We were even in an “Authorised Peeps Only” area that had to be unlocked by a real key, replicas available in the gift shop. Quite funny when the ranger said they don’t think anyone successfully escapes, we (or I) chirped up “but Sean Connery did”. He said lots of Scots are much more interested in that than the real crims.
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The rest of the cell areas, the “bodies” in the beds were decoys made by the inmates to fool the guards when they tried to escape.
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Great view of the GGB, but for the bars and dirty windows.
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Exercise yard, I was feeling the burn already!
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Back to The Rock, where the flares were lit. Obviously they are completely ignoring the Do Not Enter signs.
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And where the USAF F-18s ( ) streaked in with the super-napalm, having passed under the Bay Bridge, before being waved off.
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We spent a good chunk of the time on the island comparing it with the film, and we weren’t alone doing that!
And top tip for anyone visiting that doesn’t want to do the audio tour, you can get a refund on that. They don’t openly tell you that, and are extremely grumpy about it, but we got $28.10 back, paid for a T-shirt. Well found Mrs DSL.
As above, the O’Brian was closed but got some good outside pics. We bumped into one of the volunteers coming off the ship and had a great chat re the O’Brian and other stuff. Turns out there was a fire in the dockside sheds that almost engulfed the ship, with 4 volunteers sleeping onboard. It’s really good at these museums when we get to talk to the volunteers, they really like taking about their ship/aircraft/train/building and their pride in saving history really shines through.
The rusty bits on the fwd sbd gun mount and the rear life raft is a result of the fire and all the rigging, blocks and cables on that side had to be replaced, but it was a lucky escape.
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Even managed a pano!
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And what looks like a repurposed landing craft to service Alcatraz.
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And a few pics on the sub near the O’Brian. We didn’t go on it, seen one sub = seen them all, plus just recovered from banging head on USS Growler!!
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Tomorrow riding the cable cars, as opposed to the historic trams, just got to make sure we get the right MUNI pass. And see the Cable Car Museum (to see the cable gubbins working), as recommended. Then back to O’Brian. We’re gonna be up early.
1st Feb 2023 1:37 am
Rescue01
Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 2519
Great stuff Del. Its not the height of the fall but the sudden stop at the bottom that hurts!!
1st Feb 2023 6:01 am
ianm27
Member Since: 02 Jun 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 2154
Great pics and commentary Del
We were in SF many many moons ago but never made it across to Alcatraz and most days (mid July) there was fog over the GGB Uncle Ray's spare wheel protector
Limo Tint
Blackvue front & rear dashcam
Cruise control switch pack
Bodsy's remote for FBH
1st Feb 2023 10:25 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23831
Brings back fond memories. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
1st Feb 2023 10:41 am
Oswiperus D3 Decade
Member Since: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 1600
Great pics Del.
Went to SF More than 20 years ago but can still remember the smell of the Sea Lions! Stu
2016 D4 Landmark current
2022 Defender D300 SE Gone
D4 2014 XS Commercial - Gone
D4 2016 hse lux montalcino red - Gone
D3 2005 se java black - current
D3 2005 base manual - gone
D2 1999 TD5 E white - current
1st Feb 2023 11:32 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14421
I've been to SF over 20+ times and I've still never been to Alcatarz
I'm out in March so will try and do it then.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
1st Feb 2023 11:36 am
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
Last time I was in SF was some time ago but stayed with friends in Sausalito, borrowed a mountain bike and cycled over Marin Heads.. highly recommended I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
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