Road Trip - USA
- Thread starter Splutter
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We checked out from out motel and continue our journey towards San Francisco. we arrived at our first stop, Hearst Castle - Doesn't actually look like the type of castle I imagined. More like a garrantula mansion with a personal zoo. It was originally owned by William Hearst.
Sculpture in a pillar
A pic of the neptune pool. It has a warming system to allow swimmers even during winter! Of course it's not open to public though.
Statue in a private movie theatre
Yet another pool. Indoor this time round. The walls, ceilings and floor are actually coated in gold!
Sculpture in a pillar
A pic of the neptune pool. It has a warming system to allow swimmers even during winter! Of course it's not open to public though.
Statue in a private movie theatre
Yet another pool. Indoor this time round. The walls, ceilings and floor are actually coated in gold!
After the castle, we carried on towards Point Sur along the coastal highway. I personally feel that this is the best stretch in my entire journey. Too bad I was driving, and could not stop as much as I wanted to snap pics. Give a choice I'll take a week to travel this highway;p
Looking back at the highway. The sea is incredibly blue, I didn't have to do much.
Yet another majestic view. I can't remember what's the name of the bridge though, haha.
I want to live here forever! These yellow wild flowers are pretty abundant along the coast.
Took a small hike (abt 2km) to get nearer to the waters. This is actually a small lagoon of some sort. There are actually sea elephants (looks like sea lions, just bigger and much uglier) nearby, but they seem to be sleeping most of the time and didn't appear really interesting so I shan't post pics of them.
Looking back at the highway. The sea is incredibly blue, I didn't have to do much.
Yet another majestic view. I can't remember what's the name of the bridge though, haha.
I want to live here forever! These yellow wild flowers are pretty abundant along the coast.
Took a small hike (abt 2km) to get nearer to the waters. This is actually a small lagoon of some sort. There are actually sea elephants (looks like sea lions, just bigger and much uglier) nearby, but they seem to be sleeping most of the time and didn't appear really interesting so I shan't post pics of them.
Sparse vegetation along the Point Lobos State Reserve. They make really good subjects in the setting sun.
Rock Formations
As time was running out, we figured it'll be unsafe to drive along the highway at night. Afterall it's a plunge of 1000 feet to the deep blue sea. Sunset would have been fabulous here. We took to the car again and arrived at Monterey just moments before sunset. I grabbed my gear and ran like a mad man to the end of the wharf.
Fishing trawler, I think.
Tranquil scene at dusk. Boats anchored near the wharf. I wonder how they get on board them.
Rock Formations
As time was running out, we figured it'll be unsafe to drive along the highway at night. Afterall it's a plunge of 1000 feet to the deep blue sea. Sunset would have been fabulous here. We took to the car again and arrived at Monterey just moments before sunset. I grabbed my gear and ran like a mad man to the end of the wharf.
Fishing trawler, I think.
Tranquil scene at dusk. Boats anchored near the wharf. I wonder how they get on board them.
Splutter said:After the castle, we carried onwards North along the coastal highway. I personally feel that this is the best stretch in my entire journey. Too bad I was driving, and could not stop as much as I wanted to snap pics. Give a choice I'll take a week to travel this highway;p
Looking back at the highway. The sea is incredibly blue, I didn't have to do much.
Yet another majestic view. I can't remember what's the name of the bridge though, haha.
I want to live here forever! These yellow wild flowers are pretty abundant along the coast.
Took a small hike (abt 2km) to get nearer to the waters. This is actually a small lagoon of some sort. There are actually sea elephants (looks like sea lions, just bigger and much uglier) nearby, but they seem to be sleeping most of the time and didn't appear really interesting so I shan't post pics of them.
Thanks for sharing your US trip images. Reminded me of my trips some 15 years ago. Can't wait to see your Yosemite, Washington DC pics though. I missed those places. Btw, the coast line where you have the pics taken along Hwy 1 is called Big Sur and the bridge I believe is called Bixby Creek bridge. Did you stopby Carmel or the 17-th Mile drive after that? Beautiful places and nice for pics.
