I did it again. Its amazing. The most annoying city tour you've ever heard of happened today. I messed the whole thing up by doing it in reverse. Never do it in reverse unless you really know whats going on. I didn't know where I was, how to get from A to B and I was circling again and again. It was dreadful. I was not having any fun! We did make it to all of our stops except Fishermans Wharf. The Ghiradelli Chocolate Festival was happening so streets were closed and since I've not done the city tour from that direction I didn't realize that the street I usually drive on is a one way street so I was stuck. Dreadful!
I got up early and caught the bus to pick up my van, that all turned out fine. I found parking nearby for it. I made the horrible mistake of telling them, eat or don't and we'll get food. Good grief Karen, is this your first time or what?! Felt like it today. Half the group at a good breakfast before we met and took off, the rest, I took to the Urban Market and then we waited while they ate. Stupid mistake, I should have known better. I always feel bad making them get up and get moving early on this first day so I told them not to worry. Well, they were hungry!
Once we got all done with that it was off to undo any good work I'd done up to that point! Ha! Twin Peaks was in the fog, the city was in the sun but we couldn't see it. boohoo! The Golden Gate Bridge at least had sun. Then I got suckered into doing the detour towards the marina, there are no signs past the first two and I've never driven that way, which really sucked. I drove a long ways to get back to Fisherman's Wharf. By then I was hungry and crashing fast so I gave up and drove them to the hotel. A couple people had friends in town meeting them so I parked the van, got them sorted and then I took the willing ones and we walked the city. That was nice. We went past Union Square and into China town and then down Columbus to Fishermans Wharf. We had enough time for some photos and then we went and caught a cable car back to market street, which by the way only takes about 20 minutes. Really much faster than I thought it would be. I was supposed to meet all the group at 6:30 at the hotel to walk to dinner. Some of them opted out, which was fine and I took a new set of people to dinner at Cheesecake Factory. We sat outside, brrr! We also got a new waiter which really sucked. We were all ticked off by the end. Bummer! The food was really good otherwise I think they'd have tossed me off the eighth floor! They are a good bunch and so far, tolerant of me. I'm glad to be leaving the city. As I usually am on this day. I did manage to keep the van here overnight which makes life so much easier! Otherwise its a late night bus ride tonight and then early morning bus to the office, its alot of extra time and trouble!
So, hopefully I'll get my act together and have a good tour. I don't know what it is about juggling a bigger group? Or I've just had a week off and my head isn't in the game yet. Its really weird. I feel like I'm all over the place. Time management has been okay, its the other details. These people want answers and I just can't help them, why I can't seem to remember the numbers etc is weird. I'm a numbers person usually. I mean I remember random numbers well but things like, when was the bridge finished, I can't help you there! I also have to remember that with 12 things get slower. I can't just make random fun stops because getting that many people fed and through the toilet facilities is more time consuming. I've got some walkers in the bunch too so splitting my time between the hikers and not will be a challenge too.
I should have Yosemite in the bag, but this tour has not started off smoothly so there is no telling what will happen. I will be without internet two nights at Cedar Lodge so bear with me and I'll catch you up on the mayhem when I reach Lone Pine (my next stop after Yosemite).
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