h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Gnoman,

I loved your story of the San Francisco trams. I have such happy memories of our visit there I believe it was in 1975,

I remember looking backwards down the steep hill. I remember Fishermans Wharf where I am practically certain that we had scollops done beautifully.

I remember the square in San francisco and I also remember a lovely little village called Sauslito. I believe that we also went into Muir woods where I saw a giant redwoood tree, Apart from that I just remember the lovely melody of

Take me back to san Francisco!.

But for the life of me I can not remember who sang it. I must ask icy North.!!

I also seem to remember that there was the discovery of a new type of illness which hit the headlines - unnamed at that time, but It was eventually given the name of HIV Aids, Would I be able to look that up and see if my memory is correct?

I hope that you are enjoying your trip to Florida as much as your trip to San Francisco.? when did you go incidentally.?

I remember that we also went inland to a huge national park where there was a huge slab of rock. For the moment all the names of these things escape me. We were there in winter, and it snowed whilst we were there, and next morning when we opened our cabin door there was a little animal. -- gosh I have remembered the name of the rock I think it was El capitan.

I am exhausting what memory I have left. !.
Safe trip home to Dublin.

Regards to your wife and family,

Christiane
alsoRan8o

Hi Christiane. You have a good memory.

I was in San Francisco at Easter 2008. We saw the city, drove up the coast and looked at the redwoods, then drove down to Monterey where there is a huge aquarium (probably the biggest in the world).

The place with the slab of rock is called Yosemite National Park. I wasn't there.

Thank you so much Gnoman

Yes it was Yosemite. what a happy memory it was.

I think that I am goiog to have to work out a method of remembering things. It seems as if it is my short term memory which has gone at the moment.

God forbid that I should lose it all. I shall just be a a flipping shell.

Oh I wonder if I can cope. I shall know for certain next week. I both dread it and want to know. "

so glad you enjoyed your stay. Happy and felicitous New Year to you all.

christiane
AlsoRan80

That's a great article Gnomon. I got a cable car from near my hotel to Fisherman's Wharf terminus in May of 2001, I think. Did you realise that the gripmen all have their own individual rings on the bell? Our conductor told a guy on the running board to take his backpack off and wear it on the front, in case we passed another car with somebody doing the same thing. Collisions do happen!

I loved my time in SF although I was only there for 2 days and was jet-lagged. I must go back someday. I managed to get over to Alcatraz and got totally sunburnt on the ferry crossing even though I was freezing cold. I remember the Cannery being a pretty cool place to eat and have a beer. Must go back.

Thanks, Matnichol. I did know that about the bells. I say in the article: "The gripman also rings the bell to warn traffic and pedestrians ahead. Gripmen are very proud of their bell-ringing; each has his own patterns, and there are bell-ringing competitions."

That's interesting about the backpacks. It makes sense.

Oops. Note to self: read article.