Thanks S11loop, Koelsch, Qazwer and ob1canob for your compliments.
ob1canob, I did go thru the scenic 17-mile drive. I'm not sure if the timing was wrong or what, but the view was not as good as along Point Sur, somemore still have to pay to go thru :bsmilie: The last 2 pics weren't in San Francisco yet, it's actually in Monterey. Sorry for the confusion, too many pics ;p
ob1canob, I did go thru the scenic 17-mile drive. I'm not sure if the timing was wrong or what, but the view was not as good as along Point Sur, somemore still have to pay to go thru :bsmilie: The last 2 pics weren't in San Francisco yet, it's actually in Monterey. Sorry for the confusion, too many pics ;p
30th June
Drove thru Santa Cruz and reached San Francisco. I don't really have anything worthy to post for this day, so let's skip this :sweat:
1st July
Headed out in the morning towards Napa Valley. This place is full of wineries and we spent a good half day wine tasting.
Chateau Montelena - For 30 USD, you get to try 5 different types of wine. All were pretty good too! Rows of grape vines in the vineyard. It's only summer, so the grapes are really tiny.
Barrels of wine in the cellar
2nd July
Parking is really a chore in San Francisco. It's hard to park on the steep slopes, harder to even find an empty slot.
Chinatown in San Francisco. The chinese here are mainly from Hong Kong though. Most don't even speak Mandarin.
Drove thru Santa Cruz and reached San Francisco. I don't really have anything worthy to post for this day, so let's skip this :sweat:
1st July
Headed out in the morning towards Napa Valley. This place is full of wineries and we spent a good half day wine tasting.
Chateau Montelena - For 30 USD, you get to try 5 different types of wine. All were pretty good too! Rows of grape vines in the vineyard. It's only summer, so the grapes are really tiny.
Barrels of wine in the cellar
2nd July
Parking is really a chore in San Francisco. It's hard to park on the steep slopes, harder to even find an empty slot.
Chinatown in San Francisco. The chinese here are mainly from Hong Kong though. Most don't even speak Mandarin.
Arrived at the extremely touristy Fisherman's wharf. Buskers and folks selling souvenirs are everywhere.
A dunno-what-u-call-this. You can see throngs of tourist in the back.
We do Singapore proud by eating at every chance. Clam chowder and crabs are the "local delicaies" here.
San Francisco is always so foggy. You can barely see the Golden Gate Bridge here. I did not get a good view of the bridge for my entire stay in San Francisco.
A dunno-what-u-call-this. You can see throngs of tourist in the back.
We do Singapore proud by eating at every chance. Clam chowder and crabs are the "local delicaies" here.
San Francisco is always so foggy. You can barely see the Golden Gate Bridge here. I did not get a good view of the bridge for my entire stay in San Francisco.
The infamous Alcatraz. Yeah touristy place too.
Sunset lights up a section of the wall on the Rock.
In the jail cells itself. We are equipped with audio tour headphones and are allowed to roam around freely to explore the island.
Dusk arrives once again. A building on Alcatraz.
Sunset lights up a section of the wall on the Rock.
In the jail cells itself. We are equipped with audio tour headphones and are allowed to roam around freely to explore the island.
Dusk arrives once again. A building on Alcatraz.
Big Kahuna
Senior Member
Hm...this restaurant is call Ghetto if I remember correctly...I tried 3 diff outles for the Clam Chowder and this is by far the best...of coz...the other two are run by Chinese and they put lots of potatoes in the soup...nowonder most chinese make big money opening restaurant at ang moh land :sweat:
gooseberry
Senior Member
Great series of pics mate. Looks like you enjoyed your time - I think a lot of us are enjoying viewing your photos.
Splutter, while i am looking through ur pictures I cant help but "feel" for ur hols thru what I see.
Nice scenaries, good compositions in many of your pictures, rich colours all help in providing an experience for the folks sharing the pictures and "trip" with you.
Keep them coming ... looking forward to more :thumbsup:
Nice scenaries, good compositions in many of your pictures, rich colours all help in providing an experience for the folks sharing the pictures and "trip" with you.
Keep them coming ... looking forward to more :thumbsup:
Yes Big Kahuna, it should be called Ghetto if I remember correctly. The clam chowder was great, but nobody eats the bread. Really quite a waste to find all the bread bowls dumped into the trash cans.
