This morning we have a bit of a lay in, we are not rushing out as the plan is to grab a bit of lunch and then catch the 1pm DUKW tour of the city. We have been trying to get on a DUKW tour since we saw them in Baltimore last year, but for one reason or other have always failed, so today we are determined to make it.
Lisa does not feel too good this morning, she has been sleeping better, but does look pretty washed out, I know she is desperate to get back to Florida and for us not to be travelling anymore, I think she has just about reached her journey’s end!
We leave the hotel at about 11:30, first stop to buy the DUKW tickets, we are told that today there will be a 12:00 tour and decide to go for that, have a bit of a look around then return to get on the tour. When we get back we are told the 12 tour has been cancelled and we are transferred onto the 1pm tour, so now we head over to Boudin o grab a bite of lunch. I go for the clam chowder again and Baggage the tomato soup, Lisa is only up to a bit of dry bread.
After lunch we have a quick look in the Mechanical Museum, a collection of antique slot machines dating from the turn of last century, then it is time to head up to catch our DUKW. The vehicle is full and the driver slightly mad, he starts off by sitting at the back and harassing a couple, playing the part of a complete bafoon of a tourist, he then goes to the front to get rid of a water bottle at which point he reveals himself to be our driver. His attitude does not change at all during the tour, he has most of us in stitches.
We all get yellow duck callers for use on the DUKW and the driver certainly expects us to use them, regularly calling out for duck calls throughout the tour.
The tour is far too fast and the vehicle far too jerky to take any good photos, but it really is great fun, and throughout we get a hilarious commentary and the driver is constantly harassing other road users through is mic and loud speakers.
When we eventually get to the part where the DUKW goes onto the water we have to be joined by a qualified captain, who meets us at the ramp, I guess regulations will not let the DUKW onto the water with passengers onboard without a Captain, however all he does is sit there for the time he is with us.
Whilst on the water Baggage gets a good long time driving the DUKW and I even get a short go behind the wheel. It is very slow to respond to the steering controls when on the water, but then I guess even though it is amphibious it is still more at home on land.
We all really enjoy the tour, I guess as with any of these things it is the driver who makes it, or in some cases breaks it, and our driver really did make it for us. He told us that he was an actor and that both his dog and him had parts in the Robin Williams movie Mrs Doubtfire, if nothing else that will give us an excuse to watch that movie again when we get home to see if we can spot him in it.
After the DUKW tour we head for Pier 39, Baggage has a hat she wants and I had promised her we would go and get it. On the way back from there to the hotel Baggage grabs an Icee and I have an ice cream.
Back at the hotel we pack, we are leaving here tomorrow and heading on down towards Monterey, yet it seems as if we have only just got here. This last part of our trip will be over in a flash and before we know it we will be heading back on the plane to Florida.
After a couple of hours we head back out for Dinner, the first stop is the Mechanical Museum again as Baggage has a few more quarters to spend. We eat in The Franciscan Crab Restaurant which is right on the front and our table has a great view of the bay as we see the sun setting across it, during dinner Lisa also sees a dolphin and some seals in the water. For dinner I have Dungeness Crab, which is a bit of a local delicacy, Baggage has mussels and Lisa has Tilapia, we then round off with a couple of sweets, Baggage has wild strawberry cheese cake and I have ice cream. The restaurant is great and the service really good, a nice way to spend our last evening in San Francisco.
After dinner we wander down to Pier 39 again, we watch the seals for a bit then Baggage has a go on the carousel, on the way off the Pier Baggage gets a bag of doughnuts and Lisa gets a wooly hat, she is a bit cold!
Back at the hotel there is just time for a quick beer then we hit the sack, though we have trouble getting straight to sleep as there seems to be a lot of noise in the hotel tonight, maybe because it is a Friday night?
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