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Soon we'll be hiking inn-to-inn in California. We'll stay 3 nights in a fake British pub with no tea kettle in our room. Confirmed this minimal (8 ounces) setup reaches the ideal temperature range for coffee (195-205°F). The kit includes Japanese-style filters, a trusty aluminum mug from my teenage years, and two slightly younger plastic cups (about 36 years old).
Loaded a San Francisco Bay Area Clipper transit card and a Delta boarding pass for a flight tomorrow onto my watch. We’ll hike from inn to inn in Marin County, ending up next Friday in downtown San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The watch is a fun addition, its main advantage over my phone is that it’s attached to me.
Tonight, our home is Sausalito, Marin County, CA. Here, a eucalyptus tree with plenty of stories to tell frames a distant view of downtown San Francisco, across the bay. Tomorrow, huge redwoods await us.
Today we reacquainted ourselves with the massive redwoods of Muir Woods. Tonight we're staying in a comfortable inn at the highest point on our multi-day hike with distant views of San Francisco Bay.
Hiked down into Muir Woods and then climbed out the other side of the valley, passing under the giant redwoods. (Yep, that's me.) Back up top, we had wonderful views of the bay and the Pacific Ocean as we walked across meadows dotted with wildflowers to our home for the next three nights, a replica British pub.
Our bedchamber for the next three nights: note the step stool. Downstairs they serve great local microbrews along with classic British pub fare.
We did a simple loop hike, ending up back at our inn. After a breakfast that included a tasty banger, headed down the coast towards the entrance to San Francisco Bay. In the distance a foghorn announced that visibility was limited.
After a shorter hike than yesterday's (it is a rest day) and a nutritious late lunch of "crisps" (potato chips) and IPA, we retired, here, to the snug with a pot of tea. It was then upstairs to our bedchamber for Kindle-time and naps.
Our hike, today, was the longest and highest of this trip. Wonderful views kept us motivated: first the Pacific, then one tower of Golden Gate Bridge, then a glimpse of San Francisco's skyline wedged between two hills. Here, we're finally Bay-side, soon to descend towards Sausalito to check into a small hotel, shower off the dust, then nap between crisp sheets before dinner.
Today's hike was our longest yet, but with the least climbing. From Sausalito, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, then followed the bay to The Embarcadero. The BART whisked us to the airport, where we settled into the comfortable Grand Hyatt right there for the night. Our room has great views of plane movements, and binoculars are provided! A senior rate eased the sting of the price tag.