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Entries in family (474)

Tuesday
Sep302014

Cali part 4: Yosemite

On Tuesday we hopped in the rental van and headed over the Coastals, through the valley, and into the Sierra Nevadas.

Our drive through the central valley was a serious eye opener. When you stop watering a field here it simply goes feral. Stop watering an orchard there and it goes bone dry dead. We saw both live and dead orchards on our drive, and a dammed lake at all-time low levels. I'd seen pictures of California's disappearing lakes and exposed bridges, but seeing it in person was far more heartbreaking.

Like San Francisco, Yosemite has long been on my bucket list. We arrived in the evening on the first day (after taking a side trip to a lunch spot that the Garmin was adamantly sure was located in thin air on the drop-off side of the winding mountain road), and enjoyed the stunning view from Glacier Point. Our one full day in the park we spent driving the valley floor and taking a couple of short hikes (walk really) to what were, of course, dry waterfalls.

We saw the many faces of Half Dome. We enjoyd drinks at the Ahwahnee and a picnic lunch in a valley floor meadow. With the waterfalls so low we climbed across boulders and into the stream beds. We may not have had time to hike, but the sights were certainly pleasing.

No bears, though.

Tuesday
Sep302014

Cali part 3: Angel Island, Alcatraz, and a reunion with friends

One final day in San Francisco, spent mostly asea, and it was finally bright, sunny, AND clear. We took the ferry, with beautiful views of the bridge and city, first to Angel Island, where we took a tram tour, then to Alcatraz, where we took a self guided audio tour. Back on land we headed to Golden Gate Park to meet with friends who moved to San Fran a year ago.


Monday
Sep292014

Cali part 2: San Francisco, and a wedding

I have always wanted to visit San Francisco, but the impetus for this trip was my cousin's wedding.

On day 3 we spent the better part of our day taking in the traditional San Fran sights: the cable cars, China Town, and Fishermans Warf. After that, we spent the night partying with family, celebrating a marriage. Weddings are possibly my favorite event. Calvin was a regular dancing machine.

We spent day 4 saying goodbye to family, and revisiting some favorite San Francisco haunts (those being the cable car because...Calvin).

You have to really suck it in when passing the opposing cable car...

Hurray for indie book stores

clams and chowder and mussels oh my

dashing

siblings

Monday
Sep292014

Cali part 1: mostly Napa

Thursday afternoon was sunny and warm in California. Apparently September is a summer month for the people of San Francisco, who often experience chilly and foggy weather the rest of the year. September, when the kids are already back in school, would appear to be a great time to visit. We were fortunate to have warm, sunny weather for most of our visit, although even then the bridge was obscured by thick fog for all but our last day in town.

Day 1 for us was mainly travel, a stop by Pier 39 for our first taste of west coast seafood and a peek at the famed sea lions, and a delightful family dinner—a reunion with many far flung members of my family.

Day 2 took us into Napa Valley for some wine tasting.

Sunday
Aug032014

Partying