I thought for sure when I did the first post from San Francisco I would do one a day. Well...As my title suggests, perhaps I should rename this blog "The Occasional Blogger" or "The Lazy Blogger." I mentioned in the previous post that we went to San Francisco on Thursday of last week. There are several bridges to cross to get there. This particular bridge is the Oakland Bridge that was damaged in the earthquake of 1989. The crane in the water beside it is massive. I don't know when the completion is scheduled, but the traffic moves along quite nicely.
My wonderful hosts took me to the top of Twin Peaks to see San Francisco from above. There was quite a UN there, must have been a tour bus of French tourists. I loved listening to the French, wanting to say "Bonjour" or "Comment ca va?" We even talked to a fellow who had been in Tampa for a while working, so we gave up a thumbs up for the Rays. You do know who the Rays are, don't you? They have clinched a spot in the playoffs...go Rays!
Then on we went through a lovely park until we came to this lovely Dutch windmill. There was a lovely garden there. A gardener was pruning and trimming the hollyhocks. He said in another week those would come out and a new planting would go in.
Then on to lunch we went at the Cliff House. In my previous post I put a link to the Cliff House that tells the history of it. We sat right by the window, overlook Seal Rock and the Pacific. In the distance we could see container ships in a row waiting to come in to port.
The last destination of the day was the Golden Gate Bridge. I guess no one could go to San Francisco without seeing it. We took a ride under the bridge where Fort Point is located. Dave's father was with the army in San Francisco and was responsible for the fort being part of the park system, preserved for future generations to be able to visit.
As you can see from the poster and the photo, it is a quite imposing structure. The cannons and cannonballs are there as they were years ago. I believe Dave said that they were never fired. It reminded me of the fort at St.Augustine, not in looks, but its purpose. I have photos of David as a little boy sitting on the cannons at St. Augustine, but these all had signs requesting that no one sit on them.
As we came out, this sign was pointed out to me. Runners like to come and touch their hands here so that their fingerprints are there and they can prove they've been there
And, of course, the dogs run too, so there is a place for their paw prints.
It was neat to see this all with someone who had such a personal interest in this city, and in particular, the fort. I even came home with a piece of the bridge. Dave said when work was done on the bridge and rivets were replaced, they would drop the old ones into the fort. His dad picked them up and stored them. I was given one of them as a reminder of my trip there. So, I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco. I brought a little piece of it home with me.
Thanks, Sue and Dave, for a most memorable day.
