I saw the San Francisco skyline today for the first time! Awesome!

[liberaltrucker]

I spent last night in Brisbane, waiting for my load back East.
The order came to go to Sacramento to load to Jacksonville, FL.

Tooling up 101 and approaching I 80, rounding a sharp curve, there
it was! The most beautiful cityscape I could ever imagine! I don't
recall exits or mile markers, traffic being what it was at about
12:30 PM PDT today. Between being awed and watching traffic, the last exit I
noticed before the SF-O Bay Bridge was, I think 4th Street.

OMG, you SF DUers are so damn blessed to live in such a beautiful place!
When the economy improves, SFO will DEFINITELY be on my list of destination
airports!

I picked up my FL load. Gotta be there Tuesday night. Right now, I'm stuck
in Lodi.......again.

:)

[abq e streeter]

1. Actually stuck in Lodi ? How poetic, but probably boring as hell

just hope your not walkin out when you go......I called my girlfriend ( well, ex) while standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona last summer.

[liberaltrucker]

4. I'm actually in Lodi

Flying J I5 and CA12. Poetic? Yeah. I does my bestest.

:)

Boring, yeah, but at least I got free Net access!

[KitchenWitch]

5. I have a photo of myself standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona

[liberaltrucker]

9. Post it! I double dog dare ya!

I spent the night in Winslow Sunday the 17th.
But more like stumbling out of a bar than standing
on a corner! :blush:

[abq e streeter]

16. hey if you're ever stuck in Albuquerque, PM me

if you want, I'll meet you for a ( in my case most likely non-alcoholic) beer......abq e streeter

[Texasgal]

18. was it "such a fine sight to see"

:)

[KamaAina]

34. It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford

slowin' down to take a look at me.... :loveya:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. I have a picture of me

standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ, too!

[abq e streeter]

19. Hi TLB, and Kitchenwitch--guess that's probably occurred to a lot of people

except me ( slaps self on the side of the head)...I shoulda done that too. Not much else to do in Winslow except go to meteor crater, or get drunk ( see post from Liberaltrucker to that effect) or have your picture taken (with a girl, my lord, in a flat bed Ford). Don't know when the next time I'll be through Winslow will be; have only been through there twice ( well, twice going east and twice going west) since the early 90's. Hey LT, sorry about temporarily derailing your sublime San Francisco thread into discussions on the cultural opportunities of Winslow.

[KitchenWitch]

24. The fine people of Winslow Arizona have erected a statue honoring the song

[Enrique]

39. I wonder if there's a statue in Lodi

probably not. :shrug:

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. One of the best things about being in the dorms at Cal was the view.

I could see San Francisco and the GG Bridge. I shudder to think what that view would have cost a non-student.

[Ptah]

3. San Francicso is a beautiful city.

Thanks for sharing your first view.

:hi:

[liberaltrucker]

6. My pleasure

**checks map** Looks like I'll be spending Friday night in Eloy.

:hi:

[Ptah]

8. I'll wave. There might be storms. Unusual spring.

Starting to cloud up about a month early.

Be careful, bro

[liberaltrucker]

11. Always careful

Bro, I grew up and still live in Tornado Alley, Alabama.
I got my ducks in a row.

:hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

7. I live in the East Bay -- the view is magnificent.

Coming toward the bridge on Highway 24 west of Highway 13 on a clear day is a view not to be missed if you're around here again.

[liberaltrucker]

10. To quote The Governator: "I'll be back"

Bank on it. Whether in my job or as a tourist. Beauty this
magnificent must be savored. That takes time. Unfortunately,
time wasn't a luxury I had today. I'll be checking fares from
BHM to SFO on a regular basis. But, I WILL be back.

[marzipanni]

12. Here's a postcard for you

We used to live just north of 'the city', several miles beyond the left, or north, end of the Golden Gate bridge in this picture. Now we're about 60 miles NE of it. It really is a beautiful place, and the weather was good for you today (not foggy). Have a good drive eastward, and get back out here sometime for the fun of it, instead of work. :hi:

[liberaltrucker]

14. Wow! Thanks!

:hug:

I'd have to rent a car to cross the GGB.
My TT combination is way to big to fit the toll booth!

As I said upthread, I'll be back, powered either by Diesel 2
or Jet A. Don't matter to me!

:hi:

[LeftyMom]

13. It's lovely.

The drive up Hwy 1 into San Francisco from the south is beautiful too, especially if you do it right around sunset. The ocean is orange from the reflected sunlight and the road runs up along cliffs and then down near the water and back up. It's nearly indescribable. Not a road for trucks though, you have to do that one in a car.

[liberaltrucker]

17. I can only imagine

Most of PCH is off-limits to big rigs. For obvious reasons. A flight into LAX
and a rental car would solve that. One can dream!

[cboy4]

20. It's a dump alright!

[liberaltrucker]

27. Not fair!

The GGB is off-limits to big rigs.

:spank:

Um, could ya PM the pics in hi-res?

:hide:

[fujiyama]

21. My favorite skyline in the US

Definitely one of the most beautiful in the world though there are many other cities I have yet to see...

