Back from California. Short report.

I did 3500 miles round northern California[0]. There were some very nice
roads, through fabulous scenery.
Sometimes it was hot. Sometimes it was _very_ hot. Sometimes it was a
bit chilly.[1]
I visited four National Parks[2] and a few other parks.[5]
The GS 1150 I had wasn't as good as my Tiger, particularly for comfort.
Still a good bike, though.

Off the bike, I visited San Francisco Museum of Modern Art[6] and the
Cartoon Museum and rode on a cable car.[7]

[0] Plus a bit of Oregon and Nevada.
[1] Foggy on the coast and I even needed my waterproofs a couple of times,
just for warmth. It only actually rained once, but it did it all day when
I was going through Lassen National Park.
[2] Crater Lake[3], Lassen, Yosemite, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon.[4]
[3] This is really spectacular.
[4] Strictly, these are two seperate parks, but they're adjacent and you
only pay once to get in.
[5] Julia Ffeifer Burns State Park is remarkably beautiful. Humboldt
Redwood State Park is also quite lovely, and gives access to a splendid
road. A few other parks, but those two stand out.
[6] Good, but I prefer Tate Modern.
[7] Two actually: one down to Fisherman's Wharf, one back in the evening.
Hanging on the outside is quite fun.

 

Verdigris said:

<obligatory reply>

Who the **** are you?

</OR>

 

Very jealous. Spent 3 days there whilst Will was up a mountain looking
at galaxies. Currently my favourite city in the world. Really liked
MOMA - excellent Magritte exhibition on at the time.

 

Sounds like a good break.

I like sfmoma because it has loads of Mark Rothko stuff, which I love.

 

Of course, ironically, *that* area is centered on Vagina Street and
Pissflap Heights.

 

Can't you just paint your own big square of haemorrage-red and hange
that in your living room instead?

 

Some curtains might work though.

 

What did you think of Yosemite ?

Did you stay in Mariposa ?

 

I have two pairs, ffs. How many are needed?

 

I have a pair on every window, except for kitchen and bathroom.

But then it may just be a northern thing.

 

Either way, I doubt it's something I'll be getting involved in.

 

Yeah.

 

Trust the septics.

 

Ah, well I never have been able to appreciate Rothko. I just don't get
him, although after sfmoma I think I might be beginning to.

They did have some nice early Matisses, and an interesting early Jacksom
Pollock.

Unfortunately, their exhibition of naughty photos had just finished.

 

Yosemite Valley itself is a bit naff: that's where all the camp sites and
stuff are. The rest is very scenic, though. Best views are from Glacier
Point.

No.

 

I think a nice blue-and-white Matisse would look fabulous in your house.

Mind you: I think they look fabulous anywhere.

Or a small Mondrian.

 

If you stand a very long way away from a given painting, and move slowly
towards it, you can see shapes appear, move and disappear. It's
amazing.

Ah.

When I was there they had an excellent Ansel Adams exhib.

 

Sure! He didn't go in for the really big canvases like Rothko: plenty
around a metre; some smaller. Easily fit in a normal house.