"I left my (camera) in San Francisco!"

Well it was here that I discovered it was missing - which was rather annoying to say the least as I had about 200 photos on it. Anyway - I have a new one now so all is well.

San Francisco is fantastic - very very hilly (my calves are now SOLID!), but offering great views of the bay, the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz!

We've had a busy 4 days. We've been on a walking tour, which took in Fisherman's Wharf and their resident Sealions. They are all male and spend most of their time either sleeping or fighting (what's new!). I particularly enjoyed watching them pushing each other off the floats - they look very posh with their noses in the air and their whiskers framing their faces like a moustache. I have mastered my Sealion Impression and am now fluent (Arf Arf Arf!)

The tour also took us to Coit Tower, and through Little Italy and China Town (where the markets had live frogs and turtles on sale for dinner that night!)

That night we rode the Cable Car. We were hanging on the side (for dear life) and reached the Fishermans Wharf for sunset! The guy really rang that bell. It seems to have 2 meanings - GET OUT OF MY WAY, or I'm going to put the brake on now! We also got stuck (as we got cut up by a car) and needed a push up the next hill by a van with a massive steel bumper - a bit like a snow plough!

The next day we went on a walking tour of our own making. 7 hours later we were exhausted! We went to Mission Dolores (the oldest building to survive the 1906 earthquake) and used to "civilise" the native Americans to Christianity.

We then headed up a MASSIVE hill to the Golden Gate Park and to the Japanese Tea Room and Garden, complete with carp ponds and bonzai trees, where we stopped for a pot of Jasmine Tea.

Then we walked to the Golden Gate Bridge, via Barker Beach, and up some winding roads. As we crossed the bridge the fog started to roll in, and to quote Eddie Izzard - "it can really shift it - it's fog in a hurry!"

From here we wanted to catch the bus, but were too busy talking and the next thing we knew we were back at Fishermans Wharf. Quite a trek!

Today we went to Alcatraz (said in Eddie Izzard type voice) thanks to Sara and Gav who sold us theirs after the ticket office messed up our order. We are eternally grateful to them!

We took the Audio tour round, learning about the attempted escapes and the notorious inmates. I really enjoyed the description of the Birdman of Alcatraz " He was fluent in 3 languages, and a mathematician - a brilliant Man. Also a Suicidal, homicidal, Pyschopath!" - I guess that's what Maths does to some people!!!!! Funnily enough he never kept birds at Alcatraz!

Tomorrow we're off camping again and on the search for Yosemite Sam.