Yes, it has come to this. California is so expensive that I am now sleeping on the street, no more campgrounds. OK, let me rephrase that; no campground in San Francisco.

NOT my accommodations!

After the garlic festival I was heading to San Francisco to visit my friend Priscilla and her family. I had figured I would find a campground just outside of SF and that way avoid driving with the camper up and down those lovely steep streets of the city. Priscilla, however, suggested I should save my money and just park on the Great Highway and Lincoln Street. Lot’s of people do it, e.g. homeless people. That part I did not like.
So we decided that I would park in front of her house. Priscilla had given me a route where I would avoid the really bad inclines. That worked until I made a wrong turn and ended up on a very narrow and then a very steep street. OMG, I told JD, let’s do it and up we went. I had been avoiding mountain roads with less steep inclines.
Parking in front of her house had just one little problem, low hanging tree branches. Off we went to look for a flat parking space. Flat is not that easy in San Francisco. We got lucky and only two blocks from her house was the perfect parking spot, long enough, no trees and flat. I just had to make sure to move it the next morning for alternate side street parking. I had stayed in friends driveways, but never on a public street. This would be fun.

That's my place

The weather was great, blue skies and mid 60s. It was nice enough to have lunch in the backyard.
San Francisco is a neat city. I love the views from above down onto the city.

Hillside living

I had been to San Francisco twice before but I never fell in love with the city; I don’t really know why.
So, you ask, how was the first night on the street? Not bad at all. By 11 PM the bus stopped running and the street got quiet. It was very strange to take a shower under someone’s apartment window. Remember, I have that big skylight in my bathroom. I felt safe in this place. I had met the woman in front whose house I was parked and by the next morning I had met two more of my “neighbors”. Very friendly neighborhood.
Instead of leaving after just one night I decided to stay one more night. I enjoyed a great breakfast at Chloe’s on Church and 26th Street; basking in the sun. Don’t get me wrong, it was not that warm. I was wearing jeans and a lined jacket.

Even a day of walking around the city could not change my mind about this city. There are lots of great neighborhoods, but I miss the electricity you can feel in New York. I am not trying to compare the two cities, but I think that’s what I miss.

Victorian houses (Painted Ladies)

Crazy gas prices

Leaving the city the next day was a little adventure in itself. Again, Priscilla helped with the route out of the city. There was just one steep part, Divisadero from Broadway to Lombard Street. I thought I had seen steep. Most roads I traveled had warning signs for 6% down grade. This was at least twice that steep. The mean thing is that they make you stop every block.

Steep Divisadero

Once again, I enjoyed the company of friends. Thank you for your hospitality! The next friend stop is 1,400 miles away…