We arrived home after a long flight during the night and a layover in Cincinnati. Made it home around noon. Today we are not walking along the side of a mountain or feeling the spray of an amazing waterfall. Today we are not fascinated by the tidal creatures of the Pacific ocean or exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of a new city. We are home where we enjoy simple common things like the sounds of insects and birds, the beautiful red setting sun over the little lake through the dark evening trees. We have arrived where our beds are our own and we are still together as a family. We are home.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
August 16, 2011
Our last day of this magnificent trip of a life time with our children. We slept in and got a slow start to make up for our anticipated late/long night. Ate breakfast at the Eagle Cafe on Pier 39. Oh, what a super yummy breakfast we did eat. It is a good thing that we did not spend our entire two and a half weeks in this city as we ate too much while we were here. After our meal we walked along the bay to the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts. Today was cooler and foggier than our other days in San Francisco. What a surprise to have the Golden Gate Bridge missing its upper suspension support and the islands barely visible. The weather didn't deter the hardy souls who were swimming in the bay. We learned yesterday that the brackish water in the bay is 55 degrees.
The Exploratorium was by far the largest collection of hands on scientific based experiences we had ever seen. Andrew thoroughly every exhibit by reading the information that explained each scientific experience and doing the activity, many of which explained concepts he learned about from his wonderful science teachers. He was appalled that Ellis moved quickly through each experience. Each had a great time, but in their own way.
We walked back along North Point Street and the tight houses lining the street. We learned later that the area we walked through had been destroyed in earthquake in the 1990's.
Trying to take advantage of our last eating opportunities dinner was split between the In and Out Burger and the Thai place next door. Dessert, not that we needed it, was Ghiradelli. This time we split sundaes and felt much more comfortable. Nothing left of our peanut butter sundae or the cookie bottom sundae.
As we still had more time left before we needed to head to the airport, Andrew requested a stop at the Bourdin bread store for his very own loaf of sourdough. He is anticipating several days of delicious toast. Ellis selected a visit to a candy store with the largest variety of salt water taffy on this side of the Mississippi.
How interesting it is to spend time with our wonderful and so very different children. At this point none of us are anxious to get home, but probably ready. We have had such a great time together, experiencing so much of what the west coast has to offer, yet sharing experiences together and making memories that will last a life time.
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 15, 2011
What better way to celebrate 19 years of marriage than a trip to Alcatraz! Happy Anniversary, Honey! The island holds more history than we knew serving as a strategic fort to protect the city and used in the civil war to hold prisoners before its famous 30 years as a maximum security prison. Alcatraz was overtaken by Native Americas for a span of time demanding better treatment and the return of tribal land. It is now part of the National Park Service.
We got our sourdough fix with lunch at Boubin. Their history and sourdough production was very interesting not to mention their unique loaves of bread in the shape of turtles, alligators, crabs, teddy bears. We had bread bowls of soup and sourdough pizza.
Visited the Aquarium at the Bay and really enjoyed the two tunnel aquariums. The schools of anchovies were amazing. Check out this plastic bag mockumentary we saw at the aquarium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw . The children were highly entertained by this video. I am glad we have made an effort to use less plastic the past few years.
Dinner was delicious- Ghirardelli ice cream sundaes! Wouldn't want to miss out on this San Francisco classic!
Tomorrow evening we will head home.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
August 14, 2011
Traveled westward back to San Francisco. In order to cross the Golden Gate Bridge we headed into the city from the north. Stopped at Muir Woods National Monument before crossing the bridge. Took a shuttle into the Muir Woods as the parking lot was full. I thought that we were done traveling on narrow, steep, winding roads. I was wrong. Wow, there were a lot of people enjoying the Muir Woods area. Took a great hike along the Redwoods, ferns, and stream. Ellis selected a seedling Sequoia tree as something to remember our trip by. What a beautiful area.
Turned in the rental car and settled into our new hotel. Ate In-n-Out burgers in our room. Can't wait to see the city tomorrow.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
August 13, 2011
Today we headed to the northeastern section of Yosemite to the Tuolumne Meadows area. This area of the park was interesting as the road is very close to the huge granite domes and peaks and in passing by you could see how smooth the glaciers left the rock. The layers of rock and lines within the rock are impressive. Along the way we saw climbers making their way up the steep rocks. We selected a moderate hike to Dog Lake and to Lembert Dome. Lembert Dome was a good choice for us to get a feel for dome hiking without the exertion of Half Dome. Our efforts were rewarded with incredible views in every direction of various hills and mountains. It was a beautiful blue sky day. On our way back on Tioga Road we stopped at Tenaya Lake to cool our feet enjoy the view and watch the climbers across the road.
