Sunday, April 7, 2013

Day tripping in San Francisco

        Had to make one pilgrimage to San Francisco for some of the great garlic noodles I had five years ago. Dropped the dogs off at my sister-in-laws house and headed for an afternoon in the "city".


      We took a northern route around the bay rather than the straight approach to the city on Hwy 80. Got off in Vacaville and while driving on Hwy 37 our first bridge seems to be very steep but as I explained to Donna, it is to allow ships to pass under without the process of a drawbridge or swing-bridge.



The wetlands area is an easy view from the top of the Sears Point Dr causeway bridge. 



     We stopped on the other side of the Sears Point bridge on CA 37 and Donna wants to know how a ship can travel through all the bridge pilings if the steep incline was indeed meant to allow large vessels to pass under it without trouble.
     I tell her that "I got nothing?" and let it go at that.


                  Next was a stopped at the famous "Sears Point Raceway" that I have seen on TV for years.




        We were able to catch a few rounds of some antique open wheeled race cars at the "Sonoma Raceway"? That's right, I said the Sonoma Raceway! They changed the name. (is nothing sacred?)



        Of course as we get near the Golden Gate bridge the fog started to flow over the hills of Sausalito from the ocean.




Such a stellar monument to the "Greatest Generation" that now has rid itself of toll takers as of three days ago. (more layoffs) The bridge went all electronic and if you have a pass it is $5, but if not (as we didn't) they just photograph your license and send you a $6 ticket...can't wait!


This is the first time Donna and I have actually walked on part of the bridge. While the Golden Gate bridge spans over 8,000 feet we may of traversed about 1/10 the span.


Hard to go to San Francisco without a photo of Alcatraz Island, a place I'd rather visit than a place I am from.


San Francisco must be Shangri-la to an architect because of the diversity of building designs. 


The west coast answer to New York brownstones.


Downtown business's on Polk Street.


The business district of 1st Street.


The financial district of San Francisco.


Not sure the doorman/cabbie caller was too pleased when Donna snap his picture in front of the historic ( Westin) St. Francis Hotel on Powell right across the street from Sears Fine Food Restaurant...a great place for breakfast with their  famous Swedish pancakes.


Ok...it's after 5:00 and the real reason for the trip emerges...garlic noodles. Five years ago we stayed at the Hotel Carlton and were hungry at 9:00 PM. They desk suggested the garlic noodle at Crustacean's.


While Donna's order of excellent Vietnamese rice paper rolled veggies and hot sake suited her...I myself finally got my garlic noodles and house red! Donna is now hoping I will stop obsessing about it for a while. ☺


I have never stopped here at Treasure Island before because in the past it was a military establishment.


The city bought the Island from the U.S. navy in 2011 and have started building low income housing for the San Francisco city workers.


The people who live on the Island have a great view of San Francisco.


A view of the Golden Gate from Treasure Island near sunset.


An unusual find on Treasure Island was this 40 foot statue of a naked lady called "Bliss Dance". A sculpture by Marco Cockrane that was featured at the Nevada Burning Man festival of 2010 and moved to the Island the next year.


The Bay Bridge Bridge leading into San Francisco from Treasure Island.


An unusual view of the Bay Bridge from Treasure Island, of course stopping where we really should not of stopped...but that's no fun.
Now to drive back to Sacramento and pick up our little doggies who, we have been told, whined at the door since we left...such babies!

(Thanks to Donna for taking most of the photos because is was so crowded in San Francisco and parking was nonexistent it required "shots on the go.)



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