1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Trains, San Francisco, Yosemite and Buzzballz

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This week, the 1500 family is on vacation. Please excuse my break from personal finance stuff while I regale you with amateur smart-phone photography.

Union Station in Denver
Union Station in Denver

We are in the middle of an epic vacation. First, we took a train from Denver to San Francisco. We spent two nights there before heading off to Yosemite. We left Yosemite this morning and just rolled into beautiful Pismo Beach. I can hear the waves crashing as I type.

Almost insane on the train

We left Friday morning on the California Zephyr. I was a bit worried about this part of the journey. The train takes 36 hours to get to San Francisco and I was worried about the children. Our younger daughter is a ball of energy and I didn’t know if she’d be able to keep a lid on it for the whole time. Despite almost losing it more than once, we were able to contain her and weren’t kicked off the train.

IMG_20150529_164827596

San Francisco

We had one full day in San Francisco and made the most of it. The girls and I spent the morning walking all over San Francisco while Mrs. 1500 stayed behind to do some writing.

First, we headed over to famous Lombard Street. We walked to the top of the squiggly street with the rest of the tourists and took lots of pictures.

Lombard Street
Lombard Street

 Can’t escape from Alcatraz or Personal Finance

Next, we walked over to the Coit Tower. It was a clear day, so we went to the top.

While waiting in line for the elevator, I noticed an elderly Japanese man looking us over. I said ‘Hi’ and we started chatting. He told me that he hardly knew his father and that he wished he had been able to spend more time with him. He went on to explain that his father worked multiple jobs his whole life to support the family. The father was always able to put food on the table, but didn’t get to know his own children. I felt terrible, but then a bell signaled the elevator was ready and we moved on.

The elderly man’s story is really what my financial independence is all about. Once you have enough money, you’ll be able to spend time doing whatever you want. I hope to get to know my own children a bit better.

Coit Tower
Coit Tower

We headed back to our hotel to meet up with Laura and Randy from My Shiny Nickels. We all had a great time walking all over the place. I’m pretty sure that the girls and I logged close to 10 miles on foot by the time the day was over.

IMG_20150531_195814669I don’t think that there is any better way to soak in a new city than by walking. The relaxed pace allows you to notice all kinds of things you wouldn’t have otherwise. We watched street artists, stumbled onto Chinatown and managed to purchase a rare beer (Hello Pliny!).

Yosemite and Buzzballz

We then headed out to Yosemite for three nights. I’ve been to Yosemite before and wanted the girls to experience it. Some of the hikes were a bit too much for them, but we had a good time.

California is in the middle of a severe drought, so the waterfalls weren’t nearly as spectacular as they usually are. However, even in a bad year, I challenge you to find a place more beautiful than Yosemite.

Mist Trail
Mist Trail
El Capitan at dusk
El Capitan at dusk
Half Dome from Glacier Point
Half Dome from Glacier Point

I made the mistake of going into a store after a long day of hiking. Worn down, my common sense and willpower were severely compromised. I don’t even remember what I went into the store for, but I came out with the following:

  • Honey BBQ Frito Flavor Twists (not half as good as it sounds)
  • Official Yosemite Animal Crackers (featuring all of the animals that terrify our children)
  • a beer (can’t pass up an IPA)
  • Buzzballz!

What is a Buzzball? I have no idea (except for the fact that it contained lots of alcohol), but I thought that Mrs. 1500 would like it. Turned out she did like it! However, she didn’t like the headache the next day that Mr. Buzzball may or may not have contributed to.

