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Our first full day in San Francisco, with the family to a nearby Chinese-American Restaurant for breakfast.
Then taking the cable car around San Francisco but also walking along to Pier 39 to see our favourite sea-lions who are still "hauling-out" on the pier K pontoons having started this habit in 1989.
Some time looking at books and computers but opting against spending at the current unfavourable exchange rate.
Still waking up later each day - 5.00am today - and then out with the family to a nearby Chinese-American Restaurant for breakfast. We hurried back to meet another B.A. rep on our return but, although he was pleasant and helpful enough and gave us a couple of free trip vouchers, we did not learn very much from him about San Francisco. We then called Daniel and found him all right but needing advice on how to cope with Sam in the wet as he was sitting around and whining all the time.
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A morning rush to overcome logistical problems to catch our flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco and to the Travelodge Hotel at Fisherman's Wharf. I was glad to be away from the Southern Californian rat-race. Unfortunately, Debbie had left one of her cuddlies in LA and we failed trying to locate it.
I did get a chance to call round the computer shops in San Francisco to see about getting one of the new DX250 Texas Instruments colour "lap-top" portable computers.
Waking a little later each morning, we were still out and about by 4-5.00am and then out to Coco's soon after their 6.30am opening time. The restaurant was more crowded than previous days and we did not think too much of the service, but we were fascinated to watch the locals eat. There are still a high proportion of grossly overweight people here and they seem to eat in moderation in public but must really stuff themselves in private or they would not be so gross. Once back, a scramble to get everybody through the bathroom, packed and out of the hotel and into the car before a dash up the freeways to get the Hertz rental car back on time for 10.00am.
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After breakfast at Coco’s, a further more relaxed but early visit to Disneyland again, via the China Store, on Oscar day where Cliff Eastwood won Best Actor and Emma Thompson best actress.
Time in Fantasyland, returning after dark to the fort on Tom Sawyers Island. The Clinton Health hearings opened examining the sorry tale of the failed US Health system sees the poor person Medicaid growing like topsy just as n Britain the Tories are trying to tear apart a much better system.
Our bodies try to adjust to the local time zone but we still continue to get up at 4.00am and retire at 7.30pm to make it easy for next week and beyond. We breakfasted at Coco's along Harbour Boulevard to take advantage of the $3.69 weekday Breakfast Platter prices and then stopped off at the 711 Corner Store for some cards, maps and supplies before parking our car back at the hotel and walking to Disneyland again. A milder day ensued and, despite the morning sun being replaced by cloud later, at least my decision to leave my coat behind in the hotel was vindicated.
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A second even more enjoyable day at Knotts Berry Farm again, without queues, unlike Disneyland, this time enjoying the Dinosaur and Mine rides, the Bird Cage Theatre and the Indian Hoop dances.
Then the Wild West Show where Della was fooled by an actor shot from the top of a building. Back to the hotel via McDonalds takeaway meal again but, after a second lunchtime Mrs Knotts Chicken Dinner,
I was first awake at 3.30am and woke up a reluctant family who were fast adjusting to the local daylight hours. The girls eventually woke up and had their baths and showers but had a snooze first giving me time for a tumble with Diana in the meantime as she was coming out of purdah after a few messy days. We called Daniel at home - midday to him, dawn for us - and found him happy and well; coping with life alone with the puppy. Sam had run up to people once or twice and needs feeding by a certain time to avoid messing his run (which I already knew) but Daniel doesn't seem to worry about that.
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