San Francisco for ~5 days!

[KFunk]

OK guys, I better start getting stuff planned. I'll put up a blog with lots of pics in the project/blog forum soon.

But for now, I gotta figure out what to do in San Francisco.

For those who don't know, I'm shipping my 02 to Oakland and driving it cross country. I dropped off the 02 with Matson this past Wednesday, and I'm flying over via ATA, and will arrive there on Sept. 2nd at 8am. I thought the 02 would be there by then, but it looks like Matson is backed up. It hasn't even gotten on the boat yet. I just hope they're able to get it started after sitting for so long. I made sure to put in the instructions to use the manual choke for cold starts. I also bypassed the oil pressure safety switch, so the Carter fuel pump will be on whenever the ignition switch is on.

Anyways, Matson's liberal estimate is that I can pick it up on Sept. 11th, but its scheduled to get on a boat that will arrive on Sept. 7th, and I should be able to get it on the 7th or 8th.

Anyways, I've been checking around with lots of friends, and haven't gotten a definite answer from someone willing to let me crash on their couch in the area.

So for now, I'm looking at staying at a youth hostel in downtown San Fran somewhere. I'm unfamiliar with staying at hostels, but it sounds like the cheapest option, and could be fun. A friend recommended one overlooking Bay St. in the Presidio, but I haven't found info on it yet.

Will I be able to safely store my bags there? I'll have two big suitcases, a toolbox, a laptop/backpack, and another big carry-on bag.

What do you recommend doing in San Francisco? I've never been there (outside the airport), and never really looked into it much. I'm more of an outdoors person, but I'm sure I could find some interesting stuff in the city. I'd rather avoid renting a car, but like to avoid. However if there's an autocross on Sunday, I could give it a go with a rental.

I might even be able to do some scuba diving, if I had someone to dive with.

Oh, and if someone needs a hand wrenching on anything, I'd be willing to help. I've taken apart and replaced everything on my 02, and on many other types of cars.

Well thanks much for your help, and maybe I'll see some of you guys.

Kevin

[robspeed]

*cough* ON TOPIC!! helloooo??!!! :-p

you'll get more eyeballs in the main forum too...

[BLUNT]

whats your route heading east?? and how far are you going?

[Benz02]

San fran is a great city. Check out Golden Gate park if you want to hang outside. If there's a game, go see the Giants play--it's a great stadium. If you want some night life, try North Beach--I recomend the Crowbar...a fine establishment with a bevy of nudie bars nearby. If you want to cop some skag, try the Mission...jk! Seriously, though, anywhere you go is an adventure in that city. Good luck with the car

[Armond]

OK guys, I better start getting stuff planned. I'll put up a blog with lots of pics in the project/blog forum soon.

But for now, I gotta figure out what to do in San Francisco.

For those who don't know, I'm shipping my 02 to Oakland and driving it cross country. I dropped off the 02 with Matson this past Wednesday, and I'm flying over via ATA, and will arrive there on Sept. 2nd at 8am. I thought the 02 would be there by then, but it looks like Matson is backed up. It hasn't even gotten on the boat yet. I just hope they're able to get it started after sitting for so long. I made sure to put in the instructions to use the manual choke for cold starts. I also bypassed the oil pressure safety switch, so the Carter fuel pump will be on whenever the ignition switch is on.

Anyways, Matson's liberal estimate is that I can pick it up on Sept. 11th, but its scheduled to get on a boat that will arrive on Sept. 7th, and I should be able to get it on the 7th or 8th.

Anyways, I've been checking around with lots of friends, and haven't gotten a definite answer from someone willing to let me crash on their couch in the area.

So for now, I'm looking at staying at a youth hostel in downtown San Fran somewhere. I'm unfamiliar with staying at hostels, but it sounds like the cheapest option, and could be fun. A friend recommended one overlooking Bay St. in the Presidio, but I haven't found info on it yet.

Will I be able to safely store my bags there? I'll have two big suitcases, a toolbox, a laptop/backpack, and another big carry-on bag.

What do you recommend doing in San Francisco? I've never been there (outside the airport), and never really looked into it much. I'm more of an outdoors person, but I'm sure I could find some interesting stuff in the city. I'd rather avoid renting a car, but like to avoid. However if there's an autocross on Sunday, I could give it a go with a rental.

I might even be able to do some scuba diving, if I had someone to dive with.

Oh, and if someone needs a hand wrenching on anything, I'd be willing to help. I've taken apart and replaced everything on my 02, and on many other types of cars.

Well thanks much for your help, and maybe I'll see some of you guys.

Kevin

Email me at arfdawn@aol.com

I can give you some advise on things to do and places to go. Do you paddle outrigger canoes?

[steve k.]

sorry, no autocrosses over labor day weekend in bay Area, but there is one on Sep 9th and 2 on sep 10th if you are still around. I am not in San Francisco, about 30 miles south of downtown, in Redwood City. but if you need a place to crash, you are welcome to stay here.

steve k.

[Bradley82]

I recommend checking out the Russian Hill area. Tons of fun, younger crowd, great restaurants and bars.

