Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday 5th August
We still had the car so we went to the local Ross and Marshall's an did a bit of shopping. We had to return car by 12.30 and managed to do that about 5 minutes walk from the hotel in Walnut Creek. Fay had the girl's night our in SF so she departed with Colleen and half a dozen others and took the BART into SF. They had the night at a restaurant next to the place the bucks night happened the night before. Ben and I went to happy hour (free drinks and nibbles from 5 till 7.30) then to Italian Restaurant. By the time we got there, we had decided that we would share a pizza. It it was an Italian restaurant that didn't do pizzas. We ended up getting paste dishes that were much too large. Another salutary lesson from the US. At about 11 I had to walk across the road to the Bart station to escort Fay to the hotel.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wednesday 4th August
A relaxed departure, 9am, saw us have an easy 1hr20min drive to Colleen and Kevin’s place in Concord. After an obligatory cup of tea (or 2 or three) our cars was used for transportation to transport people to the Buck’s barbecue and cricket game.
Because the young men were organizing the event, it didn’t quite go to plan. They forgot half the food (but not the drinks) and the barbecue utensils. The cricket game was a pleasant affair where everyone had a bat or two and a bowl, but it only last an hour or so as new had to catch the BART into San Francisco.
The place for the Bucks was a restaurant along Embarcadero. Kevin and I lasted till 10.30 and caught the BART home. Ben stayed longer and bunked on Justin’s hotel room.
The girls stayed home at C&K’s place then went shopping in Walnut Creek. The visits to Ross’ Marshall sans Nordstrums were a great success.
Thursday 4th August
Fay and I were up and had breakfast and out the door
After all we had some more shopping to do. Ross’ once again, Fry’s for electrical and we had to return the rental car.
A quick lunch at Quizno’s (Subway American style) and were back in the hotel room in time for Fay to shower and get ready into BART her way into SF for the girl night out.
Because the young men were organizing the event, it didn’t quite go to plan. They forgot half the food (but not the drinks) and the barbecue utensils. The cricket game was a pleasant affair where everyone had a bat or two and a bowl, but it only last an hour or so as new had to catch the BART into San Francisco.
The place for the Bucks was a restaurant along Embarcadero. Kevin and I lasted till 10.30 and caught the BART home. Ben stayed longer and bunked on Justin’s hotel room.
The girls stayed home at C&K’s place then went shopping in Walnut Creek. The visits to Ross’ Marshall sans Nordstrums were a great success.
Thursday 4th August
Fay and I were up and had breakfast and out the door
After all we had some more shopping to do. Ross’ once again, Fry’s for electrical and we had to return the rental car.
A quick lunch at Quizno’s (Subway American style) and were back in the hotel room in time for Fay to shower and get ready into BART her way into SF for the girl night out.
Tuesday August 3rd
Hearst's Castle - Servants' indoor swimming Pool.
Then onto US Highway 1 (The Pacific Highway right up the coast past Big Sur, an absolutely magnificent wild coastal area on the highway. Only pictures can tell the story and even then not completely.
We then continued our drive to Gilroy, the garlic capital of America, which you can verify by the steak Dianne air when you enter the town.
A long but amazing day.
Adrian forgot to mention the dead skunk in the middle of the road stinking to high heaven! Actually more then one. Ben is surviving being with his parents 24 hours a day!
With only 1hr 20minute drive to San Francisco tomorrow, we are almost there
Tuesday August 3
Well today was Camarillo to Gilroy via Hearst’s Castle and Big Sur.
It was a long day as we got to the Hotel at 5pm after leaving at 7.55am.
Hearst’s Castle is absolutely amazing. Owned by 1920’s newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, he bought every bit of art he could find – 2500year old Egyptian statues, 16th century Italian and Spanish art and installing a mosaic with 1.5 million Murrano glass tiles in an indoor swimming pool that no one wanted to use – s0 he said the staff could use it.
Well today was Camarillo to Gilroy via Hearst’s Castle and Big Sur.
It was a long day as we got to the Hotel at 5pm after leaving at 7.55am.
