As it needs around 4 hours driving from our host community, Douglas County, Nevada to San Francisco, northern California, and we have no car just our cool bikes here; I do not dare to dream that we will have a chance visiting San Francisco. But, hang on; we made it, an unbelievable trip! Well, until now I still don’t believe that it was me standing at the Vista Point, having the San Francisco’s famous icon – the Golden Gate Bridge as my picture’s background. Wow, I believe you now Hans Rosling (a TED Talk speaker), that ‘the seemingly impossible is possible’. From now on, I will keep this quote in my mind to inspire me hunting for my dreams, assist me overcoming obstacles, and encourage me daring to make better changes.  

We departed our casino hotel at 5 am, stopped for our quick but great breakfast at Mexican restaurant in Sacramento; and arrived San Francisco around 9 am. OMG, we are in San Francisco! Many thanks Tillery and Tina (our colleague and his smart attorney wife), without you guys’ kindness; this trip won’t happen.

While we were freezing with the cold weather (as always, hehe), the friendly old but good looking guy with his big Ford truck was showing up. It’s uncle Clarence, Tillery’s uncle, who lives there in San Francisco. What a lucky day! The day trip in San Francisco with a local VIP tour guide! Thank you uncle Clarence for everything, including the fancy lunch treat and the cool souvenirs (hehe, he gave us the black bears stuff toys. Well, at his 84 years of age, we are like kids to him. Thank you again uncle, we love your gifts, they are not just pretty, but they are great heaters warming up Wulan’s hands, lol).

As we expect, the first stop that our tour guide taking us to visit was the Golden Gate Bridge. At the Vista Point, apart from the iconic bridge, visitors will see the Alcatraz Island, the former highly-security military prison back then in last century, and later a federal prison for 30 years in five decades ago. My colleague said it was closed because it is costly to maintenance the prison from the salinity and wind. Interestingly, in my home country, Laos, prisoners are also locked in the prisons where are located in two islands, one for female, another for male. Fortunately, the islands are surrounded by lake, fresh not salt water. Additionally, visitors also see the beautiful San Francisco Bay view, the scenic hilly landscapes, and the Angel Island (we called it our island, lol).

Not too far from here, uncle Clarence then drove us to one of the floating home marinas on Richardson Bay. Wow they are so colorful! (& each of us chose our favorite house there too haha).

Another highlight of the day was the Pacifica ca ca ca!!!! It such a cool combination name right? (Pacific+America). Pacifica is so stunning. Sadly, we don’t have much time there. Anyway for a person from a landlocked country like me, only 10 min there was so amazing. We saw many flocks of birds flying in the clear blue sky, numbers of surfers and families on the gorgeous beaches during the fine sunny and perfect weather day, and many couples posing for their photos along the hilly scenic landscapes (a little bit jealous, lol). I wish I have two more days there. Many things those we not yet explore, for example, the University of California, Berkeley, Google and Twitter headquarters.  

                 

Wulan's selfie stick

Uncle Clarence, Wulan, Tillery, me&Tina        The floating residence                    With my bestie Wulan @ Pacifica!