Mistake after mistake
Mistake after mistake

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  2. Totally with you on not shopping hungry. We went to Publix after removing 500sqft of tile last weekend and left with our subs, chips, and two heretofore unbeknownst items called “Brownie Brittle” and “Lentil Crisps”. Neither were quite as good as we wanted them to be. =(
    Mrs. PoP recently posted…PoP Balance Sheet – May 2015My Profile

    • Thanks for the tip on the Brownie Brittle! I keep eyeballing it every time Bryan drags me down the cookie aisle (I prefer to stay far, far away from the cookie aisle). It’ll be that much easier to walk away knowing it would be a complete disappointment!
      Cindy recently posted…Time for New GoalsMy Profile

  3. Great trip buddy. I don’t know why I thought you were going to be on BNSF’s Southwest Chief……with the added amusement of being a Berkshire shareholder. I haven’t traveled the west by train, but its on the list. I also want to experience the trans Canada route. Have fun and stay in touch buddy
    -Bryan
    Income Surfer recently posted…The Two Sides of Our PortfolioMy Profile

  4. We had a great time with you guys and the little 1500’s. Only one thing that would have made it better……. Meeting up in Yosemite instead of S.F. I really can’t get enough of that place. I was green with envy when I saw your pictures. I took my two girls up the mist trail about nine years ago. It was too much for them. I have a great shot of the two of them on the trail. Both have that look of “Are we there yet” and “Are you kidding me dad, only half way”. Pure dread in both their faces. We look forward to seeing you again.
    Randy aka Mr. Nickels recently posted…READER MAIL: Hoppin’ Mad in MinnesotaMy Profile

    • Yes, Yosemite would have been way better. I think it will happen though in the years to come. Or maybe Kauai…

      The Mist Trail is definitely not for most kids (or a lot of adults). C and D had not shortage of complaints. However, D was running up parts of it, so I don’t know what she was talking about…

  5. Great pictures!

    So that was your kids first time. That’s really great. I want to take my kids too. I told myself if we ever move out of state we have to do that before we leave.
    Where did you stay.

    I’ve only stayed at camp 8… Or is it camp 10???
    Well its $10 a night but its first come first serve. And I’d like to take my kids there… So waiting g until just a bit older.
    The Roamer recently posted…Quarter 1 review of goalsMy Profile

    • We stayed at the Wawona. It was fine, but not near the valley. All of that was booked up.

  7. Cracking pics Mr 1500!

    Loved Yosemite although we wussed out on doing any of the hard trails which was a shame. An excuse to go back one day and try them I suppose!

    Agree with you on walking a city. London is a classic example. People will spend 15 minutes going into the underground/tube at Covent garden, walking to the platform, waiting for train, then walking back up at Leicester square. If you walk the streets it is 5 minutes away! London is massive but like a lot of cities the things you actually want to see are in a much smaller area than you might think when you first look at the map.

    Enjoy the rest of your trip 🙂
    theFIREstarter recently posted…spending habits – luxury spendingMy Profile

    • Hey FIREstarter! I can’t wait to walk my ass off all over London someday. Next time you hit up Yosemite, at least do the Mist Trail. It is spectacular!

  8. We just missed you folks. We were in Yosemite last weekend. This is the second year in a row we’ve been there and each time we have had a great time and left with a long list of parts of the park we have to see next time.

    • 8 miles/day is killer! We did 4 this morning. Considering we did the walking on sand, I’m counting it as at least 5, maybe 6! 🙂

  12. Glad to hear the trip is going well! The photos of Yosemite are making me drool. Speaking of drooling, we had Pliny when we were last in San Francisco too… such a treat! But I’m disappointed in your splurge chip selection–I’m a Fritos purist… none of these “flavors”! Although I probably would’ve gotten Cheetos–you know, for the natural cheese flavor ;). Have a wonderful time and keep sharing photos please!
    Mrs. Frugalwoods recently posted…Our 15 Frugal Moving TipsMy Profile

    • Yes, I’m sticking to normal Fritos from here on out. The honey ones were a disappointment!

      Yosemite is so beautiful. Everyone should go at least once.

  14. Buzzballs look and sound scary to me! Those are some good scenery pics, too.

    We are heading up into the Sequoia National Forest next week. It doesn’t have the majesty of Yosemite, but the giant trees are quite impressive. It is much closer to us, so we can get there in barely an hour, which makes it a good day trip.
    Vawt recently posted…Home Repair BluesMy Profile