The Lane's next BIG trip: Day 12. San Francisco. Tuesday 31st December

With a 48 hour pass to use on the Big Bus tour we thought we'd do some more looking around town. We boarded the bus at the same place and nearly the same time but this time it was full with only a couple of seats for us and then standing room only for half an hour until a few got off at the Golden Gate Bridge. We crossed the Bridge again (via bus) and then changed to a smaller bus to visit the picturesque enclave of Sausalito. It looks to be a pretty little town on the Bay that is home to the wealthy and artistic people. It would have been a nice place to get off, have a coffee and a wander around but we needed to continue back in the city as Andrew had to collect a hire car before the office closed early, as it was New Years Eve. While he did that Christine and the kids went back to do a bit of shopping at Macy's at Union Square. Andrew dropped the car back to the hotel and then walked back down to meet the family at Union Square. Along the way he knocked on the door of the local Fire House and was given a tour of the 'Truck' and 'Engine'. They use Tiller trucks in SF because of the narrow streets. These long ladder trucks have a 'Tiller Man' sitting at the back of the articulated section who steers the rear wheels around corners.

Part of the 48 hour Big Bus pass was a night tour. Unfortunately being New Years Eve, there was not going to be a night tour and the roads were to be closed around the waterfront in preparation for the fireworks. After that late news, we decided to return to Pier 39 for some dinner and a bit more shopping. We also wandered down to Fisherman's Wharf where Christine and Andrew had an aqua massage and while waiting, the kids got to sniff on flavoured oxygen. We then walked back along the Embarcadero to where we had been told the NYE fireworks show would be best seen from and found a reasonable position to sit and wait for the next 2.5 hours until midnight. It was a long and chilly wait. The kids held out really well, especially Cameron who was only in a pair of shorts, a short sleeve shirt and a hoodie. Finally the show started and we were amongst thousands and thousands of people seeing in the 2014. Afterwards we braved the massive crowds. We were sardined in between hundreds of people all trying to get somewhere. The kids were a little frightened and overwhelmed. On our long walk back to the hotel we held onto one another very tightly.