The road tracklog 
from Mendocino to  Santa Nella
from 2011/02/21 to 2011/02/27 

I had prepared a way to head to the Hwy 101 at Ukiah on the basis of the principle that an hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is shorter than the sum on the two sides of the right angle it was without counting than the road meandered in mountains and than its coating was degraded. I had been consolidated in my choice by a signpost. With the experiment they were disastrous although the landscapes were dramatic but I did not have the leisure to contemplate them absorbed by driving my truck. Arrived on Hwy 101 I met after Ukiah the junction of Hwy 128 for Mendocino. Great was my disappointment! Then I vainly looked for a bivouac by leaving the Hwy 101 at each village que nenni, no authorized campground and moreover the carparks of Shopping Centers had panels of prohibition. In Santa Rosa I chose a campground at Sugar Loaf Ridge State Park, at the entry the cost was $30 the night without electricity! Considering the hour I did not have any more the choice. It was not my day.

Secondary road 
en route 
21/02/2011 

The following day was dedicated to the visit of viticulture California. I choose to stop in Sonoma Valley more authentic than very commercial Napa Valley. Plaza at Sonoma preserves old houses of Hispanic style.

Plaza 
Sonoma 
22/02/2011 

Plaza 
Sonoma 
22/02/2011 

Plaza 
Sonoma 
22/02/2011 

After the stop obliged at the Visitor Center I decided to go to Ledson Winery for a tasting of local products. I must recognize, without being an experienced oenologist, that wines presented had a very beautiful behavior in mouth. The viticulture production of California is better than that of Australia and New Zealand.

Ledson Winery 
Kenwood 
22/02/2011 

In Napa I did a short visit in the Visitor Center not very accessible. Then I found a bivouac on a huge deserted carpark at the exit of the city behind  car salesmen of which this disproportionate “Limo”.

Limousine, "Limo" 
Napa 
22/02/2011 

Wednesday February 23 was the day of visit of San Francisco. Started from Napa towards 07:00 I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge before 09:00. Alas roadwork after the Toll Gate obstructed me, I made an mistake of orientation which proved to be beneficial since I found myself at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Presidio to take pictures under a low angle light in the morning, look at the Gallery. The target had been to recognize a site of bivouac at McCoppin Square which I found without difficulty. Then I moved towards the center town with the intention to stop at the Visitor Center, but driving in San Francisco with a truck was not part of pleasure and parkings not easy. I continued up to Pier 35 where I could find a carpark. I put my truck at 10:48 for the mirific sum of $20 a day. Then I took the Cable Car to the Visitor Center before beginning my visits.

Street scene 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

I found San Francisco Modern Art Museum closed on Wednesdays! Beside Contemporary Jewish Museum is housed in an old restored building with a blue extension, the unit meaning in Hebrew “I'chaim” (to live).

Contemporary Jewish Museum
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

I continued by Civic Center with Asian Art Museum exhibiting remarkable objects of the Asian cultures, highly recommendable. The close Library enabled me to consult my mailbox, during 15 minutes, after a half an hour queue.

Bodhisattva Maitreya, Gandhara
Asian Art Museum 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

Mythical creature, Iran
Asian Art Museum 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

Arhats, ivory
Asian Art Museum 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

I continued by traversing the Walking Turn by Lp in Chinatown and with detours towards Transamerica Pyramid and climb of the hill of the Coit Tower. Harassed I finished on the port by tasting a coffee in Starbucks Coffee not far from the carpark of my truck where I became acquainted with a couple of Austrian living in Canada. We discussed lengthily around a cup of tea. The night having fallen I decided to remain on the carpark by paying $10 until 05:00 am. San Francisco is worth than a long half-day of visit.

Chinatown 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

Transamerica Pyramid 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

Coit Tower 
San Francisco 
23/02/2011 

The next day started with a coffee at Starbucks Coffee in Samsone St where I had moved my truck at 5 am. I consulted my mailbox then I read the French news papers to hold me informed about the situation in the Middle-East. I took the road around 7:30 am to head towards the east by Hwy 80 then Hwy 580 after having crossed the Bay Bridge which has two floors. The day was not announced radiant, small morning drizzle. On Hwy 580 a pick-up overtook me and made me understand to follow it on a exit ramp, I will go knowing that it was not the police. The man accommodated me with a broad smile by explaining that he had the same truck made in Austria by Action Mobil knowing that his wife was Austrian. After a short discussion I gave him my co-ordinates, he promised to me to be written after having visited my website. Curious coincidence the day before I had met two Canadian from Austrian origin.

Bay Bridge 
San Francisco 
24/02/2011 

I continued my road up to the Hwy 49 where the saga of Gold Rush in California started. At Jackson, eh nothing to see well. Consequently I decided to bivouac at the edge of a reservoir, New Hogan Lake, superb even in winter in the light rain. I remained two nights there.

Old House ! 
Jackson 
24/02/2011 

The rested day at the lake edge was rain and gusts of wind, I stayed in my truck to prepare the continuation of the trip in California.

 
New Hogan Lake 
25/02/2011 

New Hogan Lake 
25/02/2011 

I got up with the sun flooding my habitat. I left the feather bed to throw an eye outside, it was a great beautiful weather at +300 meters high, but the roof of my truck was covered with white frost. Alas I was to leave! My first stop was into the Columbia State Historic Park on mythical Hwy 49 which saw raveling miles of carts in any kind at the time of Gold Rush on March 1850, population rose of 5,000 inhabitants in one month. Off season the park does not receive many visitor at 11 a.m. I was alone. Animations start only in May. However staff of shops was in costume of time. I strolled the deserted streets by a icy wind at +600 meters high. I imagined the life of miners in winter.

St Charles Saloon 
Columbia 
26/02/2011 

St Charles Saloon
Columbia 
26/02/2011 
 

Fire vehicle 
Columbia 
26/02/2011 

Fire vehicle medallion
Columbia 
26/02/2011 
 

Boys, 1850 
Columbia 
26/02/2011 

Blacksmith
Columbia 
26/02/2011 
 

At the beginning of afternoon I lunched in Sonora on the carpark of Wallmart when abruptly a snowstorm fell down on the city. After a couple of minutes I gave up to go up to Yosemite Park but to go down to the coastal plain in Modesto where I found a parking for the night on an adjacent street of Wallmart.

The valley between Hwy 99 and Hwy 5 was already covered with fruit trees in flowers. Though the temperature was still negative during the night in Modesto the day was sunny with an average temperature of +18°C. For weekly publication reasons of my website I bivouacked in Santa Nella.

Hwy 33 
en route 
27/02/2011