Some days in the United States... Tour of California

Among the many trips that a camper dream is to cross the U.S. from coast to coast, the Caravan Club Italy, has organized and we are a member. It was a long time since we talked about it with friends, others, or alone with other organizations, there had been, but always in very limited locations: California, Nevada and Utah, no one knew that we had made the "coast to coast . Given the program, we noticed that was very broad, but limited in time, in a nutshell: you had to run, but you could do. After two meetings in Bologna, home of the club and one in Bergamo, where we had all the details and final costs, and you decide to go. The cost, inclusive (unfortunately not the case) was set at € 12,500. Twenty days before departure there was a balance in favor or against, the value of the dollar / euro and this then has not come true, for about € 400. It 'was decided to make a cost equal to all for the camper even though they were of different sizes because not everyone could have the small ones, so it was chosen by lot. The maximum of the participants had to be 20 campers with two executives, would have made two groups, unfortunately one of the two animals for health reasons had to give up, we were asked if we wanted to start with a single charge and we all agreed, however, the cost of the second person had been charged and has not been repaid to the various participants. Many have applied for reimbursement, but there was no response.
To enter multiple photos and make reading faster, I wanted to mention this trip is divided into states, each group as well as related photos, there will be a diary of the days associated with that state.

 

From Nevada to Visalia, California km. 500

At the wake, ready to leave no one shows up, you decide to start without pay.
Today, a long stage of transfer.
Arriving at the campsite it was decided to make a nice barbecue together, everyone brings meat to think that John and bake in a beautiful brazier made available from the campsite, it goes without saying: I made a cake, but this was provided by community, who had the flour, some butter, the other had sugar, in addition to the jam, having nothing else, I garnished with raisins and hundreds and thousands of people who do not know, however, as usual, liked and eaten .
Koa Camping Visalia - 36 20 N 57 W 119 24 22

From Visalia to Sequoia National, California km. 180

Our day begins with a wonderful nature that gives our eyes. Imposing peaks, canyons, rivers, lakes and above the forest with its ancient redwoods. Although the park entrance is 15 minutes away from the path and the Giant Forest is quite limited, however, need more than an hour to go all the curves of the Generals Highway from the valley that leads to the famous giant sequoias. Entry we are delivered both the paper map of the park. The impact is stunning. Once in the park, the road begins to climb slowly extricating one type of vegetation that everything seems to be less than that which we imagine seeing growth of giant sequoias. Within a few hundred meters, the vegetation is greener and dark, the forest becomes thicker and less dry, some redwood appears "normal" and then suddenly appears on the right a sign reading "Giant Forest and left a giant sequoia as we strive instinctively to see the top from the windshield of these trees, we do not succeed. I'm too tall to fit in your vision that offers a windscreen. We go down and the show is really huge in the true sense of the word. Touch the bark which is soft. No one was expecting an old tree that has endured thousands of years and lived with events and extreme temperatures. Fixed campers to reach a foot giant sequoia, is the General Grant sequoia round other no less important or is a little grandiose, some are lying on the ground, collapsed over time because the wind or simply old age, in some you can enter the cable trunk. Take up the camper and we moved into another car, from there, always a path you visit another prima donna of the Giant Forest, the General Sherman giant sequoia considered an imposing example of one of the highest in the world, with its 85 mt. Surely it is the largest living organism for the volume. Nearly 1500 cubic meters. Which is thought to be between 2300 and 2700 years. Our entire team is placed at the feet of General Sherman for the photo requirement. Left the camper in the parking use shuttle buses to visit other landmarks, such as the Giant Forest Museum and the sites not less important. We brought the camper taken at camp, ridiculous, entry into service the Ranger demanded by camper PL $ 20 every time you entered a not all together at 20 280 each time, probably did not know math. The camp is spartan, there is no connection, no problem we are self-sufficient.
Camping Sequoia Park - 44 48 N 36 W 118 58 23

