DAY SEVEN - Thursday 21 April 2011: Arcata to Sacramento

Thursday morning is bright and sunny.  Conversation with the receptionist and guy checking out in front of us. I think the clerk checked me out last night but I don't have anything in ink - I must have something in ink so I can read it.  Of course, sir. Do you have your room key and parking permit?  I do, but they're in my room with my little dog. She likes an early morning walk but right now I'm not talking to her so I'll let you have the key and permit later.  Then the guy goes outside and sits in the square looking up at his bedroom window.  God only knows what goes on in his head!

The road to Redding is fairly uneventful as is Redding itself, although we did stop off for a quick sandwich and my new favourite thing is Tangerine Wheat Beer!  Tastes of oranges but it's alcoholic!

Old Sacramento is very busy with tourists and drug addicts! One chap came up to us asking how we were but when we replied he sort of drifted off into his own little world while staring at my rucksack - we suspect he was thinking of nicking it but just couldn't summon up enough energy to do it.

We booked into the Delta King, which is an old river boat and right in the heart of Old Sacramento. It was used as a pleasure craft in the 1920s going up and down the river to avoid prohibition and gambling laws and then during the war was used as a troop ship until it sank in San Francisco harbour.  It's had a nice restoration job though and we stayed in a cabin on the top deck with a great view of the river.  http://www.deltaking.com/. We liked Max the receptionist until we realised he'd charged us $1.50 just to have a look at the room (we've been caught out over the years with horrible hotel rooms so we now ask to  see the room before we commit to paying any money - reasonable you'd think). When we got the bill and Maxie boy had gone off duty we noticed a 'room assessment' charge. Only $1.50 but still a bit of a bloody cheek!

 Old Sacramento's buildings are the authentic 1800s 'cowboy' buildings but packed full of modern day stuff which spoils it a bit. The outside facades are great but when you go inside they're all flashing lights and tacky touristy things for sale. We did manage to buy a couple of beers from a fish and chip shop though.

In the evening, we had a snack on the boat while next door in the bar they had an Irish band playing - which went down brilliantly judging by the whooping and hollering!

 

Gorgeous cheeses, salad and warm bread

Later we strolled down to a bar in the town and had a couple of beers and talked to the barman who told us about 'the burning man' ceremony http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/1986_1996/firstyears.html which is maybe for another time!