Today, Phillip and I planned to explore McWay Falls, another spectacular waterfall on our global adventure. Despite my groggy state at 5 am, I roused Phillip from his deep slumber and urged him to buckle up. As I headed north on the highway, Phillip snoozed peacefully, oblivious to the journey ahead.
Drowsiness
The overcast skies didn’t dampen my spirits as I embarked on the 45-minute to one-hour drive. Initially, the road was straight, but as we approached the coast, it twisted and turned, offering a scenic journey ahead.
Feeling increasingly drowsy, I realized it was time to find a place to rest. I located a nearby stop area, parked the car, and reclined my seat for some much-needed sleep. Phillip appeared deeply asleep, resembling a coma patient, so I left him undisturbed, hopeful that he would awaken later on.
Another Amazing Road Trip Scenery
After a refreshing 2-hour nap, I woke up feeling rejuvenated. It was already around 11 am, later than planned, but I wasn’t too concerned. Setting off once more, Phillip awoke and began capturing some photos along the way. The scenery along the route was breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, I dared to compare it favorably to the Great Ocean Road, thanks to its picturesque straight roads.
These roads are often featured in car advertisements, and we encountered a stunning tunnel along the route to our first destination. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to capture it on camera. It was the kind of tunnel that always graces those car commercials—a marvel of architecture with open windows offering a view of the ocean, reminiscent of the tunnels in Monaco. Driving through it was a surreal experience, as if we had somehow been there before, a realization that dawned on us right after emerging from the tunnel.
Arrival at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
After a while, we reached Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, home to the McWay Falls. Numerous cars were already parked on the opposite side of the road. I drove past them, made a u-turn, and parked in the same area. As we walked down the path, we were greeted with a breathtaking view of the bay and the waterfall. While not a towering cascade, what made McWay Falls special was its setting: the water cascaded directly into the ocean below.
Phillip and I strolled down the path towards the lookout point at McWay Falls. From there, we admired the northern landscape and the roads that lay ahead of us. At the lookout, informative signs detailed the history of a couple who once resided in the area. Although their house, located near the outlook, had been demolished, it could have been a charming tourist attraction.
Another Lookout
After 20 minutes, we left McWay Falls and returned to the car and resumed our journey. Before long, we came across another picturesque spot. While Phillip missed it, I caught sight of it and decided to turn back after driving for 2 miles. We had ample time to spare anyway.
I parked the car and stepped out to explore. Although Phillip initially stayed behind, I encouraged him to join me after spotting a remarkable bay. We both agreed it was the perfect spot for some photos.
Lunch and Kite Beach
We spent about 10 minutes there before deciding to move on. Feeling hungry, Phillip and I agreed it was time to grab some food. We stopped at a Subway in the Santa Cruz area and had sandwiches.
After 30 minutes, we found ourselves at another scenic spot—a beach bustling with people flying kites. It was a surreal sight. I took a captivating portrait photo of Phillip, showcasing my photography skills.
We stopped briefly for a restroom break and then resumed our journey. The road seemed interminable; while it would take about 5 hours via the highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco, the scenic coastal drive stretched it to about 7 hours without any stops.
The Arrival in San Francisco
About 40 minutes after leaving the last beach, the skyline of San Francisco emerged before us. The city’s landscape was captivating, with its hills adorned by buildings. Phillip handled the navigation seamlessly, ensuring our journey went without a hitch.
Accommodation Woes and Alcatraz Dilemma
Yesterday and today, we encountered a couple of minor hiccups with our arrival in San Francisco. Firstly, we faced challenges with accommodation. San Francisco being a popular destination, all the budget-friendly backpacker hostels were fully booked. Consequently, we had to secure two nights at Hostel International, which came at a steep price of $48 per night! It might turn out to be the most expensive hostel we stay at during this journey, but we had no alternative.
