6/8: Golden Gate to Monterrey

We left our cozy camp before dawn to minimize morning rush hour. We were parked in Presidio of San Francisco at 7:30.

We took a shuttle bus to the beginning of the bridge. This was easier than trying to park in this area.

Such a beautiful sight to see! We walked on bridge to first pier on this perfect morning.

We walked the coast of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We visited the new National Park Presidio Visitor Center. An enjoyable morning.

We walked to the marina and then by the Palace of Fine Arts on our way back to the Travato.

We drove to Golden Gate City park and were lucky to find near by street parking at 12:10 because it had been closed for street cleaning until noon. There was a marching band competition in the park so a lively time to visit. We wandered into the Japanese Tea Garden for a break.

This is oldest Japanese tea garden in the United States, built in 1894. And is only 3.5 acres but extremely well designed and maintained.

Here is another unique gate at the top of the garden.

There is also a 5 tier pagoda that is over 100 years old.

Nice vignettes of quiet spaces. This white rock is raked with large waves with some islands of green.

The next day we visited two National Historic Sites.We had spent the morning in Richmond, CA at Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront Visitor Center which is a great museum with well documented films. In Martinez, CA we toured John Muir’s home and contemplated his amazing legacy

His desk has been preserved as when he was using it to write so prolifically. The national park system considers him the father of our incredible parks – how wonderful to have someone so focused on conserving these lands for all generations.

The Travato now thinks it is a sports car since it has done all those twisties on Highway One. It drove us to Laguna Seca Raceway where we had a great camp site on Turn 5. It is all Recreation.