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?