Sunday, April 19, 2009

San Francisco and Napa Valley

Alright, I have managed to return safely.  

I drove out and got into my hotel.  The first place I went was up to Fisherman's Wharf, I walked from the BART station since the line was really long for the cable car (I don't know why they are called cable cars since they are trolleys).  Turns out the hills where a bit more steep then I first though.  But I made it all the way the Wharf and wandered about.  Got to go on a bay cruise and go under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz.  Plus I got to see the Sea Lions.  From there I wondered over to Lombard Street, which is apparently the crookedest street in the world.  It was too steep to drive down, so they added a bunch of turns in it. After that I went over to Chinatown to see it.  Then it was back to the wharf to stroll about pier 39 and get dinner
.  I had to get some seafood since I was right there on the wharf.  (Oh and since the cruise passed under the bridge I was on the pacific ocean.  Twas cool).  After dinner I went down and got on a cable car.  I stopped by a speak easy.  You had to ring the bell and give the password.  Then you go back behind the bookshelf to the bar.  Finally it was time to go and get sleep.

The next morning I got up and found out that I couldn't get tickets on the ferry to Alcatraz.  I had wanted to go, but I guess that I will have to go back to see it.  So instead I ended up renting a bike and biking across the Golden Gate Bridge.  I biked from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito.  It was a bit more then 8 miles.  I got a bunch of pictures, check the photo blog.  I had lunch at a nice little Italian cafe in Sausalito and then hopped the ferry back to San Francisco.  A bit more biking and then I hopped in the car and drove the bridge on the way to Napa Valley.


I drove out and passed through Sonoma Valley first.  It was cool to cruise along and see all the wineries.  Then I rolled into Napa and stopped at the visitor's center and got some info.  It was a bit late and so I didn't stay to long.  The first winery I visited was the Robert Mondavi winery.  (by the way one of the attraction types in my GPS is winery).  Apparently this was like the first winery in Napa valley.  I tasted a few wines there, then headed off to the V Sattui winery.  I must say that I really enjoyed it. It had a little deli area and a picnic lawn.  I tasted some more wine here.  I would recommend it should you find yourself in the area.  Stella, this means that when we go we will be stopping here.  After that it was time to head back "home".


One thought though, why is it that when you are driving at night and you come across a construction area they flash all sorts of lights at you in an effort to destroy your night vision and blind you as you drive through the area?

Friday, April 17, 2009

Quick Notes

A few things before bed

- The cruise was cool

- The hills are a bit steepier then I though

- It gets a bit chilly at night

- The speak easy was cool

Monday, April 13, 2009

A Belated Easter

Ok then, I haven't posted in a bit on here, so I think that now is the time to.  When last I posted I had returned from Philmont.  I have set out on another grand adventures and can now claim Neveda as a state that I have been to.  So hooray!  

Now if you have been watching the photo blog you have probably seen a number of pictures go up.  I went to Lake Tahoe on Saturday and then on Sunday for Easter I went to Yosemite.  Cause I could sit around a hotel or go see something.  Now it ended up meaning my Easter dinner was via a drive through at McDonalds on my way back, but I don't really mind, cause I got to see Yosemite.  And now I want to go back.  

Otherwise its been kinda dull out out here.  I did go to Reno on Friday, but it is basically just another big city.  I'm sure that I could find some stuff to do there should I wonder around a bit, but I didn't really feel it.  So I stopped by the REI and the Barnes and Noble.  Wandered through a mall but it was just dull.  My other adventures have been much cooler.  

This upcoming weekend I will be going to San Francisco.  I plan to stop off at Napa Valley on the way back, so I will have to see about picking up some wine there.  I'm sure that there will be pictures that go up from that adventure too. By now I'm sure that you all know where to find them.  As for now, I think it is time to relax a bit.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

And I'm home

So last time that I got to Philmont was in 2001, I was still a scout and I did a back country trek.  It was grand.  This past weekend I went again, this time as a scouter for an OA conclave.  It was a bit chilly.  I woke up this morning and it was 20 degrees out, and yes there was snow on the ground.  Consider for a moment your thoughts of spring.  Now consider your thought of New Mexico.  I was in New Mexico in the spring and it was snowing.  

So then... twas a good time altogether, look for some photos and a new synth  (One and Two).  Should be pretty cool.  I got a shirt for Stella and a new shell.  Plus I got some patches.  Some are cool, others are going on my Hawaiian scout shirt.  Once I get it all put together I will see about getting some pictures.  

And tomorrow I will be heading out again.  So many trips to Elbonia, so little time.  Plus I will need to look into some beading again and will have need to learn how to make some head dresses for the chapter, or atleast learn how to make them.  

And for now, I shall be watching Austrailia.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

WoooHOOO!

Alright then, tomorrow I go up to Philmont for the weekend.  It shall be a good time.  I will be taking my camera with me, I am just about done packing.  It looks like it will be cold, I might even get snowed on.  You can all look foward to pictures at some point or another.  

Also on monday I go up to Nevada for about 3 weeks.  Unfortunatly I will not be near Vegas, but other adventures may ensue.  Look for pictures of that as well.  Luckily I think I am ready.  I will be taking Firefly with me, plus I've been getting my CDs into digital form so I can load up my Zune.  I've also installed my Civ IV stuff onto the laptop, and now I'm removing old programs and I'll defrag before I go.  

Other then that, I don't know what else to put up here.  So I will end this post......now!