Tim’s blatherings
Archive for June 2009
Today is my last day in the US. It’s been a great trip, and it’s gone very quickly, and so I’m a bit sad to be leaving. However, today I’m driving into and through Los Angeles, and I can’t think of a better way to convince me to leave.
When I was planning my road trip last year, a number of people suggested I should visit Big Sur; I didn’t make it last year, but that’s the plan for today. But the first stop is Monterey.
Cable car just off the turntable
A number of us planned to ride over the Golden Gate Bridge today. After various delays (which we all decided were Ben’s fault), we eventually rented the bikes from just outside where the cable cars turn around.
After the craziness of the first day of the conference with the Keynote, the rest of the days settled into a pattern which went a bit like this: breakfast, session, morning tea, session, lunch, optional lunchtime session, session, afternoon tea, session, session, dinner. Hunger was obviously not a problem, although brain overload often was.
Finally, the day is upon us: the start of the Apple WorldWide Developers Conference 2009, the whole reason for my trip. “Today” is 8 June, day 1 of the conference.
Today I met up with fellow WWDC-attendees from Australia for a bus tour to Silicon Valley.
Gull enjoying the view on Alcatraz
I’ve been to San Francisco before, but have previously missed out on some of the big tourist attractions. So I’m starting today with a trip to Alcatraz, which is actually a National Park. And, as I found out, it has a much more interesting history than just the prison and escape attempts that it’s famous for.
… with snow??!?
When I returned from the “Internet cafe” (actually sitting in my car outside the registration area, where the wifi access is) last night, it was fairly cloudy. When I went out to brush my teeth, it was perfectly clear. Later during the might, I heard some thunder, and I woke up to what I thought was light rain. But it turned out to be this:
Overnight snow on my cabin and car
The helpful ranger at the visitor centre suggested that driving to the end of the road down Kings Canyon would take 2 hours return, while the return trip to the end of Sequoia National Park would be 4 hours. Of course, if I wanted to stop at any of the dozen or so highlights then it would take much longer.
View from Glacier Point
As with previous trips to Yosemite, I always find it hard to leave. Have I bought enough tshirts and Ansel Adams books? Do I need another photo from Valley View or Tunnel View? I managed to tear myself away eventually, having taken the detour to Glacier Point first for the overall view of Tenaya Canyon, Half Dome, and Vernal and Nevada Falls.