San Francisco, California: A driving day. In terrible wind. Really bad wind. Wind so awful my iPod ear-bud-thingies kept flying out of my ears during my jog. And let's not call it a jog, okay? It was more like running in place in a wind tunnel. I am trying to figure out how we could add a treadmill to the Magna Peregrinus. (Kidding!) This running-in-the-wind stuff is nutso.
Nearly as nutso as driving a 45'-long, 12'-high, 8.5'-wide rectangle down the highway in a wind storm.
The wind was so strong, DT had to keep his hand on the diesel nozzle as he filled the tank at a truck stop in Livingston. If he let-go for even a moment, the wind would blow the nozzle out of the gas tank! 106 gallons later (he is very patient), we were on our way to San Francisco. (FYI: $3.35 per gallon.)Driving over the San Mateo Bridge in a wind storm isn't a picnic either. Plus, the lanes through the toll booths are very narrow. (Note to self: use the far right lane next time, Einstein!) Our toll, with five axles was $11.50.
But what a view!
The seven-mile-long bridge traverses the San Francisco Bay - and most of the length is less than 100 feet above the water, with a two-mile shipping channel on the west end providing a 700 foot vertical span. (By the way... see the little green car in the bottom-center of this photo? They are Duck Fans! They gave us a few honks, thumbs-up and flashed us the "O" secret hand signal.)
To the north, the bridge allows views of the San Francisco skyline and planes landing at San Francisco International Airport - notice the plane above the street lamps? A plane landed approximately every minute (on two run-ways) during our drive across the bridge this afternoon.We are spending a few days as tourists in San Francisco and are "camped" at Candlestick RV Parking lot. We have stayed here before. We will stay here again. It is just too dang convenient to The City.
We think space #98 is the widest, longest site available. Ask for it specifically if you are in a big rig.
Though you will occasionally find a tree or a patch of grass with picnic table, most of the property is paved.
The Candlestick RV Park isn't called the Candlestick RV Park for nothing - this photo was taken the RV park's front gate. I bet this place is a mayhem on game weekends!In 2008, I attended Slow Food Nation in San Francisco and was lucky enough to dine one evening at Mexico DF at a fundraiser for the American Grassfed Association. Guests were served a six-course tasting menu and my favorite item - by far - were goat tacos. Chef Ramon Sepulveda marinates goat meat for 24-hours in tequila before roasting. The result is simply marvelous. DT was not with me on this trip and I have been trying to get him to Mexico DF since. Tonight was the night.
(By the way, "Mexico DF" - Distrito Federal - refers to Mexico City, and is the postal designation for Mexico City. Just in case Alex Trebek asks.)
So we arrive to Mexico DF for our reservation and are seated at a lovely table por dosin the middle of the restaurant. Our server takes our drink order and gives us a menu.
No goat tacos on the menu.
No goat tacos?
Que pasa with that?
I am not kidding you - goat tacos were removed from the menu last Friday. Our waiter was very apologetic... especially when I explained we came all the way from Oregon (I did not elaborate on our exact route) to eat the fabulous goat tacos from Mexico DF.
We appeased ourselves with three "small plates" to share for our dinner. We started with a ceviche-type dish, Crudo Jarocho. Crudo Jarocho was raw yellowfin tuna with serrano chile, Persian cucumber, red onion and habanero salsa. Delicious, fresh and light.
In lieu of goat, our server suggested classic beef tacos - Tacos de Suadero. The beef was so tender and well seasoned. Really a good choice. I mean, if you can't get the goat taco.
For our final treat we ordered Duck Flautas - rolled crispy tacos with crema, cotija cheese, cabbage and salsa roja. The duck was a Liberty Duck raised by nearby Sonoma County Poultry. Under the cabbage, crema and cotija cheese, we found four small rolled tacos.
This also was delicious. I just love restaurants with "small plate" menus! This way it is possible to try several different dishes. I wanted to order the roast asparagus and DT wanted to order the Kobe Beef Tongue tacos... but we were too full. Wimps!Well, we assumed we were finished... until our waiter... having taken pity on us for coming all this way to have a non-existent goat taco... gave us a complimentary dessert.
It is so rude to refuse a gift.This cake was not on the menu, so I can't tell you exactly what was going on here. It was a spongy chocolate cake with a tres leches-style topping, garnished with toasted almonds. The topping was definitely made with sweetened condensed milk. It was very good - but we could only have a few bites.
We have a few fun things planned over the next few days, so check back. Until my next update, I remain, "I feel a sourdough bread contest coming on" correspondent.
RV Park: Candlestick RV Park. Located across the street from Candlestick Park. It is a parking lot, but a very well-located parking lot. Most convenient RV park if you plan to spend time in the city. Full hook-ups. 165 paved back-in and pull-through sites. 24 tent sites. Bathhouse and laundry, store, ice, TV Lounge, free wifi, shuttle to downtown and they will also arrange tours. In the season, this park is busy with rental RVs, filled with happy European tourists. We paid $74 per night. Really.