The West Coast is incredible. Driving Cal 1 is one of those things everyone just HAS to do at least once. I drove Hwy 101 and Cal1 and it was a great experience. Great small towns. Friendly people and I took my sweet time passing through. Cal1 was pretty hairy at times and could get a bit scary making those treacherous turns. But it was worth it.

Damn, why'd I leave the coast? I miss the ocean.

[cboy4]

22. Cal 1 or as we call it here ... the PCH!

It's usually spectacular .. except when it's closed down to be used as a parking lot for equipment during wildfires. :scared:

[fujiyama]

23. Yep - Pacific Coast Highway

Man I miss it. If I could, I'd buy a place in a small town maybe somewhere on the Lost Coast, miles away from everyone. Sure it was beautiful driving over the GG Bridge over SF, but the moment Cal 1 became Hwy 101, I dreaded "civilization".

Though, I'd be fine along the 101 in Oregon also, which is a great state. I didn't see as much of WA state and the WA coast as I wanted to. I'll go back at some point for sure...

[6000eliot]

25. I drove that way from San Jose to SF once.

The whole drive is beautiful.

[liberaltrucker]

28. That it is

I got on 101 in Gilroy enroute to Brisbane. Stunning!

[arbusto_baboso]

26. My grandfather was stationed at the Presidio, which is how the family came to Cali.

He was a Michigander, and etermined to move to California after he was discharged after WWII. 'Course, we came to SoCal, but nothing ever goes *quite* as planned. But yes, SF is a gorgeous place visually, and in many other ways. Imagine it in the the 1940s, as my grandfather must have seen it...

[WCGreen]

29. Dude, are you tracing the Route of Jack Kerouac while you

are "On The road"...

I was there for three days back in 1979...

[liberaltrucker]

30. Doin' my best to

Thanks very much for the reference. Google results are intriguing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Road

Requires further research. Y'all OK, Chris?

:hi:

[dana_b]

31. I've lived here most of my life

and try not to take it for granted. I flew to Chicago last week and loved it - had a blast. Anyway flying out of SFO on a clear day is incredible. You should do that sometime.

[liberaltrucker]

33. I plan to fly INTO SFO at my first opportunity!

:)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

32. My dear liberaltrucker!

I always wanted to live there, after the big quake...

I guess it won't happen now...

But I love the City!

I was very lucky to fly over it in a private plane many years ago, at night...

Looked like a giant had tossed a handful of jewels onto the ground. Breathtaking!

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

35. Right now ~ I'm stuck in western PA!

I hooked onto a SUPER-LOAD in Mass that I'm escorting all of the way to west Memphis Arkansas ... or to it's final destination ~> Texas.

I'm so totally happy to finally be On The Road Again . :)
Of course ... we were shut down at noon Friday until 9AM Tuesday morning. I don't mind the rest. Comfort Inn is treating us very well. I know I'll be back here again.

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to be stuck in Lodi this year!

[liberaltrucker]

37. Pinkies crossed for ya!

Ah, the road! Home sweet home!

Taking the obligatory 10 hrs in Jackson, MS tonight.

:hi:

[In_The_Wind]

42. We'll have coffee somewhere someday.

Remember to uncross your pinkies before you start shifting gears! ;)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8794535


:hug: :loveya:

[av8rdave]

36. It is a cool city...

Hope you get a chance to enjoy it sometime soon!

[liberaltrucker]

38. And with luck...

You'll be the cap'n flying me into SFO!
Your airline has VERY attractive fares from BHM.

:hi:

[av8rdave]

46. Wouldn't that be a kick! Stranger things have happened!

[sakabatou]

40. Not to mention we SF/Bay Area people have some of the best weather

[Shine]

41. At least you didn't have to deal with parking in the city. That's the worst.

:toast:

[GCP]

43. I love San Francisco

It's one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been in.
Here are some pictures I took a few years ago:

Coyt Tower - inside it's decorated by murals commissioned by the PWA to provide work for artists in the Depression - stupid socialistic un-Randian policies! (No need for sarcasm
smilie)


A few views of Lombard Street




Coyt Tower from the wharf



North beach area



One of those steep streets

[liberaltrucker]

48. Thanks for the pics!

More incentive to save for my inevitable flight. Screw trying to find
a place to park a big rig. Damn near impossible in the SF area. Understandable,
though.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

44. I'm jealous of anyone who gets to drive cross country.

If only I had the time and money to do so, I'd think that's all I'd want to do.

Speaking from the East Coast I hope you enjoy Florida when you get here tommorow! Check out St. Augustine if you have the time....it's a terrific town in its own right!

[liberaltrucker]

47. I always enjoy Florida

I'm in Tallahassee right now enroute to Ft Worth after reloading
in Fernandina Beach. Didn't have the luxury of time here, either :argh:

Did I mention that I get PAID to see our Country. :hide:

[tigereye]

45. isn't it amazing? I wish I could live there- when we visit, I hate to leave.

:thumbsup:

[Mike 03]

49. Yes, it is a beautiful city, and it's so nice to read your post.

I lived there from the time was eleven to around seventeen when I went off to college, but visited there many times since.

It's just fantastic. There are so many points of interest, from Pier 39 to Coit Tower, to the business district, and Fisherman's Wharm, Ghiardeli Square, the Cannery.

Just reading your post I got that "tug" we all get when our nostalgia strings have been tugged.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.