|
These photos are not, strictly speaking, just of California.
They are from San Francisco, Berkeley (really San Francisco,
but the locals insist that it is a different city!), Santa
Cruz, some of Death Valley, then up to Carson City and Virginia
City in Nevada and a little of Oregon as we drove up I-5.
This was one of the scariest roads we travelled simply because
of the number of large trucks using it. I would estimate
that 75% of the road traffic would be trucks and road trains.
|
|
|
|
|
A typical view of Alcatraz in San Francisco bay
|
The tower and some buildings on the Berkeley campus of
the University of California. It was a very radical campus
in the 60's
|
|
|
|
|
One of the fabulous colleges on the Berkeley campus.
|
Ghirardelli Square at one end of Fisherman's Wharf on the
waterfront in San Francisco
|
|
|
|
|
Once again, the waterfront on San Francisco Bay. The elegant
Balclutha is permanently moored here but you can take tours
of her.
|
Obviously, the Golden Gate bridge from near to Sausilito.
|
|
|
|
|
Muir Woods is just north of the Golden Gate bridge and
is a wonderful, peaceful place with large redwoods.
|
Here are some more of the redwoods at Muir Woods.
|
|
|
|
|
I was surprised to find this huge Gum Tree guarding one
of the entrances to Berkeley. There is a whole grove of
them just off to the right.
|
One of the famous San Francisco Cable Cars. They are really
just a tourist thing now - it is too expensive for normal
commuters. They used to be "just another bus"!
|
|
|
|
|
Alioto's Fish Restaurant in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf.
|
On to Sanat Cruz - a surfer mecca. This is a memorial for
all the surfers who have lost their lives or been injured
in "the cause" of their sport.
|
|
|
|
|
Sausilito houseboats - some beautiful, others just "there"!
|
Idyllic setting for a relaxed lifestyle at Sausilito.
|
|
|
|
|
Still in Sausilito, looking towards the city.
|
Looking towards Alcatraz from Pier 39.
|
|
|
 |
|
A lovely park in downtown Oakland.
|
A bit of American humour - or should that be "humor"?
|
 |
 |
|
A restored lighthouse at Santa Cruz
|
One view of the beautiful Lake Tahoe. Even in winter it
is lovely.
|
|
|
|
|
More "etherial" Lake Tahoe
|
The floral clock in Golden Gate Park
|
|
|
|
|
More of Golden Gate Park. It is a very large park with
various attractions inside. This is just the glasshouse.
|
Back to Santa Cruz - this is the Boardwalk from the Santa
Cruz pier.
|
|
|
|
|
At Grant's Pass they has a whole "gallery" of
individually decorated kennels.
|
Each kennel was a work of art.
|
|
|
|
|
A statue of Kit Carson in the park in downtown Carson City
- downtown was not very big.
|
The autumn colours in the park were stunning!
|
|
|
|
|
A wider angle view of the whole boardwalk at Santa Cruz.
A "boardwalk" is an amusement park - rides, roller
coasters etc.
|
Moving on the Virginia City - really just an extension
of Carson City. It is almost like a reconstructed "old"
city made up from buildings transported from all over the
country - BUT - the buildings actually belong here!
|
|
|
|
|
The "suicide table" seemed to bring bad luck
to many of its owners - three or four of them committed
suicide, all for different reasons.
|
The old timber sidewalk in Virginia City. Most of the buildings
now house "tourist" shops selling gifts, souvenirs,
candy etc. But it is also a functioning town for the people
who live there.
|
 |
 |
|
An elegant building on the edge of Virginia City - it is
now a B & B I think.
|
We drove from Las Vegas to Carson City via Death Valley.
It was cold, windy, dry and eerily beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
The Sierras forming a beautiful backdrop to Death Valley.
They had a dusting of snow in October when we were there.
|
More of the high Sierras.
|
|
|
|
|
Throughout the drive through Death Valley, the changes
to the rocks and rock colours was striking
|
Amaroosa Opera House - a relic from the past.
|
|
|
|
|
This was as we approached the town of Lone Pine at the
end of Death Valley. A stunning setting for a town.
|
From Zabriskie Point, looking towards Death Valley you
get a good idea of some of the striking rock formations.
|
|
|
|
|
Our little "Jendi2" sitting in Death Valley.
|
This was the Casino at Pahrump (Don't you love that name?).
Mind you, there was not a lot else at Pahrump!
|
|
|
|
|
Please note the door handles at the Casino Entrance!
|
As we drove up I-5 towards Portland, lovely Mt Shasta
|
|
|
|
|
Another view from Zabriskie Point.
|
As you can see, Death Valley is surrounded by high mountains
to both the east and west.
|
|