From Sequoia National Park to Lodi, California km. 320

At 5 o'clock this morning I got up as usual, a personal need, I look out the window and am surprised it's all a white blanket of snow has whitened the forest and continues to fall copiously, others have already noticed, there move with the campers and we carry on the apron of the Lodgepole Center I visit, there is much discord among us, some would start before the snow covers all, others would stand still and wait for the time change, the No. 6 in the reconnaissance Shortly after the radio tells us that the road is clean and you can run, I follow him and the others behind me, unfortunately, the road starts climbing and snow increases to a certain point I find in front of me slipping and fails to rise, I approach, I take the guidance of his means and with the help of others to push the van into the harbor plan safe and returning on foot and at the same port as my first in line at one thing we can not do with all the campers. After a bit 'of time a car passes the ranger who advises us to stand still, we could not do otherwise, which had warned that the snow would come to our aid. Indeed, shortly after he sees one, but little that goes to work, then comes one biggest cleans all the way at this point the rangers give us permission to continue our journey. It 'been a bad adventure, but a happy ending, an event that will be told along with many others occurring in that journey.
We reach the last camp on Stockton Koa Campground in Lodi, where we stop for the night.
Thorough cleaning before we fall asleep to the campers with a view to return tomorrow, along with the warden of the camp, everything we grow, both food items purchased we can not carry it home, leave on the tables and he will collect it. Given the unseemly behavior charterers do not want to leave the camper, no more than we gave.
Stockton Lodi RV Park & Camping Campgroud - 03 29 N 38 W 121 16 41.

From Lodi to San Francisco, California.

We leave the campsite, but not before he had made and closed cases. I and a group we go to San Leandro and Moturist deliver our campers, the other group will be in Dublin at the El Monte to do the same.
The delivery of media has made very long, each camper was checked carefully, what we should do ourselves the means to retire, who had a small sign on the glass was charged $ 100 and this was leaving, I I withdrew with a camper full of petrol ¾ and I returned to the same level, I was charged for $ 130 to refill the tank, especially the more improbable, the fuel was I charged a $ 5 3:50 a gallon and not about cost to the distributor. Forwarded arrives at noon the bus will take us to the hotel, loaded all baggage is part reluctantly leave our campers who have transported and housed across the United States.
Upon entering the hotel we hit the elegant lobby decorated with carved wooden details and Tiffany art glass. After putting the luggage room and refreshed, we go to a restaurant opposite the hotel for lunch, others have already preceded.
The Market Street is very wide, full of shops, many hotels and what appeared very strange to us: endless Homeless, then we know that the governor of California Harnold Schwazenegger gives a subsidy to all the homeless, saputa the news a lot of these poor people moving into this state for help.
But, surprise, surprise .... He's going through an old orange tram line 19 in Milan, can you remember when I was a boy went outside my house. We learn that the tramway was donated by Milan and then the local council has bought more cars, we note that there are other old trams from San Diego and Boston and a city in Australia I can not remember the name.
With a group of friends camped by PL we take a flight and we do take to the sea, we stop to visit the Pier and precisely 39. The Pier are the old piers of a major port and military garrison, now adapted for tourism with restaurants and tourist attractions. Anchored to an old pier there is even a submarine, the USS Pampanuto side and a merchant class Liberty World War II, these vessels can be visited in a predetermined path.
And then there are the cable cars, which go up and down the hills, driven by an underground cable. When you saw Michael Douglas in the series of the show "On the streets of San Francisco produced in the '70s, flying over bumps with the car seemed to lose the wheel was not invented. Look at the car and go see them on the roadside and then suddenly disappear as if they are swallowed.
Another important pathway for the gourmands like us, is the Ghirardelli ice cream parlor, this gentleman came to America in search of fortune like so many other compatriots, he first started making chocolates and is now one of the largest factories of this product and then with the ice cream, me and Tina, we immediately rushed to order the cable cars, a huge ice cream in the shape of the characteristic tram.
We have dinner in a seafood restaurant, very good and not expensive, the output is already dark, we hear the grunts in the distance, or there appeared those were the sea lions that stood on the raft and waited for the staff of the restaurants gave the remains of fish.
Taken over the old tram we got back to the hotel and right on a real bed rest is what we deserve.
Hotel Whitcomb - 1231 Marker Street - San Francisco, CA 94103

