A CRUIZE ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY

OUR 27TH ANNIVERSARY IN SAN FRANCISCO

We had a great time in San Francisco celebrating our 27th anniversary. The drive from our boat only took one and a half hours and our hotel (Sheraton at Fisherman’s Wharf) was ideally located. It is only a block from the Embarcadero and all of the Piers there. The streetcar runs right behind the hotel to other spots in SF. We made it to our cruise on the bay and the tour of Alcatraz. The cells there were only about six feet by four feet and the prisoners had the additional punishment of seeing San Francisco so close across the bay that they could even hear the music and celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

We found two wonderful restaurants, Scomas for very fresh seafood on the Wharf and Gary Danko for a superb meal, great ambience and excellent service. On Saturday we went to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building where hundreds of vendors have fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade cheeses and jams, breads and pastries and crafts. Most of it was organic. Inside the building are permanent shops with more goodies. We were able to take a goodly number back home with us.

ALCATRAZ FROM OUR BOAT

A LITTLE PIECE OF THE FARMER'S MARKET AT THE FERRY BUILDING

SEALION SIESTA ON THE DELTA

OUR TIME IN THE DELTA

We are enjoying our time in the Delta. We took our powerboat out for the first time and had a good trip, even stopping at a marina to refuel. Our friends Jan and Sally accompanied us as well as Cap’n Toni. On the return cruise, we had fun watching a huge sea lion attempting to jump up on a channel buoy to join a female sea lion that was there.

As always, we are mesmerized by the bird life around us; the battle of whether Jules or Jim would win the female mallard. We are anxious to see when the baby ducks will arrive. Our old friend the blue heron still visits us.

We enjoyed a visit from Melody and Cheryl on their way north and the continued company of Jan and Sally. We explored Old Town in Sacramento where had a lovely lunch overlooking the Sacramento River and rode the historic El Dorado Sacramento Southern Railroad Observation Lounge along the Sacramento River. The restored 1924 car glowed with its crafted mahogany and inlay woodwork. We were pleased to see that our engineer driving the train was a woman.

Next we drive to San Francisco to celebrate our 27th anniversary.

JULES AND JIM WITH A HERON

WOMAN ENGINEER ON SACRAMENTO OLD TOWN TRAIN