Tina's visit

My friend Tina was here from Northern Arizona; Eagar, to be specific. She came last Saturday and we have had a great visit. Told each other stories about the old days that we probably heard twenty years ago but forgot.

Annie and her girls escorted us to San Francisco on Wednesday. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in the mist, parked too far from the pier. They moved the departure gate to Alcatraz from where it was in the past which gave us a nice long walk. But we had time for lunch at Pier 39 and hurried to pier 33 to catch our ferry. The weather was warmer than we expected on Alcatraz, we toured the cellblock and walked the steep paths of the island. If you haven't been there, or to San Francisco at all, don't leave the planet without making the trip. It is a beautiful city and the skyline from Alcatraz island is stunning.

Annie left us and took the car and kids to do some shopping. Tina and I got some t-shirts and waited about an hour to catch the Cable Car to Union Square. (This of course was after about an eight block walk not knowing for sure if we were going in the right direction.) Everyone on the waterfront was making the Cable Car trip, I think. When we did get loaded, we didn't have a seat. We both had killer feet, but we had to stand and hang on to a strap or a little pole which puts you right in the faces of anyone sitting down. It's sardinelike. The joy of the cable car is that it travels the amazing steep hills of the city and you have a beautiful view. Joyful, of course if you are sitting on the outside bench and can see. Sardines see little except other sardine's heads. When the car started down hill, I had to plant my feet, one forward and one back to keep from tipping over. After each stop, it started with a jolt making all the standing people sway and lose their footing. When your toes hurt and are sliding to the downhill side of your shoe, it diminishes the joy of the ride.

When we got off at Powell and Post streets, we walked across the street and called Annie. She said cross back, she was sitting on the curb in her car, we hopped in and were on our way. Quite good timing, I say.

Anyway, Tina had never been to San Francisco. You MUST do the Cable Car when you go, but I recommend not waiting until the end of the day. There are also bicycle rickshaws, fyi.

One day while Tina was here we took a ride to the beach at Bodega Bay. There were some surfers, and a lot of people using the beach. Not many folks go in the cold water here without a wet suit. We stopped to see the town of Bodega Bay which was having a big street party patio sale to raise money for their volunteer fire department. All so small town. There was a band playing and people drinking beer. We didn't see anything we wanted, but it was a kick to see it. Northern California is beautiful, not at all like the LA area.

Oops, I didn't finish the day I started. Tina left yesterday. It's about 60 miles to Sacramento and she was flying out at 10 AM. So to avoid getting up too early on Saturday, we went on Friday and got a room. I dropped her at the airport and was back in Napa by 9:45.