Last day in San Francisco

Friday, 9/8/06

After breakfast, we took a dry run to airport, so we'd be sure and not get lost tomorrow. No problem! Parked on Pier 39 again walked up to where cable cars were running. Bought round trip tickets and started up the "hill". got off at the Trolley museum and enjoyed watching how it all happened. Back on the trolley and off at the end of the run. Found a wonderful little diner "Lori's Diner" and had a beer and sandwich, doing a lot of great people watching. Back on the trolley, ending up at Pier 39 and then driving back to Mill Valley (this time with not getting lost once!). After we crossed the Golden Gate bridge, Guy said he wanted to walk across it....so we did...well, half way anyway. It was so cold and so windy and foggy, it was not enjoyable. We needed parkas, rather than the lighweight jackets we wore. Took pictures and then headed back to H Inn.....packed and early to bed for a early rise to the airport.

Back in San Francisco

Thursday, 9/7/06

Left Ft. Bragg at 7:45 and headed south to SF. About 11'ish when we got there and found sun! We drove down Lombard Street and were able to get many pictures (so we could compare it our Thomas Kinkade painting). Parked at Pier 39 , walked around, had lunch and got tickets to tour Alcatraz. I've been there before and was anxious for Guy to see it. The "rock" is amazing and hard to imagine being incarcerated there. After the boat ride back across, we took a bus tour that was also a walking tour through China Town. It began with a meal at an authentic Chinese Restaurant, where we met people from New Zeland, Scotland and England. What a mixture! The walking tour was led by a Chinese Professor, who was not only very knowlegable, but entertaing and humorous. We saw how fortune cookies were made and able to taste the samples as well. Back on the bus, we drove across the Bay Bridge over to Treasure Island. Our driver was a nice enough fella, but he was from Austria and had such a heavy thick accent, we could hardly understand what he was saying. He stopped at green and proceeded at red lights. Go figure! We never got back to our hotel in Mill Valley until midnight...(fand I'm not going to even tell about getting lost AGAIN)...part of our adventure....

Our last day in Mendocino

Wednesday, 9/6/06

Went to Denny's for breakfast and toured around Fort Bragg. Took a ride out to the Bluff's ... Unbelievable coastline....again...even though it was foggy, the scenes were breathtaking! We had dinner at Cecile and Gary's and after sad good-byes, hugs and a few tears, we left for our hotel to pack and head back down to San Francisco.

A lazy, hazy day.....

Tuesday, 9/5/06
Another cool, overcast and foggy day...but it still is so beautiful.... Guy went for his walk this morning... Discovering an old, rundown boatyard. We picked up Gary & Cecile around noonish and headed "downtown". I was anxious to show Guy the beautiful "Small World Rhythm" clocks I've been admiring since my last visit 3 years ago. He was hooked!!!! We bought a beautiful Nostalgia Oak Clock. After a little more "window-shopping", Cecile and I headed to the lovely old Mendocino Hotel where we had lunch, drink (s) and a wonderul chat. I am blessed to have such a wonderful friend.....we chatted the afternoon away and I wish that she were closer to me geographically.

Labor Day 9/4/06

We reluctantly left the Hill House and headed up to Ft. Bragg to stay at the Holiday Inn for a couple of days. Weather still overcast, foggy, windy and cool. The 4 of us were heading inland again to enjoy sunshine and warm temps....driving The Avenue of the Giants, we were totally amazed at the size of those beautiful, tall redwoods. It was a magnificent 30+ mile scenic drive. We stopped a few times along the way to enjoy "Confusion Hill", Chimney Tree and a wonderful display of carved wood projects. The day ended by us dining in Ferndale, Gary & Cecile's old stomping grounds. We managed to add another 300 miles today...no wonder we're all draggin!

The Connoisseur's of Fine Wine

Gary stops to smell the flowers...

It was time to taste the wine! We drove inland, where the temps were higher and the sun was shining! We visited the Henley Winery, Christine Woods, Husch, Brutocao and Standish..just to name a few. What a wonderful day to just drink wine and enjoy friends!! Cecile and I bought a string of mini grape lights for our kitchens (Guy thinks they're tacky..but we still love'em) and Gary stopped along the way to smell the "roses" We dined at the Thompson's on steak, potatoes and squash...and of course....more wine!!

Annual Firehouse Pancake Breakfast

9/3/06
We began the morning by participating in the Annual Firehouse Pancake Breakfast. We joined the locals and enjoyed Eggs, sausage, pancakes and wonderful Vermont Maple Syrup (world famous)

Mendocino, Calif. at last!

Finally we arrived in Mendocino! I was embarassed I couldn't find the Ford House (but afterall, I am noted for my horrible sense of direction!) and came upon it accidently. Gary and Cecile were just locking up for the night, so the timing was perfect! We checked into The Hill House and made arrangements for meeting for dinner. The Albion River Inn is a favorite of theirs, and reservations had been made, so we were all excited to begin our visit over a wonderful dinner ..... Guy anxiously awaited the Scotch Sample he had heard about so many times.

Albion River Inn

9/2/06

We left Mill Valley about 10'ish and headed to Mendocino. We were amazed at the windy roads up the coast highway...(and we thought Vermont & Maine had hilly roads!) It was a beautiful ride, and the scenery breathtaking. After stopping to watch the surfers at Coleman Beach, we stopped at Timber Cove Inn for lunch and Guy took a much needed break from the twisted turns of the road.

9/1/06

Early Friday morning, we took the bus to Boston and flew to Phila. and into San Francisco. "Ernesto" was blowing around the country, but we were fortunate enough not to have any flights disturbed and we actually landed in SF ahead of schedule. Rented a car at the airport and then spent a great deal of time trying to find the Holiday Inn in Mill Valley. By the time we checked into our room, it was time for a drink and dinner! Next door was an upscale, wonderful Italian Restaurant where we enjoyed wine and wonderful Italian food.