4th July

Day didn't quite start to plan.

We walked to the City Hall via Japantown (kind of underwhelming) with the intention of purchasing a one day Muni passport to get around and to ride the cable cars. City Hall was closed (although a website said it should be open) so we then had to walk to the Visitor information centre. Purchased our passport and headed to the cable car queue. Hmmmm.... Super long. And we had booked some bikes for 11am.

So we abandoned the idea for the moment and decided to just take the F to Fishermans Wharf to get our bikes, do our Golden Gate bike ride and leave the cable car for later. So off we went.

Had a very tasty jumbo hot dog with sauerkraut, relish and ketchup and mustard for brunch (it is 4th July after all!) and picked up our bikes. This was noon.

And off we went towards the Golden Gate Bridge. It was pretty foggy and super windy but a rather enjoyable bike ride nevertheless. Much easier than I would have guessed. We went over and back and decided that since we had the bikes, we should visit Golden Gate Park. So off we went, saw the bison, the windmill and then realised we were rather tired.

Abandoned the idea of going to the DeYoung and Japanese Tea Garden and decided to cycle back to the shop and then realised how far away we were. We were totally shattered and my thighs were burning and the hills were killing us. Finally got back to the shop at 5pm, about 30 miles (or more) later.

Went for a well deserved giant ice cream at Coldstone Creamery and then headed to take our cable car ride.... Only to discover that they had stopped running for the day. Argh. It would have been useful for the person at the Visitor Information centre to have told us that. So the money spent on the passport was totally wasted. Grrrrr....

We decided to go back to the flat for a shower and a rest before returning for the fireworks and getting back was a real pain because of the road closures etc.

Got back, showered and then found it rather hard to drag ourselves out again and the muscle pain from the bike ride was kicking in. Finally did get going and we were back at Pier 39 for about 9pm.

The crowds were insane, so many people.

We managed to find a good spot and the fireworks began at 9.30. Pretty good fun. Loud and big.

Afterwards we grabbed our last dinner in SF, clam chowder and fried shrimp from the Pier Seafood place and then headed back to the flat.

Now totally exhausted physically and having a quiet drink.

Not sure well be up to much before our flight tomorrow. We still have so much to see but we're knackered!

Happy 4th July!