The second issue arose with Alcatraz. Every tour company we checked was fully booked, including the night tour, which was particularly in demand. Unfortunately, our timing wasn’t in our favor. The earliest available day tour was on July 1st, while the first night tour was scheduled for sometime in August. With Phillip’s departure to Germany on June 25th and my own flight out of San Francisco on June 17th, we found ourselves caught between conflicting schedules. It was astonishing to see just how popular Alcatraz was as an attraction, but the rave reviews online certainly justified its reputation.
Finding Solutions
Yesterday and today, I dedicated a significant amount of time to finding a solution, and eventually, I managed to do so. I came across a post on the internet mentioning last-minute tickets available at the ticket booth. However, there was a catch – you had to queue up at 6 am sharp to secure these tickets. They distributed 50 tickets each for the 9:10 am, 10 am, and 11 am boats, totaling 150 tickets. The procedure was strictly enforced – everyone had to be present in line to obtain a ticket, and purchasing tickets on behalf of friends at the hotel was not allowed. To verify the accuracy of this information, we decided to visit the ticket office after check in at the hostel.
Our last hurdle came with parking. Fortunately, we discovered a solution near our hostel: a valet service offering 24-hour in-and-out parking for around $28. However, we opted to use it only later in the evening.
Encountering the Quirks of San Francisco
We parked the car and fed the meter. Our priority was to secure a place to store our belongings, freshen up with a shower, and make our way to the pier where the Alcatraz ticket booth awaited. While Phillip tended to the meter, I noticed a woman crouching repeatedly, an odd sight that made me glance around the streets. It was just the beginning; we soon realized that the city was teeming with eccentric homeless individuals.
The woman approached us asking for money or food, but unfortunately, we didn’t have anything to offer her. Upon entering the hostel, we were greeted by a visibly irritated Dutch staff member. He seemed older than the typical backpacker and clearly didn’t enjoy his job.
Navigating Hostel Hassles
Once we settled into our room, Phillip couldn’t contain his frustration about the staff member’s attitude. I had to agree with him; most hostels offer a warm and welcoming reception, but this one fell short. While I quickly moved past it, Phillip continued to dwell on it, bringing up the issue every time we returned to the hostel, much to my amusement. Additionally, he couldn’t stop complaining about the chilly San Francisco weather, which hovered around 18 degrees Celsius.
We stowed our bags in the hostel and I took the opportunity to upload some photos to Facebook while Phillip freshened up with a shower. Our 4-bed dormitory turned out to be quite cramped, with a bathroom that felt incredibly small. When I went to take my own shower, I spent a good five minutes trying to figure out how to adjust the tap. It wasn’t a straightforward process; turning it on was easy enough, but regulating the temperature proved to be a challenge. It was quite a ridiculous system, to say the least. Later on, another roommate would end up breaking the tap out of frustration, unable to figure it out himself.
Driving Through San Francisco
After our showers, we hurried back to the car just in time to avoid a parking violation. Navigating through the late afternoon traffic toward the pier was a delight. Every minute driving through the bustling city center was a thrill for me, surrounded by towering buildings and rolling hills. The steep inclines added a touch of excitement, especially when stopping at traffic lights, where it was amusing to feel the car roll back when I released the brake. It took us about 15 minutes to reach pier 29 from the hostel. After circling around a few times, we finally snagged a metered parking spot. We quickly fed the meter, securing an hour and ten minutes of parking time.
Cold Shivers at Pier 29
Navigating through the streets, we made our way along the pier. The wind whipped around us, adding to the chill in the air. Neither of us had dressed for this weather, and Phillip couldn’t help but grumble as he shivered. Despite the discomfort, we soon reached the ticket booth, only to find that all tours were fully booked until July 1st. It was astonishing to witness the immense popularity of Alcatraz.
We approached the security guard to inquire about the last-minute tickets availability in the morning. He confirmed the details and advised us to arrive around 6 am. With some time to spare, we strolled around the pier, taking in the sights. In the distance, we spotted a towering structure, prompting Phillip to quickly look up its name: the Coit Tower. Upon learning that it was still open for visitors, albeit for just another 15 minutes, we decided to seize the opportunity and set off briskly. Phillip used navigation to find a shortcut through the streets, and we ascended a set of large stairs leading up the hill. As we panted our way upward, surrounded by other tourists, we knew we were on the right path.
