We wanted to get as much time as possible in San Francisco as possible - we only had one night there. So we got up early (again) and went for another rubbery brekkie before packing the car, setting the iPod and heading back up the wiggly mountain roads and out of Yosemite.

The scenery just seemed to get even more spectacular by the minute, with fog perching on top of the awesome mountains and trees with leaves in a whole spectrum of greens and browns and yellows and pinks. Even the smell was gorgeous - there were controlled fires being set, and the smell of burning pine filled the car. Lush.

After a couple of hours and various freeways we could see San Francisco come into view. We headed for the Bay bridge - a gorgeous bridge almost as spectacular as the Golden Gate Bridge. After paying the toll (and accidentally scramming the toll collector) we slid over the bridge and into San Francisco.

We checked into our hotel (the Hyatt Regency) and after a few short gasps at the view over the harbour and a quick chat with a friendly pidgeon on our balcony (who even snuck into the room when our backs were turned) we headed out to see a bit of the city.

Hannah had already done a reccy and advised we get the cable car up to the shopping district (well, she would, wouldn't she?!). Those things aren't as easy as they look. We found a little line of them a stone's throw from our hotel, and jumped on. 10 mins later we hadn't moved. Another 10 mins later one of the drivers came out and asked if we were wanting to go somewhere. He pointed across the street and told us the cable car would be there in a minute. And it was. There were people hanging all over the thing as we wound our way up the steep hill for a few blocks. Then we had the joy of jumping off and walking down the hill another way to the main shopping district.

I don't like shopping very much. But I do love make=up. So it was impossible for me to pass Sephora without going in and buying pretty much one of everything (oops!). They did wrap them beautifully though. :D

We headed for Macy's - we were meeting the others for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on the top floor. I shan't go into detail here, but let's just say it's not as slick an operation as the Vegas restaurant. We were gathered at 6.25pm. We escaped at about 9.30pm.

Then it was back to the hotel for one last re-pack of the suitcases before our flight tomorrow. Lucky United Airlines have such a generous luggage allowance, and even luckier that we'd taken 4 items of luggage for the hold. I easily squeezed in the wine and wine glasses from the winery; the make-up from SF; the books from Monterey, Joshua Tree and the Grand Canyon; the dozen or so fridge magnets I'd bought from everywhere; the complimentary toiletries I'd nabbed from the Bellagio and the Hyatt. I just wish I knew how to travel light!!!