Long Time No Blog- Central Coast

Things got a bit busy and haven't had time to update the blog. Since my last blog the news has been an earthquake, I was on the BART so didn't feel it, and a massive and devestating oil spill in the bay.

Other than that, took a trip to the central coast (half way between SF and LA). To get there we drove down the beautiful, windy and foggy Highway 1 through Big Sur. After stopping for a lunch and a hike in the huge redwoods of Big Sur, we continued down the coast to a small town named Cambria. This area of CA has some beautiful coast line, on which the Elephant Seals were coming ashore for mating. When we there in early Dec. the male seals were arriving - females come in a month later - and were sharping their battle skills with a few rounds of practice fighting. This gets them into condition to literally battle each other to win the right to mate. Apparently they come ashore in the same area every year. We went to see them but you can hear them barking first and then see their incredibly huge bodies laying on the sand. One little guy got up really close to where we were he was so cute!

San Simeon cove is in this area as well. We were going to kayak but it was so foggy that morning you couldn't see more than 10 feet and there was some surf that didn't allow us to get out/or get in. Right above San Simeon cove is the Hearst Castle (of the publishing magnet Randolf Hearst) and ranch. Pretty interesting place even has a National Geographic movie about it- there is a main house, 3 smaller houses, the famous outdoor neptune pool and an amazing indoor pool.

Also did some wine tasting Paso Robles. It was a beautful day to be in the vineyards.

Fleet Week Report

There was too much going on over the weekend and I didn't get down to the warf to the ships and sailors but I certainly saw the planes! Sunday we gathered at a park near the Marina/Gold Gate Bridge and got to experience a great air show. The planes got so close that we could see the pilot's helmets and if I had a potato launcher could hit one easily. Twists, and turns and flying upside down and formations.. very cool stuff!

Planes, Ships & Sailors

Yesterday was the official start of Fleet Week. Fleet Week happens every year the weekend before Columbus Day when the military returns to their home base. Families welcome home their sailors/pilots, the is a parade of ships, civilians get to tour the ship decks, and F-16 Viper, F-22 Raptor, the Blue Angels and others will be performing in air shows. Yesterday, they conducted a survey flight- it was sooo loud and the window in my office rattled. Today was their first air show. We went to the office building roof top to watch part of it. Pretty cool stuff! Even with this being the most liberal, anti-military city, people still get excited and there are quite a few roof top parties to watch the air show. Of course there are some - a few- that blog complaints and wonder why the city puts up with the noise and it is glamorizing killing machines etc... idiots.

A Small World

I was at dinner last night with a few people who Paul Allen connected me with. (Thanks Paul-great people!) Anyway, some how I got onto the story about how my apartment fell through the day after I moved here... in the middle of the story another gal joined our group... I continued the story and she blurts out-- I know this story!... she is friends with the chic that I was supposed to live with!! A little uncomfortable. She apparently knew all about this and told me that I handled the situation really well (I said I know). She too was supposed to move into the place but backed out due to the noise that came from the strip dance lessons studio below the apartment from 7-10 pm everyday.

The Ocean

This Saturday (I am resisting commenting on the embarrassing UT loss) I went to the ocean for the first time since I moved here. Yeah, I live by the ocean and I see the Bay on a daily basis but not the ocean. A friend and I took our dogs to an area called Ft. Funston (didn't see a fort), a long stretch of dog friendly beach that is just south of Ocean Beach along the Great Highway. It was Brody's first time at the ocean. It was great-- the tide was out so it gave Brody the opportunity to get his paws wet and without having to go for a swim. Next, doggie surf lessons!

Also took the boys/dogs to Golden Gate Park on Sunday. Golden Gate THE best city park in America.

81 Days

Since I left Dallas I have felt I was living in an alternate world. Not the world of Lori I know or the life of the Lori I know but an alternate person and life.. kind of like an out of body experience. Yesterday, 81 days into being in San Francisco, it became my existence. Nothing prompted it.. just sitting at my desk and the feeling/thought came over me... this is now my life.
Maybe because I am in a routine, the daily grind per say, who knows but it certainly feels better than being outside of myself.

Bike & Wine

This Sunday a little group which included my brother Sam, his housemate Brenden, his girlfriend in from Australia Nikki, and Brenden's friend Chris, and I headed to a town called Healdsburg in Sonoma County (about 1 hr away) for a bike ride/wine tour. There are many wineries to choose from but due to a later than desirable start only got to three. We biked about 15 min between each stop. Below are pictures of the adventure. As you can see the vines are full of grapes.. it is harvest time.

Hook 'Em

Saturday was my first UT football watching experience outside of the great state. Many in our gang (via my brother) are Texas Exes. We all went to the Blue Light- official site of the Texas Exes watching parties for the TX/TCU game. Tons of orange. There were more UT fans there than at the game watching parties I've been to in Dallas. But of course the only way to see a UT game here is pay per view so we have no option. We will be back again next weekend for another game. Hopefully the Horns will show up for the whole game this Saturday.

Landmarks

Two of SF's landmarks: Coit Tower and TransAmerica Building. Took these one evening when I was walking to look at an apt. You can see these from anywhere you are in the city.

Visitors In the Night

Visitors are a good reason to have a nice dinner. Unfortunately (or is it?) my kitchen is too small to make a nice dinner but luckily there are several highly-rated restaurants within a couple blocks of my place. So here is to Brian & Wendy (by the way, you guys are now "Brendy"), Kasey by way of NY, and Roosh & Scott who were all in town over a two week period. So good to see you all and so odd to see you in my new town! Other visitors always welcome- there are many restaurants to discover!

Hot

Two months in SF temps. and I have already gotten "soft". I was down in LA yesterday for a corporate off site. It got up to 88 degrees there. I thought is was pretty hot and slightly humid- I am going to die in the Dallas heat over Labor Day!!

Carmel

A little triva for you: What is the official name of Carmel? Carmel by-the-Sea. Who was Carmel's famous former mayor? Clint Eastwood.

A couple weekend's ago I took a break from unpacking and headed south to Carmel to see a friend of mine from college who was in town with her kiddos visiting her mother. She lives in Carmel Valley. Saturday we went to Monterrey (connects to Carmel) and walked along the sea board, fisherman's warf, through Cannery Row - once the busiest cannery for sardines along the coast- and visited the Monterrey Aquarium. Very cool aquarium. Sunday was a beautiful fog-free day. We drove to downtown Carmel, along Carmel beach, part of the beautiful 17 mile drive through Pacific Grove, around Pebble Beach, and to the Carmel Misson. (Highway 101- the main highway I drove down to Carmel is the first highway in CA-- it was the path inbetween each misson in CA, from San Diego up to San Francisco. The path/highway is marked with old bells.)


The sunshine also enticed me to drop the top on the car and head up Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) for my drive back to SF. The highway goes through tons of farmland so I bought fresh fruit and veggies at one of the many produce stands that sprinkle the highway, made a pit stop for fish tacos in Santa Cruz, and stopped at a beach and to watch about 50 windsurfers taking advantage of the very windy day.

Pictures:

Seals in Monterrey Bay

Carmel Beach

Overlooking Clint Eastwood's property

17 Mile Drive/Pacific Grove

The Lone Cypress Ghost Tree
Pebble Beach (don't know which hole)

Carmel Misson

Wind Surfers