...18 years ago...

Up early and out by 11:45. Drive to eat. I've got my appetite back but am still hanging out on the toilet. We drive down [Interstate] 80 to San Francisco. Pass through some great scenery - especially after crossing into California. Lots of scenic views and mountain vistas. We get through the agricultural check without a hitch. Drive and arrive in San Francisco about 7:30PM.

I think California was the only state that had everyone stop on the way driving in and out to check for contaminated fruits and vegetables. Do they still do this?

Drive through Berkeley and across the bay bridge - look for hotels. Few to none. Turn around and get off downtown - drive around. We find a place to eat but no parking. We eventually check into a "Travel Lodge". Expensive but close to eats and music store and it has parking with a camera and security lights. Load in and walk a few blocks to eating place. Cafe style and I have chicken. I still have my appetite but can't eat a lot.

We didn't stay in many "Travel Lodges" - they were often dirty and run down.

Back to the hotel after stopping to buy postcards at a corner liquor/drug store. They had old pinball machines - no flippers. An old guy was playing but told us to get away 'cause we'd bring him bad luck. Back to the room, we read and write. Watch TV. Show at "VIS" club tomorrow - near here. To bed after Letterman.

Here's a site with plenty of vintage pinball machine pictures and history. We played the VIS once before.