Hotel Whitcomb – 1231 Marker Street – San Francisco, CA 94103

At 9:00 at the hall, we meet Rosita de Luca, our guide, who will accompany us and we will illustrate the most characteristic places of the city. We start from the Civic Center. The bright marble staircase of its huge rotunda overlooking the main floor of City Hall, completed in 1915, French style neorococò. In this hall was celebrated the marriage of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio. Reach Nob Hill, this neighborhood are the Grace Cathedral is the largest Episcopal church in San Francisco. Resembles very much to Notre Dame in Paris. Built in Gothic style, full of beautiful marble and stained glass. The rose window of the facade is made from thick faceted glass, illuminated from within at night. In front of elderly Asian characteristics, making their typical gym, with slow but determined. At Union Square are the center for business and shopping. Here are the stores Niketown, Tiffany & Co. and other brands of the best known. Later we visit one another beautiful church dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul.
We arrive later in Lombard Street, the steepest and most tortuous world. The most famous is Russian Hill between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street, where the roadway has eight hairpin turns. This stretch is 400 meters long. on a pavement of red brick and is reserved for transit of cars down. The speed limit is eight miles an hour.
We visit the Diego Rivera Gallery, where we admire the works of different artists, but mainly to get on the upper terrace where you can admire the beautiful scenery of the bay dominated dall'isoletta Alcatraz (Spanish for pelican), whose strong military transformed into a prison, inmates housed celebrities, one for all Al Capone. The island has the shape of a ship with the water tank that acts as a funnel. Now the old jail has been transformed into a museum. In the distance you can see the most famous skyscraper in San Francisco, the Transamerica Pyramid. With its 48 floors atop the spire that reaches 260 meters. high and is visible and recognizable from every point of the city.
Enjoy the charm of the Golden Gate Park, which is just behind, is the set of its components. There are ponds, gardens, woods, sports fields. The green is the key to much that is hard to imagine the whole area was once occupied by sand dunes. And we finally reach a "monument" city's most famous: the Golden Gate Bridge, considered one of the most exciting views of San Francisco. 2700 meters long, connecting the city from Fort Point in Marin County. Its towers they rush upward to a height of 227 meters. He still looks very light. The red-orange color is well adapted to its surroundings.
At this point, we have an hour lunch break, we deviate from the group and follow the advice of the guide go to lunch at "Scomas" a restaurant that has specialties such as crab, taste him cheered by a good carafe of white and a side of fries and grilled vegetables.
And finally we reach the Pacific Ocean, an immense beach by water divides us, some of us enjoy the sensation of getting wet feet at least.
We arrive at Twin Peaks, one of the highest points in San Francisco, where we admire the landscape north to Marin County and east to Oakland. There is so much wind but the view is truly magnificent.
We return to Hotel intoxicated to everything we admired, usually go to restaurant for dinner, now half of the whole group.

Milford Plaza Hotel – 700 8th Avenue – New York, NY 10036.

In the morning round in the area and then return before noon for the release of the rooms and storage room in the hotel lobby. At 13 a bus will transfer us to the airport to the United Airlines flight UA014 departing at 16 hours. Arriving at JFK at 00:39. During this flight will move the hands of three hours, regain the lost leg, snack and dinner on board with the usual movie you've seen.
And 'the night when we get the Milford Plaza Hotel, tribulation for the suitcases in the room, first tell us who wore them the messengers, after half an hour of waiting we are told that to bring the bags they want to be paid, infuriated everyone if you like to take and as soon as possible to bed very tired.

The end

Many efforts and hard work for this trip we got emotions difficult to describe. Every day was unique, unmissable, extraordinary, thanks to the commitment and willingness of all our fellow adventurers. What we remember most? Hard to say. Every place of its kind, it was wonderful. This trip will be memorable. Our thoughts, in order, rushing to the charm of Niagara Falls, the gullies of the Badlands, the faces of presidents carved into the mountain, the magnificent Dewil Tower, Old Faithful and all the exciting dell'Yellowstone Park (although we have not seen Yogi Bear and Booboo), Monument Valley, and its delicate arches and its spire, the light filtered through Antelope Canyon Lake Powell with the legendary Glen Canyon Dam, the proud, the great, the beautiful, the breathtaking Grand Canyon, lights, sounds of Las Vegas to Badwater in Death Valley hot, very big and the very old General Sherman and the unexpected snowfall in Sequoia National Park, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco saw the romantic Sausalito, and finally, the great New York, its skyscrapers, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty (Distant View). There were many other things to tell that we have not included in this text. Others that we could say but who are in all the guidebooks. Still others, such as feelings and emotions more intimate .... That can never describe but which will remain trapped forever in us. Now it is all over. It 's time to go home, review my friends, to continue our life forever, waiting for another wonderful trip to enjoy together.