Hearst’s Castle is absolutely amazing. Owned by 1920’s newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, he bought every bit of art he could find – 2500year old Egyptian statues, 16th century Italian and Spanish art and installing a mosaic with 1.5 million Murrano glass tiles in an indoor swimming pool that no one wanted to use – s0 he said the staff could use it.
The buildings and grounds are amazing and from his front door he could see 40 miles into the distance and everything he saw, he owned.
Then onto US Highway 1 (The Pacific Highway right up the coast past Big Sur, an absolutely magnificent wild coastal area on the highway. Only pictures can tell the story and even then not completely.
We then continued our drive to Gilroy, the garlic capital of America, which you can verify by the steak Dianne air when you enter the town.
A long but amazing day.
Adrian forgot to mention the dead skunk in the middle of the road stinking to high heaven! Actually more then one. Ben is surviving being with his parents 24 hours a day!
With only 1hr 20minute drive to San Francisco tomorrow, we are almost there
Wednesday 3 August
The picture is a helicopter sucking up water to fight the bush fire near Big Sur.A relaxed departure, 9am, saw us have an easy 1hr20min drive to Colleen and Kevin’s place in Concord. After an obligatory cup of tea (or 2 or three) our car was used for transportation to transport people to the Buck’s barbecue and cricket game.
Because the young men were organizing the event, it didn’t quite go to plan. They forgot half the food (but not the drinks) and the barbecue utensils. The cricket game was a pleasant affair where everyone had a bat or two and a bowl, but it only last an hour or so as new had to catch the BART into San Francisco.
The place for the Bucks was a restaurant along Embarcadero. Kevin and I lasted till 10.30 and caught the BART home. Ben stayed longer and bunked on Justin’s hotel room.
The girls stayed home at C&K’s place then went shopping in Walnut Creek. The visits to Ross’ Marshall sans Nordstrums were a great success.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday August 2nd
Off early for the drive to Camarillo about 45miles North of LA. It took 3 hours and was quite a drive as we drove through the outskirts of LA with all its associated traffic snarls - but 3 hours isn't too bad.
After checking in, we opted to go to the shopping outlets for a large slice of retail therapy - actually not an overdose.
We are now back in the room and will be heading out to the local shops for a spot of food, then a quick retire to bed.
Tomorrow is a long day in the saddle about 5hrs driving and a trip to Hearst's Castle.
After checking in, we opted to go to the shopping outlets for a large slice of retail therapy - actually not an overdose.
We are now back in the room and will be heading out to the local shops for a spot of food, then a quick retire to bed.
Tomorrow is a long day in the saddle about 5hrs driving and a trip to Hearst's Castle.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday 1 August
Another day, another fun time in San Diego.
After a breakfast (Free) we were off to the San Diego zoo.
We spent nearly six hours roaming the vast expanse of the zoo. Lions and tigers and bears (oh joy! Lions and tigers and bears (oh joy! – See the wizard of oz for details). We did see some amazing things like The polar bear enclosure, hippos sleeping under water and an amazing free flying bird show including one of the birds singing “Old McDonald Had a Farm”.
Flamingos, bears, snakes, zebras, and the list goes on.
We found out today that yesterday was the coldest July day in SD since 1914 (63.3 degrees) but today was we were coming home it was 81, quite a change.
We had a snooze when we got home and while Ben slept on Fay and I went to the cathedral for 5.15 mass. Actually the SATNAV took us to another (incorrect) address but we quickly drove ourselves (without SATNAV) to the cathedral and we were only 15 minutes late. The mass was said by an Australian bishop – the bishop for weewak in New Guinea... He has a sister who lives on Higgins and is good friends with a couple who are from the Kippax parish.
After mass we headed to Little Italy in SD and had a great meal and walked the streets for 30 minutes then made our way home...
It is now time for bed.
Tomorrow we are off the Camarillo, a place about 30 miles North of Santa Barbara – a 3 hour drive.
_________________________________
Todays Funnies
Corduroy pillows are making headlines.
Is a book on voyeurism a peeping tome?
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Sea captains don't like crew cuts.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumour.
Without geometry, life is pointless.