[jetboy]

I am an east bay guy - if I wasn't married and live in a 1 bedroom id let you crash at mine - my wife works all night on japanese ebay, so unless you slep with me--hmm. - oh, wait- you want to stay in my camper van? you can do that. heck, if you insure it, put gas in, and probably do some general maintanence ( i havnt driven it in a while) it you can drive it around and stay in it. its registered and all, just no insurance.

heh.

in any case, you can leave you crap around mine if you feel unsafe leaving it elsewhere.

I am in emeryville, which is just up the way from oakland airport, and about 10 minutes out from SF non-rush hour times.

-510.316.2620

jetboy@newbabynews.net

[KFunk]

Rob: The thing about the main forum is it gets buried real quick, and it takes me a while to find it......

Blunt: Headin over to Yosemite, down and across Death Valley, thru Vegas, down to south rim of Grand Canyon, up thru 4 corners and Colorado. Rest is up in the the air. Likely to drop down to Oklahoma and see a friend, and/or up to Iowa to see another friend. I'd love to take a northern route, but I can't resist seeing the Grand Canyon, etc., and then it would be too big of a swing upward to take me off track. Temp. lodging will be in Ohio, until finding a job on east coast. I may already have a job in virginia, but I'm probably gonna look for something higher in new england, maybe Maine.

Benz: cool, i might check that stuff out.

Armond: never done an outrigger canoe.... and only done a really horrible job paddling canoes and kayaks up in maine....

SteveK: Yeah, I found that autocross on the schedule, and its a possibility. We'll see how things go, and I might do it.

Thanks very much for the offer, its a possibility. I probably should see the city a little bit atleast, but I may come by for a little.

jetboy: sweet! that may be really good. How about I come over and look for a hostel just a night or so, then maybe we can get together and check out the van to see how it looks? Insurance would likely be covered by my policy, as long as I have permission from the owner to drive it.

Thanks!

[canadapierre]

Don't walk on the sidewalks. Seems it can be unhealthy to do so in SF nowdays....

[Armond]

Don't walk on the sidewalks. Seems it can be unhealthy to do so in SF nowdays....

It's more like don't drop your wallet...if you do, do not pick it up.

[DavinSF]

(nt)

[jetboy]

do we have to invade Canada - again??!!??

[DavinSF]

...that you're welcome to crash on. I can also offer some fun in the M20 car, she's quite a handful. Just give me a call anytime to sort things out. There are a million great things to do in this town, it's great that you'll be getting some real time to explore.

Dig live music..?

You can reach me at 415.272.6100, and my name is pronounced "day-vin." Cheers!

[Otis]

What to do . . . well --

You don't need a car if you stay downtown. Cable cars and the old street cars, plus Bart and the Muni, will get you anywhere. Plus, you get more out of the city by walking around.

Oakland -- not all that fond of Oakland. Spend more time in SF.

Saturday morning - the Farmer's Market at the Old Ferry Building, for fresh eats (lots of vendors). Also, Red's Java Hut, right down the street, is a great place. Tons of atmosphere (all grungy).

See if the Giants are in town, and go to a game at SBC park. Not a bad seat in the house. Try to get seats down the first base - right field side, so that you can yell at Barry Bonds. The Muni rail will take you right to the ballpark.

North Beach restaurants -- lots of choices, can't really go wrong. Just follow your nose.

Stay out of the Tenderloin. You'll get mugged (or worse). Also, beware the strip bars in the strip above North Beach. Lots of undercover cops, and lots of hygenically questionable things in and around there. You wouldn't want one of your body parts to fall off a few months from now.

City Lights Book Store -- lots of history, revolution central. Buy a copy of The Anarchist's Cookbook. Just because.

Haight-Ashbury -- just because it's historic (although it's overrun by chain stores now).

If you have wheels, drive down south to Monterrey, and take in the 17-mile road around Carmel Bay. Awe-inspiring real estate. Go to Clint Eastwood's bar for a nightcap. On the way down or back, check out the ocean-front amusement park in Santa Cruz.

The drive further south, down through Big Sur, also is worth it.

Bike the Bay Bridge (you can rent the bikes along the Embarcaderro).

Drive to Napa, like all the other tour bus tourists and Sideways wannabes -- but you have to do it at least once. The wineries and tasting rooms are friendlier, less crowded, and have FREE tastings in the Monterrey area.

Sausilito -- cool place. You can reach it by ferry.

If you golf, play the Presidio. Or, play Lincoln Park -- a really, really crappy golf course, but the view from the 17th hole is worth enduring all the other crappy holes. (Best view of the Bay Bridge, from anywhere).

Swimming is dangerous in the Bay Area. The water is freezing, the currents are strong, and the sharks are out in force. There is a reason no one is on the beach, and no one in the water -- people die swimming there. Also, gangs hang out at the main beach off PHC. You'll see their markings on the sea wall. You're better off skipping the water.

That being said, there is some of the best monster-wave surfing in the world, off Half Moon Bay. Those guys are nuts!! Less extreme, China Beach is hard to find, but a cute little beach -- that's Sharon Stone's house overlooking the beach.

Don't waste too much time at the pier area around the Embarcaderro -- it's a tourist area. Worth a quick look, then move on.

And of course, drive down the famous Lombard Street -- once you get your car -- just because it's something that you have to do. You can walk it, also, if you don't have a car at the time.

Most of all, have fun. SF is one of the world's truly great cities.