We have a U.S. Mobile Phone number

We have not been very good little tourists today, on day 1 (Tuesday). Just some gentle orientation and essential shopping. Visit Number 1 was to purchase a three day pass to the local public transport, followed by the tourist information office.

On a walk down “Market Street”, we bought a U.S. mobile phone SIM card. We can now be contacted on +1 415 690 0396. Now you can phone or text us, without us having to pay foreign roaming charges. But please remember that we are 9 hours behind you (8 hours, if you are in England).

Directly over the road, we bought a Garmin, a SAT NAV. Yes, folks, after all our earlier protestations about “Why can’t they read maps?” even we have one. “Well, we are driving in a foreign country”, will, no doubt, give way to the Hawkers being unable to go to the local shops in Thalwil without one. Anyway, it will help Jim Barrington and me to compare cycling statistics.

After the shopping frenzy, on to our first ride on the local tram system up to Fisherman’s Wharf for a walk and a Clam Chowder soup (local speciality) for lunch and then a ride in the famous San Francisco Cable car.


After the coldest summer in San Francisco for 70+ years, it is now in the top 80s, if not 90s. It is a scorcher. Suits us, just at the moment, as we recover our energy after yesterday’s journey and an unprovoked assault by a carton of Tomato Juice.