Tuesday, May 20, 2008, late afternoon The time passes so quickly, even faster when is a vast country and we could see so much. Good, but one can always say whatever you want, the days will never be more than 24 hours.
At the end of the afternoon, I will tell you the problem data [even if it is not one!]: It is 16:30, we're staying tonight in Merced, 220 miles away. As there are people on the road, we will have between 2:30 and 3 hours. And we will not forget to add an hour for lunch break. If all goes well, we should be just before nightfall.
Ok, everybody, ready, go!
Meanwhile, as you know me, and make you wait, I'll talk a little during the journey, giving you a few bonus numbers, for those interested.
Leaving Dolores Street, take left onto 17th Street. I thought I noted that San Francisco , streets that go from west to east are numbered from the 1st (the first, the further north, at the bottom of Market Street) until the 30th. Here I am doing very condensed version, because there are some exceptions that course as the 3rd line then extends southward. San Francisco is a city not very extensive, but it is best to consult the plan time to time to see where we go ... Do not accuse me of getting lost!
the way, we admire all kinds of houses, very typical style, and always colorful. But let me suggest to talk about that later.
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| San Francisco - Typical houses on Church Street |
We are now, via 7th Street, on Bryant Street, where you can access to I-80, James Lick Freeway at the start, which is simply the branch of the famous Bay Bridge, on two levels, five channels each. Leaving San Francisco we are on the lower floor. On the left we have a beautiful view of the skyscrapers of the financial center.
can also be seen, still under construction in May 2008, the residential complex of two towers The Infinity . In April 2005, starting to dig for foundations, we found only 6 meters a whaling ship built in 1818, The Candace . It was felt that he had served about 1849 when the gold rush. I was told there were over one ounce in its hold. To be honest with you, I admit I did not know for sure I was not there in 2005 ... Too bad!
The Infinity II , down from its 41 floors and 137 meters becomes the 29 th tallest building in the city. While The Infinity I does "only" 107 meters and 37 floors. Admittedly they have the look!
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| Bay Bridge, seen on The Infinity I & II (under construction) |
We remain in the numbers ... The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, also known more simply and Bay Bridge, is 7 miles, with access and the central tunnel. It is composed of two different parts, on both sides of the island of Yerba Buena. The first part of SF and is 2 820 meters. It consists of two suspension bridges based on a central pillar. The second, from 3100 meters to Oakland is like cantilever truss bridge. It was completed in November 1936, just months before the other famous bridge the city, the Golden Gate.
Also under construction, near Oakland, and for some years, the new bridge will replace the entire part is, to put it to seismic standards. For info, since the history of construction in the 1930s to the progress of work in progress, please visit this site (it's American, of course, but the images speak for 'themselves, and it's pretty impressive!).
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| The western part of the Bay Bridge |
Upon exiting the Bay Bridge, we continue east on I-580, along the great city of Oakland. This is the third largest city (400,000 inhabitants) most populated urban area of San Francisco to San Jose, south of the bay (950 000) and San Francisco (800 000 inhabitants).
About an hour from San Francisco, Interstate 580 crosses Altamont Pass. At this location there is actual fields of wind which obviously does not go unnoticed. Judge for yourself: this wind farm of 4,800 machines of different models developed approximately 550 000 kW! By the 1980s, California was a pioneer in renewable energy production with the installation of several wind farms. Altamont Pass is also the largest concentration of wind turbines in the world.
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| Some of the 4,800 wind turbines in Altamont Pass ... |
At the height of Stockton, CA-99 the road turns south-east. We are in the San Joaquin Valley. It rightly considers this whole valley as one of the granaries of the country. Indeed it produces half the fruit and vegetables and 90% of almonds, Artichokes, avocados and tomatoes in the United States. Almonds are even the first world agricultural export from California with nearly 80%.
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| All shades of green are in the nature ... |
stop in Modesto, in a self-service is very welcoming. After what I just said this must be normal here, but I'm still impressed by the number of different kinds of salads before us, not least at the level of green salads. not to mention everything else, and of course, always at will. By cons, no surprise, it seems to me that among the possible choices for the main course, there was roast chicken tonight. Anyway, what is often preferred, simply because, at least, we recognize visually and very quickly what it is. In most other cases, we do not always know exactly what lies beneath the various sauces, or what is ultimately in the flat or on our plates. Still, it was very good and very good.
address? no idea, I forgot to note. Modesto is a dormitory town, a city in transition, originally a stop on the way Railway Sacramento - Los Angeles, and no shortage of places to eat ...
The city founded in 1870 by a Ralston was to bear his name, as often here. But since there was not really, railway workers said that Ralston was Muy Modesto, very modest. And the name stuck! That's all for today, we still only 70 kilometers to reach the same road, Merced, Ramada Inn.
And my head still full of all the beautiful images accumulated so far, since the flight this morning from Las Vegas (it was this morning?), We go to sleep thinking that tomorrow we are green. This will really change us all these great buildings and urban concentrations. Yet in terms of height, we're not going to lose, he will raise his head, too, believe me.
Promised no question this time of skyscrapers!
But tomorrow is another day ...
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