Day 12 - San Francisco to Mendocino

Today I repeated a trick I've done a few times now- making a three hour drive last about nine. (I'm calling this a skill) I'm not sure how I do it. It has something to do with always taking the more scenic route, stopping to take a lot of pictures and speaking to strangers but, seriously, nine hours?? 

I left San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. Fortunately there's a whole lane for going reeeeeally slowly craning your neck to get a good view of Alcatraz and the Bay. It was pretty spectacular:

 On the other side of the bridge I saw this:

Following my dad's recommendation I went to Sausalito and Tiburon. Sausalito is a small touristy place with great views over the Bay. 

While I was driving away I saw a brown sign that said "Bay Model next exit" - gotta love a good brown sign (they're the ones that guide you to attractions - aka things that will increase your drive length by six hours) I decided to have a look but only go in if it was free. It was free and oh my. I was expecting a model of the Bay Area, like when you see a model village, which is lots of miniature houses (big fan of model villages) This was so much more. Or, so much different. No houses but LOTS of miniature rivers. Basically they have this huge room (over an acre) where the US Armed Forces - I forget which, presumably the Navy- built a scale model of the waterways in the Bay Area. Here are some pictures to clarify:

I think they used it to determine how much rainfall would make a flood. Or currents. Or something. I was distracted by the miniature Golden Gate Bridge:

Then I went to Tiburon which had been described to me as a very rich residential area on the waterfront. Well, it is, but it's also the first place I've seen rubbish lying around (granted, it was being washed in on the water) and definitely the first rat I've seen. Sorry, did I say rat? I meant RAT. This thing was as big as a dog. (A small dog) (But that's still a big rat) It is very pretty there though:

Then I tried to eat my packed lunch on the waterfront and got bullied by a wasp til I gave up and ate in the car (I'm really allergic to wasps) 

After lunch I was reunited with my true love... my obsession... the object of my desire... Highway 1. We're great travel buddies. He lies there while I zigzag all over him taking pictures, oohing, aahing, occasionally wooooing (found some cool steep hills today) Have I mentioned that I'm going to miss the ocean?

This stretch of Highway 1 was especially wonderful because I had it to myself. There were whole hours when I saw no other cars. That's priceless. 

I eventually arrived in Mendocino where my cousin is an artist in residence (how cool is that?)