Hetch Hetchy was our last stop of our Yosemite trip. The narrow windy road was worth the effort. A dam was built in this beautiful valley 1930s to supply water to the city of San Francisco. This valley now holds 1.7 trillion gallons of water some 200 feet deep.
Our trip is coming to an end. This was our last day in a National Park. We feel so fortunate to have have these National Park experiences together.
Friday, August 12, 2011
August 12, 2011
The highlight of the day was a trip to Mariposa grove to see the giant Sequoias. The trees are massive with incredible life spans. Note for future trips; don't come back during the busy summer months. There is just too much traffic and congestion. There is currently a lightning started forest fire burning in the Glacier Point area. It was very smokey in that area.
We checked out of the Yosemite lodge and made it to our next sleeping place. A small house in the Pine Mountain Lake area about 25 miles outside the park. It will be nice to be in a house with a kitchen and separate bedrooms for the kids. The boys are quite tired of sharing a bed.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
August 11, 2011
Rented bikes today to explore the Yosemite Valley. Biking is a much better way to see the valley than driving in a car, as there are a lot of people here also enjoying the park. I am thrilled that there are so many people visiting the national park, but this is insane! There are people and cars everywhere, darting around. Biking away from the masses seems to be most enjoyable. Spent time at the Happy Isles area, hiked at Mirror Lake, and ate at the Yosemite Village for lunch. Kids swam this afternoon – the views of the granite cliffs from the pool were fabulous. This evening we ventured out for one more bike ride. Saw deer close to the road and a bear and cub along a river area. Viewing from the bridge was a comfortable distance.
August 10, 2011
Arrived in Yosemite late this afternoon after the lengthy drive from San Francsico . We passed groves of almond trees and many aquaducts along the way. How interesting to watch the land transition from the bay, to the brown dead grass rolling hills, to the steep winding mountain switchbacks as we traveled to Yosemite. Ate lunch at the Iron Door in the town of Groveland. We are staying at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. Our room is very close to Yosemite Falls. The kids enjoyed climbing on the rocks at the base of this largest falls in the U.S. We drove around the valley this evening to acclimate to this very busy park. Bridal Falls, El Capitan, and the Half Dome were among the highlights. Andrew spotted a bear behind the sign identifying the location of John Muir and President Roosevelt's meeting site. Upon return to our room the full moon began to peek up over the tall granite wall and light the Yosemite Falls. Quite amazing!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
August 8 and 9, 2011
Our second full day in Seattle was spend doing a bit of shopping. We took the monorail in to the shopping area. Visited the Phiten store (one of three in the U.S.) and the R.E.I. store and could have stayed all day. Super interesting store complete with a waterfall, test mountain bike trail, hiking trail, and a climbing wall- they have it all. Walked and walked through the city. We got back early so we could be packed and ready for the next leg of the trip. That also meant we had some extra time to play Euchure.
August 9, 2011
Early start to our day to for flight to San Francisco. Ate and checked into our room then took the BART train into the city for the Giants game. AT&T Park is very cool on the bay. In fact it is so cool that Ugg boots are more popular than flip flops and they sell hot chocolate in the stands for baseball games in August. Giants won. We didn't have to fear the beard. Ellis went on the giant Coke bottle slide. Andrew loved the game and following the Tigers late extra innings game. We were ready for bed when we returned.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 7, 2011
Arrived in Seattle yesterday afternoon. We were impressed by the efficiency of the ferry system for our speedy crossing of Puget Sound. We are renting a small apartment in the Queen Anne neighborhood on an incredibly steep hill. The hill appears to be 45 degrees- maybe I am wrong- but it provides a great workout on the way home. We are only a few blocks away from the Space Needle.
This morning we slept in and got an uncharacteristicly slow start to our day. We first visited the Experience Music Project http://www.empsfm.org/ which highlighted many of the local music influences and is housed in a building that is suppose to look like Jimi Hendrix smashed guitar from above. I think I may have figured out my interest in mean music based on a quote by Dave Grohl of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters, “I think the lure of punk rock was the energy and immediacy; the need to thrash stuff around.”
Rode the monorail to the City Center and ate lunch at a Bolivian restaurant – llamas on the cover of the menu made me think of Alyse- luckily no llamas in the menu. We sat outside on the second level of the restaurant under an umbrella at this Pike Place Market. The market was an experience with products, produce, and entertainment. The Blue Angles were doing a show in Seattle and we saw them fly overhead several times.
We walked along the shoreline to the Olympic Sculpture Park. The sculptures were very unique and the park was nicely laid out.
This evening we took the Duck Boat Tour and went up in the Space Needle.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
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