Thursday, May 15th: San Francisco

We made it.  Five days. 15 states (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California)  The car is nestled into a parking spot in Haight-Ashbury and the adventuring (on foot – thankfully) in San Francisco has begun.  I am so happy to be in a city with Gerard and Whitley!  I love it here.

Morning began with a trip to Amoeba Music, one of the country’s largest indie music stores.  Then the bus through town to the Mission District for lunch (milkshakes) — the artwork on the sides of the buildings was remarkable. Walked a few blocks to the BART which we took downtown, clammered onto an old trolley and headed for the Fisherman’s Wharf.  In 1990, a couple hundred sea lions took up residence at Pier 39 — and they could be heard for blocks.  I must have stood there and watched them for close to half an hour.  I may have asked one for his flipper, in marriage.

Lake Tahoe and into San Francisco

We managed to cover the Great Salt Lake, the Salt Flats, the entire northern half of Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the Golden Gate Bridge — all in one day.  It was long, yet awesome.  Lake Tahoe was breathtaking. I revoke my previous comparison of the Great Salt Lake to Lake Atitlan — I was way off. Lake Tahoe, far closer to the beauty in Guatemala.  In fact, I’d call Lake Tahoe a true American gem.

In keeping with the theme of the day, I drank from Lake Tahoe – in an effort to wash away the salt taste from the Salt Flats still lingering in my mouth.

We drove into San Francisco over the Golden Gate bridge and got in late Wednesday night. Hello West Coast!

Wednesday Afternoon, the Salt Flats

So, we’re driving across Utah and we see a sign for the Bonneville Speedway. Since Josh has this excessive “need for speed” we head there.  Off the highway, down a small road, and then we take another road for a few miles into the middle of nowhere. And then, the road ends.  We are at the Speedway.  I was confused.

Josh took the car and drove off – quite literally out of sight. And there I was. Standing there. In the middle of Utah. I can’t see anything for miles. So I did what any good American does, I sat down and tasted the Salt Flats.  Surprisingly, salty.

Josh comes zooming back from the middle of nowhere along the salt  — with another car that he has  found in the great white salt abyss.  It is all too much for any one human to handle.

We continue….