San Francisco!

(I apologize for the delay, but I guess you have realized that when I start getting behind on the blog its because I am having too much fun! And I definitely love California!!)

  Time to head to the city!! So I arrived in Pleasanton Friday night to visit my wonderful Wheatman cousins!!! (I have so many cousins all of a sudden!) I was welcomed with a family dinner, Tivo viewings of all the required political productions that I have missed living in the woods:), and a bedroom and bathroom all to myself...so spoiled I am!! 

   The next morning I headed out to the city, only a 40 minute train ride! Kate gave me some tips and a path to follow, I wrote it all down and promised to get a map when I made it downtown. I had a packed schedule-Fisherman's wharf, ghirardelli square, steep hills, curvy roads, trolley cars, Chinatown, and union square - I could do that in a day right?? 

The Bart station

My first view of the city as I came up from the subway.

San Francisco!!!

My first view of the city and financial district as I head to Fisherman's Wharf!

Its Saturday so there is a Farmers market on the sidewalk outside the Ferry building.  This is like Faneuil Hall in Boston, plus all the fresh fruits, veggies, honey, and bread! I couldn't help but buy some grapes, peaches, honey straws, and a delicious vegetarian sushi roll - So with my tote bag full I tried to catch a trolley car to take me down Embarcadero st. but tourists flooded the streets for the market, artisans, and food and wine expo all going on around me. So I settled for a bus ride on the tracks :) 

View from the bus (notice the tracks:)

I stood up front and counted the piers as we passed by until I saw the sign for Fisherman's Wharf. 

I was told to wait until after the sign to get off, at the last stop, because the place was a tourist attraction for no reason other than t-shirts, key chains and 'authentic' fried food. 

So I gazed upon it fondly reminded of so many travels, moments when I had lost myself and succumbed to tourist temptation. 

   I hopped off the bus eyeing a 'free maps' sign outside a 'visitor information' store front on the corner.  Little did I know I had yet to fully escape the tourist traps.  As I entered what I thought to be the tourism bureau, I soon learned it was something completely different. I walked in only to learn I had entered a timeshare company! Lucky for me I am not an ideal target, so I had some fun people watching, made some friends, and of course got a map! 

   After that I headed west toward the open water and took in the views!

The Bay Bridge!

The Harbor- Notice the crowds? No they are not there for me:) The Blue Angels were flying all weekend!! If you look in the upper right of the picture you can see an angel. 
  After standing in the crowd, I headed to Ghirardelli square.

Mmmm free samples!!! 

   Taking the advice from my new friend in the 'tourism office' :) I began my pleasant 'walk' through the streets of downtown San Francisco.  Of course that really meant navigating the hilly terrain and trolley cars rolling through the streets. But it was exactly as I pictured it! 

Trolley Car!

Look its Full House!! (no not really:)

My first hill!

You know you are in San Fran when the cars are all parked like this! Wheels resting on the curb! 

The view from 'the top' where I had to stop and rest.  Everyone else stopped too to watch the blue angels keep flying by! 

The bay

This is Lombard St. a must see attraction because it is the most curvy road in San Francisco! I did make sure to drive down it too when I returned!

Another view of the hills

Welcome to China Town! 

It is the largest China Town outside of the original 'China Town' (China:) So many great shops, Dim Sum, and 'fresh' ducks hanging in the windows!!

  Using my guidebook I made sure to walk down a little alley to find the "Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory."  It was the tiniest 'factory' I have ever seen, though it represented the Chinese working conditions quite well.

Inside the factory - I made sure to purchase some delicious cookies on the way out too!

   Well it was a very long day in the city and Man did my feet hurt by the time I reached Union Square.  I was so tired I wasn't even interested in all the high-end stores Union Square had to offer, perhaps another day:) 

   I limped back to the train looking forward to an early dinner and a trip to the movie theatre to see Religulous, I can't wait!!

Napa Valley!

Beautiful Napa Valley!!! 

Now remember I am just driving through, I stopped at a few places but I decided that I would make a return trip where I could do some tasting with friends.  I mean wine tasting and driving might not work out too well after a few stops, you know? :) 

Downtown St. Helena, just one of the many towns you pass through down Rte 29 through Napa Valley.  I stopped in a great secondhand store to treat myself to a few 'warm' California clothes:) 

Look its a vineyard!

Whats that another one! 

No, it couldn't be!! 

Vineyards as far as the eye can see! 

Right along the highway!! It was a wonderful drive, of course some more wine tasting would have made it even better!! Who will join me???? :) 

Goodbye Napa...

Inland to Santa Rosa!

I made it to Santa Rosa, a beautiful warm California dream!

Look its my first palm tree!!!! 

I took a great bike ride from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol. It felt great to exercise and use my "new" bike :) 

The bike path was great and ran along farms and the highway.  The leaves and grass are looking a little dry, but I guess thats normal when it hasn't rained in months! My favorite part was having to pack up the flannel pajamas I purchased in Seattle b/c I was sweating to death! Im sure eventually I will need the sweaters and warm clothes Sally and I bought at Goodwill, maybe back in New England?? :) 

Thank you to Bruce and Katherine for having me! I had a fabulous time. I learned a lot about raw foods and composting too! I know what I'll be asking for for Christmas: Blender, Juicer, and a food dehydrator!! Thank you both again I had a wonderful time.

  Following Katherine's suggestion I plan to head to Pleasanton by driving west to Calastoga and taking route 29 south through St. Helena and Napa Valley. Wine Country here I come!

On the road again...

The drive south to Santa Rosa

As I headed down the coast...

Look wild Elk!

And what's that? the sun? No, it couldn't be...

Oh yes it is!! Now this is the real California coast!!

The road was curvy, taking pictures was half the adventure!  As I looked off along the coast I saw...

My future house! A farm sitting on the edge of the Pacific, could there be something more perfect?! So as soon as I win the lottery, Ill be off to purchase one of these!! 

Then I headed for Mendocino, a beautiful coastal town that would be my halfway point to Santa Rosa.

Mendocino is a coastal town like Portsmouth, NH, minus the trees and built right on the edge of the ocean. Small but beautiful!

The view from the ocean

What I saw when I turned around!!

After a short break and some lunch, I turned of the coastal route (thank god too b/c it was a little too windy and I was actually feeling car sick!) I turned inland  toward Santa Rosa and just a taste of wine country!

It felt like I was being transported from a majestic beach to Italy or Australia within all the vineyards and mountains but I never left California!! Amazing!

Vineyards!

The vineyards were great and I still had Napa Valley to visit! On to Santa Rosa, sunshine and warm California weather!!

Giant Redwoods

Majestic! The ladies at the hostel directed me to a grove with almost 3,000 year old growth. It was the same grove that they filmed Star Wars! I didn't see any Ewoks though :(

Just some pictures to help give you some perspective!

Hug a redwood! (this tree is well over 2.000 years old!)

After an amazing tour of the forest, I went to the beach to search for whales. Migrations had just begun and I was determined!

The coast just falls into the ocean

Ooo I think I see a spout! It was kinda cloudy, but I did see a little spout and a little tail! 

Then, mesmerized by the beach, I headed down to the sand.

I think the fog just makes it more beautiful!

Sand dollar!!! You don't see this on Rye beach!! :)

I'm sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful place, it was so peaceful I can't wait to go back! Now its off to Santa Rosa to visit my dad's friends from college. Mmmm wine country and maybe even a little sunshine!!