Amazing Lookout at Coit Tower
As we neared the tower, we encountered a couple resting on one of the stairs, and struck up a conversation with them. They kindly advised us to take the car road when descending and mentioned an alternative viewing point—a hidden park of sorts—that piqued our interest. We made a mental note to explore it if time permitted. Explaining that our parking time was running out, we bid farewell to the couple and continued our ascent. Although the tower itself was already closed upon our arrival, we found solace in the breathtaking views from the hilltop.
From this vantage point, we enjoyed views of the Financial District and caught a glimpse of Alcatraz, although it was partially obscured by a nearby building. Unfortunately, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge remained out of sight.
We spent about 10 minutes soaking in the sights, following the couple’s advice to descend via the spiral car road. As we made our way down, we were treated to even more stunning views of the city’s hilly streets, which I found particularly captivating.
Secret Mini Outlook
Phillip led the way to the outlook the couple had mentioned earlier, while I snapped photos along the route, keeping pace with him. In less than 10 minutes, he discovered a concealed staircase tucked away on a side street, leading to a modest lookout point. From this vantage, we had a clearer view of Alcatraz. After spending about 5 minutes there, we headed back to the pier, mindful of our parking time nearing expiration.
Another Dinner at Taco Bell
Upon returning to the car, we realized we still had 15 minutes left on the meter. Frustration washed over us as we realized we had rushed for no reason. It seemed our parking time was actually 1 hour and 15 minutes, not just one hour.
We drove into the city, opting for dinner at Taco Bell once more. Parking near the Financial District, I fed the meter and headed into the shop to order. After grabbing my food, I ventured out in search of a restroom. Unfortunately, my attempts were thwarted as neighboring establishments refused access. Even the hotel across the street had its facilities under maintenance. I retraced my steps to the opposite side of the street and continued to the end of the block, where I found no shops or eateries. Realizing my options were limited, I headed back towards Taco Bell, which was only 40 meters away from that point.
More Crazy People
The streets were teeming with a mix of homeless individuals and those exhibiting erratic behavior. As I made my way, a man sitting on the pavement begged for attention, tossing a few one-cent coins in my direction without any aim. Clearly seeking recognition, I chose to ignore his antics and pressed on. Soon after, a black man with dreadlocks approached, and I avoided making eye contact once more. He slowed his pace and attempted to engage with me. Just before we passed each other, he angrily shouted, “YOU SON OF A BITCH,” adding another surreal moment to the day’s encounters.
At that moment, I found myself thinking, “Alright, enough of these ‘What the fuck’ moments for today. What’s going on with all these people?” Meanwhile, Phillip was already inside the shop waiting with my order. “Let’s get out of here, man. I’ll find somewhere else to pee before some crazy person decides to wreck the car,” I told Phillip. We quickly drove away and found ourselves back at the pier. I eventually relieved myself at a fancy restaurant before we settled down to enjoy our tacos on a bench near our parked car.
Navigating the Hostel Neighborhood
By 8 or 9 in the evening, we made our way back to the hostel. The neighborhood seemed to have its fair share of dodgy characters. Opting for convenience and security, we utilized the valet service adjacent to the hostel. It cost us 12 dollars for 12 hours of parking. Upon returning to our dorm room, we encountered Kenton, a fellow traveler from San Diego. He echoed our observation about the prevalence of homeless individuals in this area compared to San Diego.
In the evening, Phillip ventured out to meet a friend in the city while I opted for a relaxing evening. I caught up on some work on my laptop and organized a stack of pictures. As the clock neared midnight, I decided to call it a night. Tomorrow’s plan involved an early rise to queue up for Alcatraz tickets, so I set the alarm for 4:30 am and drifted off to sleep.
