Cue: alarm clock going off during vacation (confusing, I know). Who in their right mind would plan to wake up at the crack of dawn on the day after Turkey coma? The DeGrush ladies, of course. Welcome to BLACK FRIDAY, California style!
Ok, so it wasn't so crazy busy as back home, but it was still a very profitable early morning venture. We were a bit punchy after a few hours of the consumer grind, as you can see....
Then Bill drove us across the Golden Gate North to see the beautiful redwood forests... This drive was foggy, mysterious and even perilous at times, making life all the more interesting :) People live in unbelievably valuable properties so high up in the hills they are stuck in the clouds, buried deep in mossy ancient trees and audis.
This whole experience felt a bit like Rivendell for those of you nerdy enough to appreciate. Except it was full of Californians and not Elves.
Phew. We made it in the ancient volvo up all the crazy twists and turns and parking catastrophes to the Muir Woods National Park.
Funny, they let Laura in despite her Lone Star state residence. Probably because she is so adorable.
Really really tall, old redwoods!
They let Trevor in for free because they thought he might just be the lumberjack they have been looking for.
California banana slug! How horribly gross! These lined the trail threatening to make you slip at your next faulty step.
Then we stopped to check out the Pacific. Its kind of like the Atlantic, except more laid back.
The next day we set out to find Jerry Garcia, who is most assuredly still alive and living on Haight Street. No Luck. We did see a Janis Joplin memorial, right next to a Amy Winehous memorial. Does it seem strange that Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and probably countless other terribly famous people died at 27?! Never been so excited for my next birthday...in case you were wondering, Mamma Cass was 32. All "facts" thanks to wikipedia.
Haight and Ashbury was buzzing with coffee shops, head shops, vintage shops, oh yeah... and hippies! We also had significant hippie sightings at Golden Gate Park's self proclaimed "hippie hill" where Bill promptly tore off his shirt and shoes and began a game of loosely organized frisbee with the family to the beat of tribal drums and tambourines in the background.
Later that afternoon, we explored a place Trev and I had seen years ago when we visited San Fran per the recommendation of an old friend- The Sutro Bath Ruins are along the coast, and are really just a bunch of old stone structures left to crumble in interesting patterns on the beach. At one point in the 1920's I believe it was the site of a very elite bath-house. Air temperature was probably above 50 degrees, which meant it was perfect swimming weather for Dad.
We played on the beach until it was time to eat burgers at BURGERMEISTER! The evening ended with drinks and games at a local bar where I realized that beer does not make you better at basketball, or any other game for that matter. All in all, a great mini vacation in a great city with my great family.
Later that afternoon, we explored a place Trev and I had seen years ago when we visited San Fran per the recommendation of an old friend- The Sutro Bath Ruins are along the coast, and are really just a bunch of old stone structures left to crumble in interesting patterns on the beach. At one point in the 1920's I believe it was the site of a very elite bath-house. Air temperature was probably above 50 degrees, which meant it was perfect swimming weather for Dad.
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| love from San Fran |
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