When you dream in colour, it's a pigment of your imagination.
After a breakfast (Free) we were off to the San Diego zoo.
We spent nearly six hours roaming the vast expanse of the zoo. Lions and tigers and bears (oh joy! Lions and tigers and bears (oh joy! – See the wizard of oz for details). We did see some amazing things like The polar bear enclosure, hippos sleeping under water and an amazing free flying bird show including one of the birds singing “Old McDonald Had a Farm”.
Flamingos, bears, snakes, zebras, and the list goes on.
We found out today that yesterday was the coldest July day in SD since 1914 (63.3 degrees) but today was we were coming home it was 81, quite a change.
We had a snooze when we got home and while Ben slept on Fay and I went to the cathedral for 5.15 mass. Actually the SATNAV took us to another (incorrect) address but we quickly drove ourselves (without SATNAV) to the cathedral and we were only 15 minutes late. The mass was said by an Australian bishop – the bishop for weewak in New Guinea... He has a sister who lives on Higgins and is good friends with a couple who are from the Kippax parish.
After mass we headed to Little Italy in SD and had a great meal and walked the streets for 30 minutes then made our way home...
It is now time for bed.
Tomorrow we are off the Camarillo, a place about 30 miles North of Santa Barbara – a 3 hour drive.
_________________________________
Todays Funnies
Corduroy pillows are making headlines.
Is a book on voyeurism a peeping tome?
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Sea captains don't like crew cuts.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumour.
Without geometry, life is pointless.
When you dream in colour, it's a pigment of your imagination.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
July 31 - San Diego
Up and at 'em.
We were off to USS Midway Museum. It is an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1945 and has been restored and moored in San Diego Harbour.
Quite an impressive museum. We walked the whole ship with the headsets going giving explanations etc. Quite a few aircraft parked on the flight deck as well, all in pretty good condition but none in flying nick. We were there for nearly 2 hours and it was great.
We had a photo taken as we boarded and collected it as we left. The false backgrounds were added later. We also had to buy me a hat as I had left my hat in the hotel. We decided to buy a Tshirt/cap package - great except that when we got home the Tshirt was an XL but it must be a child's size - all very strange.
We then walked along the waters edge (all built up) with plenty of shops and food emporiums. We eventually had some lunch there and went home to crash for an hour or so.
We then drove to San Diego Airport to pick up ben at 3.15. His flight was delayed for 20 minutes or so, so Fay was dropped off at the doors and I did some circuits while he collected his bags. We came back to the room and we hung around for 45 minutes or so.
Off to the baseball - San Diego Padres versus Florida Marlins. A quick ten minute drive to the ballpark and an hours drive around in bumper to bumper traffic looking for parking - we gave up and went back to the waters' edge to grab some tea.
Ben was pretty tired and we weren't far behind him.
And so another day of adventure draws to a close.
We were off to USS Midway Museum. It is an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1945 and has been restored and moored in San Diego Harbour.
Quite an impressive museum. We walked the whole ship with the headsets going giving explanations etc. Quite a few aircraft parked on the flight deck as well, all in pretty good condition but none in flying nick. We were there for nearly 2 hours and it was great.
We had a photo taken as we boarded and collected it as we left. The false backgrounds were added later. We also had to buy me a hat as I had left my hat in the hotel. We decided to buy a Tshirt/cap package - great except that when we got home the Tshirt was an XL but it must be a child's size - all very strange.
We then walked along the waters edge (all built up) with plenty of shops and food emporiums. We eventually had some lunch there and went home to crash for an hour or so.
We then drove to San Diego Airport to pick up ben at 3.15. His flight was delayed for 20 minutes or so, so Fay was dropped off at the doors and I did some circuits while he collected his bags. We came back to the room and we hung around for 45 minutes or so.
Off to the baseball - San Diego Padres versus Florida Marlins. A quick ten minute drive to the ballpark and an hours drive around in bumper to bumper traffic looking for parking - we gave up and went back to the waters' edge to grab some tea.
Ben was pretty tired and we weren't far behind him.
And so another day of adventure draws to a close.
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