Oregon Coast, San Fran, and San Mateo Travels

We've been as busy as ever the last few days coming down the coast and exploring San Francisco and San Mateo with family (my Grandma Youmans and Aunt Sue and Uncle Dave).

On Monday, Shannon and I headed south around the strike of noon.  We had planned to go a little further than Portland before turning to the coast but got tangled in some Portland traffic and decided enough was enough and headed West.  It was also exciting to go to the Coast right at Tillamook because it would mean I had driven all of 101 in Oregon.  We stopped for the night at Cape Lookout Campground and thrawted off some rainshowers before enjoying the beach:

The next morning, we headed further South and I really enjoyed seeing how the ecosystem changed slowly to a more and more dry climate.  The driving terrain south of Port Orford was particularly great. 

 

We stopped at the beach below and watched handfuls of windsurfers and kite boarders get after it.  While I occasionally attempt to wind surf, these guys were doing some pretty incredible stuff.  A double black of wind-surfing?  The wind was sculpting the sand in a pretty cool patterns.

It was time to call it a day at Patrick's Point State Park.  We had picked up firewood along the way and had a great sunset, campfire, and s'mores.  I take s'mores pretty seriously.  I love s'mores.

Before we left Patrick's Point the on Wednesday, we went to Wedding Rocks and watched the ocean pound the coast.  We weren't sure whether the fog just off shore was coming or going?

 

Then it was time to head in-land and drive through the Redwoods.  We stopped by "The GrandFather Tree".  Which was just huge.  How do trees get this huge?  I guess that's what happens when you're (supposedly) 1,800 years old.

 

After a bit more driving, we crossed the Golden Gate bridge and made our way to San Mateo where my Grandma lives.  We had a great meal at a restaurant called "3" and enjoyed catching up and checking out some old family photos in her house:

Yesterday we hit the streets of San Francisco.  First we checked out the Ferry Building and had some lunch from a street truck.  Then we met up with Aunt Sue and Uncle Dave and checked out the Cable Car Museum.  This was a pretty neat spot because it's actually where they run all the cables for the cable cars.  It's like a ski lift terminal on crack.  As a mechanical engineer, I really appreciated this stop.

A cable car ride seemed necessary after this and we went to checkout Pier 39 and eventually the Golden Gate bridge.  Sue and Dave were great tour guides!

We all met-up for dinner together at a neat place on the water before heading back to Sue and Dave's place for a delicious dessert!

Today we set-out for Kings Canyon/Sequoia national parks, eventually the Grand Canyon, and then Memphis.  We'll be off the grid for a while, but expect an update next week!