Thursday 5 June – Catch-up day

We're on the 6^th floor of the Hi-San Francisco International Youth Hostel, which used to be a hotel. Fortunately, there's a lift. We have plenty of light, although opposite one window wall is a hotel taller than our hostel, and opposite the other window is a multi-storey car park. We're right in the centre of “downtown” San Francisco; we really like our hostel room, and the fact that the bathroom actually has a window that opens.

I write up and post yesterday's blog; by the time we've both showered, it's 11.00 am, (7.00 pm in the UK) and time to Skype George, Marianne, Elaine and Arlie as arranged. It's really lovely to have a good chat and to be able to see them at the same time! (Even Jasper the dog gets a look in). We're amazed at how much Arlie has changed since we last Skyped a couple of weeks ago.

We're too late for breakfast in the hostel, and in any case we weren't that impressed with their breakfast before we went to Yosemite; most of the food had been eaten by the time we got there, and what was on offer was porridge and bagels with jam and cream cheese (which Americans seem to enjoy together). Also, the kitchen and dining area were crowded, and there was only cold water to wash up with; we decide to treat ourselves, on our first proper day in San Francisco.

In the little nearby cafe/bar, we each order fried eggs (easy-over, which means done on both sides, but soft in the middle), bacon, hash browns, wholemeal toast (the Americans call it wheat bread), and a pot of tea. The breakfast is delicious, and the service really good; however, it costs $40 (about £25), including tax and the necessary tip. We think this is expensive; welcome to downtown San Francisco!

It feels like sacrilege to “waste” a day of our time in San Francisco, but needs must, as we are tired after our busy schedule and our travelling yesterday. Also we have lots of washing to do, and are down to our last items of underwear (!), so we must catch up on laundry today. This hostel has a couple of washing machines and dryers in a laundry room available for guests' use; I'm always happy when we can do our own laundry, as it's usually very cheap to do, even though you do get the occasional problem (such as the shark in the dryer in New Orleans).

Reg goes to the Hertz depot across the road to arrange our next car hire (for when we arrive in Barstow next Monday). Barstow is about 150 miles from Las Vegas, but is surprisingly enough the nearest Amtrak passenger train station to it; so to reach Vegas from Barstow, you either have to hire a car or take the Greyhound bus.

While the washing is being done, Reg and I chill out in the hostel lounge, next to the laundry room. It's as quiet as a library in there – people are reading, or on their laptops or tablets, or listening to music through headphones – but no-one is chatting to each other. No doubt other people need their quiet time too, especially if they've been travelling for a while; this room though is very different from the buzz of chatter we've experienced in other youth hostels.

I fold the dry washing; we then have a nap before going out to dinner to a local Italian restaurant recommended by the hostel receptionist. It's been a true catch-up day … catch up with laundry, admin, sewing (the tiny shark holes I missed last time) and sleep.

Tomorrow we are fortunate that Yumiko, a fellow traveller we met in Charlottesville, Virginia, who lives in San Francisco, is taking us to see the local sights. We've told her that after our day of rest we'll be raring to go!