May 3
We went back on the Hop on Hop off tour bus again today. So over the Golden Gate Bridge for the 5th and 6th times and then hopped off at the Rose Garden/Chinese Pavilion section of the Golden Gate Park. We were thinking that flowers and water would bring in the birds. It does but it was just the usual suspects; Anna's and Allan's Hummingbirds, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, California Towhee and crows and ravens and not much else. We looked for the Chinese Pavillon or tea house or whatever it is. We could see it from the bus yesterday and today it was invisible. We asked people and park staff and got conflicting directions. We walked miles in several directions, it was like a movie. We would meet someone and they would say go that way and we would walk and walk with no luck. Then meet someone else and followed their directions. Why don't people say they don't k? Instead they sent on a wild chase. The map we had showed one direction and the park map showed something else. Conclusion: the place does NOT exist. We all had a legs workout on this one. It was ridiculous and we fell for it.
Instead, we ended up at the De Young Gallery of Modern Art and had a lovely lunch on the patio with dessert and some laughs on the Chinese or Japanese Pavilion or Tea House search. We were going to have tea there if we found it. On the patio, it was so nice outside. We identified the wandering little birds looking for crumbs as male and females Brewer's Blackbirds. So a bit of food and a bit of birds and it was really relaxing. The day was warmer than yesterday but still, if one is near the bay, it is freezing cold. We took the hop-on bus back to Fisherman's Wharf and visited the Sea Lions again. Connie had her camera this time and took some photos of the action. I think we could watch the Sea Lions for hours but it is so cold there by the water. There is always a brisk chilling wind, even in the mid-afternoon.
We then looked for a particular store in the Ghirardelli Square with no luck. But we did stop for a little dessert at Ghirardelli's: some ice cream which hit the mid afternoon slump. We left SF at 4:30 just at rush hour, not a good idea but we were ready to leave by then for Concord which is east of SF. We crossed the Bay Bridge which is even a bigger bridge than the Golden Gate. The drive went well and we are in our motel in Concord now. We went to the Safeway to pick up a hot supper and lunch for tomorrow. We all thought Concord would be a small town with one big road. Instead we are in suburbia with huge roads and box stores. No small towns exist around SF. This is silicon valley for the HiTech industry.
The photo is on the top level of double-decker tour bus today.
Tomorrow we are joining the local Audubon Club for an outing to Mount Diablo which is around 4,000 feet high. Connie and I just worked out the route, so we won't get lost trying to find the meet-up spot.
Baby Avery Marie is doing well and Ashley and baby are still in the hospitial. Not sure when they are coming home, maybe tomorrow. Everyone is thrilled that the baby is finally here and I am so looking forward to holding her on Saturday!
We went back on the Hop on Hop off tour bus again today. So over the Golden Gate Bridge for the 5th and 6th times and then hopped off at the Rose Garden/Chinese Pavilion section of the Golden Gate Park. We were thinking that flowers and water would bring in the birds. It does but it was just the usual suspects; Anna's and Allan's Hummingbirds, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, California Towhee and crows and ravens and not much else. We looked for the Chinese Pavillon or tea house or whatever it is. We could see it from the bus yesterday and today it was invisible. We asked people and park staff and got conflicting directions. We walked miles in several directions, it was like a movie. We would meet someone and they would say go that way and we would walk and walk with no luck. Then meet someone else and followed their directions. Why don't people say they don't k? Instead they sent on a wild chase. The map we had showed one direction and the park map showed something else. Conclusion: the place does NOT exist. We all had a legs workout on this one. It was ridiculous and we fell for it.
Instead, we ended up at the De Young Gallery of Modern Art and had a lovely lunch on the patio with dessert and some laughs on the Chinese or Japanese Pavilion or Tea House search. We were going to have tea there if we found it. On the patio, it was so nice outside. We identified the wandering little birds looking for crumbs as male and females Brewer's Blackbirds. So a bit of food and a bit of birds and it was really relaxing. The day was warmer than yesterday but still, if one is near the bay, it is freezing cold. We took the hop-on bus back to Fisherman's Wharf and visited the Sea Lions again. Connie had her camera this time and took some photos of the action. I think we could watch the Sea Lions for hours but it is so cold there by the water. There is always a brisk chilling wind, even in the mid-afternoon.
We then looked for a particular store in the Ghirardelli Square with no luck. But we did stop for a little dessert at Ghirardelli's: some ice cream which hit the mid afternoon slump. We left SF at 4:30 just at rush hour, not a good idea but we were ready to leave by then for Concord which is east of SF. We crossed the Bay Bridge which is even a bigger bridge than the Golden Gate. The drive went well and we are in our motel in Concord now. We went to the Safeway to pick up a hot supper and lunch for tomorrow. We all thought Concord would be a small town with one big road. Instead we are in suburbia with huge roads and box stores. No small towns exist around SF. This is silicon valley for the HiTech industry.
The photo is on the top level of double-decker tour bus today.
Tomorrow we are joining the local Audubon Club for an outing to Mount Diablo which is around 4,000 feet high. Connie and I just worked out the route, so we won't get lost trying to find the meet-up spot.
Baby Avery Marie is doing well and Ashley and baby are still in the hospitial. Not sure when they are coming home, maybe tomorrow. Everyone is thrilled that the baby is finally here and I am so looking forward to holding her on Saturday!
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