The largest metro area in the U.S. I have not visited up into this point was the San Francisco-Oakland area. Today's trip was to end that. After leaving Modesto, you go on I-205 towards the Bay, which is apparently one of the most congested areas in all of the Interstate system. I find that claim dubious, since traffic was going at the speed limit unlike most L.A. freeways I was on which would be great if you could go 40. But, if you really want to know more, you can visit www.205now.com, for which you saw a billboard for approximately every 500 feet.

First stop in the Bay Area was the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose. I've been accused of being a member since my explanation of JFK's assassination. For those of you unfamiliar with the group (I was), they're basically an intellectual version of the Masons, a secret society far more interested in mysticism than keggers. The offshoot is that for some reason core to their beliefs (I didn't get it either), they actually have a very large Egyptian artifcat collection. It wasn't presented very well (one booth showed the game of Senet, which stated the rules are unknown, while a later booth has the rules), but was interesting nonetheless.

I then drove into San Francisco, first stopping at Haight-Ashbury. The reason why this became the center of counterculture in the 1960s was not political unrest or the hope for social change. It was because there wasn't enough parking. After 40 minutes of finding a spot, I had to abandon and go into downtown to go to the Giants game. As I park the car, you notice that all of a sudden there's a little nip in the air. Odd, since it's August, but I see other people walking around with sweaters and jackets at the ready, so I go into Old Navy and buy a hoody. Best. Decision. Ever. The night game at SBC Park, right on the water, was cold, cold, cold. In the fifties and windy. At sunset. In August. I don't get it either. After the game, I went back down the Bay to stay with Rory and Jen and watch some cricket.

Saturday was going to be a very ambitious day. Maybe too ambitious. I first drove up to Arcata, California (a six hour trip from the Bay Area). When you first look at a map, you think there is no way that this could take six hours. Maybe five, after all, it's only 320 miles. But, since most of it is not on freeway, and you do have to slow down through some small towns, it really is 6 hours. And if you're wondering why I had to see this place, it is reputed to be the most liberal town in the nation. It's the only town in the U.S. where the majority party on the city council is the Green Party. They voted an amnesty for people who didn't want to serve in the Gulf War. The first one. It is a crime for a city employee to comply with the Patriot Act. However, they're having a problem with the liberalism going too far, especially in the downtown area. Since people try to be incredibly tolerant, it becomes a magnet for loitering, panhandling and dubious legal activity. So, while trying to be incredibly liberal, it also has to be incredibly totalitarian. Smoking is illegal downtown, even outdoors. If you have a dog, you can only walk the dog downtown. You can't stop. Every third store seems to be some sort of "peace center" or art store. And typical of most liberal hamlets, you need to be rich to live there, since the average home value exceeds the county and the U.S. average even though the income is below the county and U.S. average. If you wish to take a virtual tour of Arcata, there is no better place than their local newspaper's Police Log.

After 150 minutes of harrowing mountain driving made worse by an incorrectly marked state route, I got at least down to Redding and an hour later I was in Chico, missing the first two innings. When Playboy first announced their Party School list in 1987, Chico State was #1. When they did it again in 2002, at least Chico St. cleaned up their act, they're now #2 (thanks Arizona State!). And the stadium for the team was on campus, meaning that families going out for a night at the ballpark had to walk by lawn kegger parties. The stadium itself was very nice, the open barbecue was wonderful and with fireworks after the game, most people stayed meaning I could get a quick getaway once the game was over. The team playes in the Golden Baseball League, a new eight team league which has become my favorite minor league for one reason -- no designated hitter. Which was a nice bonus when a pitcher hit a homer.

The sign for the Rosicrucian Museum. I thought I had more pictures of the compound, but I didn't. Across the street from the museum was the Herbert Hoover Junior High School. Only I find this funny. Where I ate lunch in Eureka. I chose this restaurant opposed to the one across the street, Il Casa Haus z Rántottak Side view of the first base stands at Nettleton Stadium. Nice exterior that matches the architecture of the houses of the area.

Days 1-6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Days 10-11 | Days 12-13 || Last updated: 5-Sep-2005