Terence, I'm sure you can find time to go visit again next time
I know I would!
gooseberry, Paperkurt thanks! Leinaj, it wouldn't be possible w/o your lens. Thanks again ;p
Terence, I'm sure you can find time to go visit again next time
I know I would!gooseberry, Paperkurt thanks! Leinaj, it wouldn't be possible w/o your lens. Thanks again ;p
3rd July
Head toward Yosemite. It's pretty late by the time we reached.
A peek into the valley. Although it wasn't too far in (~ 50km), it took almost 2 hours to get in coz of the narrow winding roads. On the left the gigantic rock is El Capitan (I hope I got it correct) and in the middle you can just make out the waterfall. There's actually quite a few in Yosemite itself.
A feeble attempt at star trails. It was cold outside and I am a natural mosquito magnet, thus I only managed 15mins exposure time. The red tinge was because some car drove pass and the tail lights flashed into my lens (yeah what the hell). Anyway I figured I could take better ones in Grand Canyon, so I went back to bed.
4th July
White water rafting day!
No pics. I wouldn't want to test the weather sealing of the 1d. We did buy a waterproof disposable cam though. Good old film!
We managed to squeeze in some time after the rafting to go on a hiking trail.
Sequoia trees. These trees are ancient and massive. Suppose to be over a 1000 year old. Quite a few have collapsed due to diseases and erosion.
A pic of our camp itself! We stayed in this place called Curry Village(No it wasn't ran by Indians) We got this tent like shelter that houses 2 double beds. Food consumption within compound is a strict no-no due to bears nearby. We had to put anything that smells (food, soap etc) into bear lockers.
Head toward Yosemite. It's pretty late by the time we reached.
A peek into the valley. Although it wasn't too far in (~ 50km), it took almost 2 hours to get in coz of the narrow winding roads. On the left the gigantic rock is El Capitan (I hope I got it correct) and in the middle you can just make out the waterfall. There's actually quite a few in Yosemite itself.
A feeble attempt at star trails. It was cold outside and I am a natural mosquito magnet, thus I only managed 15mins exposure time. The red tinge was because some car drove pass and the tail lights flashed into my lens (yeah what the hell). Anyway I figured I could take better ones in Grand Canyon, so I went back to bed.
4th July
White water rafting day!
No pics. I wouldn't want to test the weather sealing of the 1d. We did buy a waterproof disposable cam though. Good old film!
We managed to squeeze in some time after the rafting to go on a hiking trail.
Sequoia trees. These trees are ancient and massive. Suppose to be over a 1000 year old. Quite a few have collapsed due to diseases and erosion.
A pic of our camp itself! We stayed in this place called Curry Village(No it wasn't ran by Indians) We got this tent like shelter that houses 2 double beds. Food consumption within compound is a strict no-no due to bears nearby. We had to put anything that smells (food, soap etc) into bear lockers.
5th July
Started on another hike to truly get in touch with nature.
River flowing thru the valley.
Mirror Lake - think the name needs no explanation. The lake was really dirty with dead vegetation although it doesn't look like it.
Drove to Glacier Point. I don't really get the name but it's certainly a high spot overhanging the valley. Drop dead gorgeous view all around.
Looking back into the valley. Somewhat hazy due to the altitude.
Half Dome basking in sunset.
Started on another hike to truly get in touch with nature.
River flowing thru the valley.
Mirror Lake - think the name needs no explanation. The lake was really dirty with dead vegetation although it doesn't look like it.
Drove to Glacier Point. I don't really get the name but it's certainly a high spot overhanging the valley. Drop dead gorgeous view all around.
Looking back into the valley. Somewhat hazy due to the altitude.
Half Dome basking in sunset.
Decided to give pano a try while waiting for sunset. I'm really not good at this.
Heck while I'm at it, might as well do it for sunset too. Notice the snow capped mountains. That's what drives the Merced River and many other rivers that runs through the valley. During Spring where the melting occurs the fastest, the rivers flow faster and are extremely popular for white water rafting. It's still quite a kick during summer though.
Heck while I'm at it, might as well do it for sunset too. Notice the snow capped mountains. That's what drives the Merced River and many other rivers that runs through the valley. During Spring where the melting occurs the fastest, the rivers flow faster and are extremely popular for white water rafting. It's still quite a kick during summer though.
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