After the magnificence of Yellowstone, I was prepared for a duller landscape, but immediately below Yellowstone lies the Grand Teton mountain range and national park so there was no let up in the jaw dropping scenery. In Winter this area becomes one of America's prime snow destinations, but seen under Summer skies, there's a whole other life to be had.
Day 2 in Idaho finds me traversing the deep twisty depths of the assorted National Forests of Challis, Boise and Sawtooth. The forests don't seem as dense from the road as in Oregon, but there was a lot more evidence of Forest Fires leaving behind dead blackened or sun bleached blasted trees.
Spent 4 days touring round the depths of the National Forests of Klamath, Shasta, Trinity and Lassen, a huge area of mountains and forest taking up most of Northern California. In the process, I have become adept at snaking out awesome spots to overnight at, preferably with a river close by for morning dips. Had some epic drives, which completely blew Sat Nav Lady's mind (or maybe it was the canyons, fog, switchback roads, deep forests). I lost count of the number of legal U-turns she was desperate for me to make to force me back onto main roads. The more she does it the more I relish ignoring her..
They (no, not 'They', just 'they') say San Francisco is one of the few American cities you can walk around. I put that to the test today on a grand 15 mile navigation encompassing Haight (+ Memphis Minnies to fuel up), the Presidio and Golden Gate bridge. I can exclusively reveal I am knackered and my feet could stop a zombie at 40 paces.
Meet Cardio Mario. I met him whilst walking down Pacific Avenue, just down from the Presidio. He was out for his evening jog. I was marvelling at the architecture when he stopped and spent 20 minutes sharing with me the goings-on on what transpires was Billionaires Row, the most expensive street in the city.
From Larry Ellisons spat with his neighbours about trees blocking his view, to Sean Penn's alleged prediliction for using champagne bottles to test the theory of gravity from his roof, Mario had it all.
Mario isn't the only slightly strange thing out here. There are flocks of parakeets flying about and a strange species of molochian hobo that seems to be invisible to the rest of the populace. They walk up to trash bins and then enthusiastically mine them for aluminium cans which are then fastidiously crushed on the spot and added to their collections. I may follow one and see if I can find the mother nest.
