San Francisco

So we've been bad bloggers but there's an (unfortunate) explanation and (you guessed it) it's bus-related. We're working it out and hope to have the fairy-tale ending come together this afternoon so we can hit the road again but in the meantime we've been beached (quite literally) in Huntington Beach, CA. 

How'd we get this far south? That is the sorry saga of the clutch.

While it took us off our original route, we discovered family in the LA area and are having a blast here while we give the bus a little extra attention and TLC. 

Here are a few photos that Brandon managed to edit before running off to the garage to do more repairs this morning. We've got loads more on the way (and some video). 

The fog of northern California on Hwy 1.

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway

We stopped in Elk. A really adorable town. 

If you ever visit, forget cell phone reception and embrace the views from the coast.

(some coastal cows)

Does this even need a caption? I can't think of one clever enough.

Bleeding the brakes during our visit with the McQueens. 

We biked into San Francisco for a day. 

(Vid to come)

So, after biking the city all afternoon, desperately starved and craving pasteries, 

we found the famous Tartine. 

But they were closed for the weekend. 

 

Biking over this bridge was possibly the coolest thing we did so far. Definitely take this city on by bike. It is super cyclist friendly and riding the "hills" felt good after so much time in the car.

Our friends directed us to the Pelican Inn (near Muir Woods), a really great English restaurant and pub that has a crazy story to go with the delectable fish and chips.

In 1979 an english inkeeper disassembled this 16th century inn and brought it by boat to California. Dinner here was a pretty great consolation prize after missing out on Tartine. It felt veritably English: the brew was good, the fiddle was flying and the fire was warm.