Coastlines and protestors

Does my insurance cover this? Supporters vs protestors, Olympic torch relay, San Francisco.
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Left LA on the morning of the 7th on the Coast Starlight. This is a pretty famous train trip and it wasn't hard to see why. There is some gorgegous coast, hill/canyon type things, etc. It took the best part of a day but I really enjoyed it.

Chantal and Mike (who Mum and Dad met walking in NZ and took in) met me at San Jose and took me back to their place in Menlo Park to meet their really fat but friendly cats.

On the 8th Chantal took me sightseeing down south on the coast - to Monterey, where we had lunch, a couple of pretty convents near Carmel, and then to Point Lobos which was a really spectacular short walk. Loads of classic waves-crashing-into-rocks type scenery, as well as seals, sea lions, sea otters, squirrels (which I still find highly entertaining) and a deer.

Golden Gate Bridge
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After that we met Mike for a Thai dinner - yum.

The 9th I went into San Francisco and - just my luck - it was the day of the Olympic torch relay. I was able to get a cable car ride in the morning but they were closed for most of the day. I spent time wandering around Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and the rest of the touristy waterfront.

I missed out on Alcatraz - didn't want to pre-book because of uncertainty surrounding the Relay. Instead I took loads of photos of protestors and supporters. The latter had apparently been bussed in by the Chinese embassy from surrounding areas.

At the Carmelite Monastery, Carmel, CA
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I walked part of the way to the Golden Gate bridge and had a look at the Palace of Fine Arts, which is a lovely building/park with pillars etc.

That was about it for my day. Chantal and Mike had a couple of friends over and we had a BBQ dinner.

In the morning Mike dropped me at the train station in Emeryville.