Gilroy to San Francisco. (Garlic to Fog)

The owner of our rental bike suggested a cracking good ride to get back into San Francisco that would have taken us all day. However we needed to team up with another couple and arrive at the same time to allow us to get a lift back into the city. (Scott's business premises are about 30 miles out of town.)
The others couldn't commit to this so we had to simply get the bike back.

This meant a one hour blast down motorway. It was a sad but fitting end to our American riding adventure.  Five lanes in each direction. Flyovers, on and off ramps and cars flying like missiles in all directions. How much more American can you get?

Fog. It's how they roll here. It burns off during the day.

The GPS on board made us reluctant leaders. Everyone arrived safely.

13,170 kms travelled.

At first being back in the city was somewhat of a shock, despite having recently been in Vegas. It was busy and the even handed nature of small towns was gone. This place had rich and beggars both.

San Fransisco has a major homeless problem. In the area known as Tenderloin they stretch around the block waiting for food at the local shelter.

The city is also renown by Americans you speak to as having a less mannered personality amongst such people as bus drivers etc. Rather than the over polite manner we got all over the states  they are just as likely to grizzle if you don't have the correct change. Thus the warm fuzzies we had been experiencing where blunted at first blush.

Within a few hours though we had re aligned ourselves and the city is a fun place to be. You do have to keep away from the dodgy looking gangsters on street corners (certain neighbourhoods) and ignore the homeless problem. Courtesy prevented us photographing these people. Maybe we will get some hoodlums photos tomorrow if the opportunity arises. There is no shortage on dodgy street corners.

We took a hop on hop off pass and did a few tours on open tops buses to see the city. Some examples of the scenes we witnessed.

City Hall

One of our buses. We also rode double deckers.

Street performers everywhere

Random street scene. People are trim and fit looking.

We have our 29th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow in San Francisco and fly out late afternoon. Due to three planes and the international date line we don't get into Welly until 8am in the morning two days later.