Day 36 – February 10 – Wednesday

We got up and had a great hot free breakfast at the hotel before heading out for the Capitol. J.W. proved he was a tourister by driving up a road that said “No Turns”. He thought it meant no turn on red. By the time we came to a place where he could turn we were thanking God there were no Cable Cars coming. The “No Turn” sign really meant “No Turn”. After that little escapade we made our way to a Parking Garage about a half block from the Capitol. We managed to get there in time for the 11:00 o’clock tour.
This was not the most interesting Capitol we have visited, but we did learn a little history. We were disappointed to learn that neither Congress or the Assembly were in Session. They have session on Monday and Thursday, so we didn’t see any action. It would have been nice to be in on the Session on Thursday. Governor Schwarzenegger was trying to appoint a new Lt. Governor to replace the one who had stepped down. His choice had passed the Senate but failed to pass the Assembly, which I believe we refer to as the House of Representatives. California is a simple majority state.

We couldn’t get in to see the Governor because they were taking appointments only. But we did get one of his business cards. Our tour guide told us about a truck driver who was upset with the California Government. Back in 2000, while the Assembly was in Session, the man drove his 18 wheeler on a suicide mission through the east wing of the building. His truck caught on fire and exploded, killing him and causing 1.8 million dollars worth of damage to the Capitol.

After our tour to the Capitol we drove a couple blocks down Capitol Mall, which was designed after the US Capitol, to get our picture of us with the Capitol Building in the background.

Then we left Sacramento and went to San Francisco with our pallets all ready for a good ole Bucket of Trash at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. We checked into the Radisson on the Wharf and set out on our two block trek to Pier 39 and Bubba Gumps.

Much to our dismay, and what a disappointment it was, that they no longer had the original ‘Bucket of Trash’ on the menu. Due to the soreness of my mouth from the cold I was trying to kick, I could not eat their new “Bucket of Boat Trash.” I finally settled for “Steamed Shell Fish” and J.W. got Talapia. The food was good but just not what we wanted. A couple of hours and $100 later we headed back to the Hotel.

The Hotel had great select number beds, but once again the pain in my neck and shoulder kept me from getting a good nights sleep.