After a drive into San Francisco and a quick breakfast, we took a Blue & Gold “Escape from the Rock” Cruise that took us out and under the Golden Gate Bridge, then back to circle Alcatraz, then under the Bay Bridge, & along the waterfront. I still can’t believe the luck we’ve had with the weather. This is the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate, & while we were cruising, a Navy ship sailed under the bridge escorted by a tugboat spraying water in celebration. Quite a magnificent sight. The Art Deco orange-colored bridge is 1.2 miles long and can withstand winds of more than 100 mph and a sway as great as 27.7 feet. It was fun to see the bridge with the Marin Headlands behind it, which is where we usually go to see the bridge.
The stories told on the ship about Alcatraz were very interesting—the Indians who took over the island in the late 60s, Al Capone & Machine Gun Kelly incarcerated here. During the 29 years there was a federal prison here, there were no successful escapes, but 4 convicts did disappear and have never been found.
The Bay Bridge is an 8 ½ mile span, partly cantilevered & partly suspension, but work is being done now to make it all suspension. Seeing Coit Tower & the Transamerica Pyramid from the Bay was nice. At Pier 39, the sea lions still make their home, but not nearly as many as before.
We’ve run into some interesting characters this trip. What would San Francisco be without its weird & wonderful street people. The other day there was the lady who would approach people and stand right in front of them having a serious conversation with somebody inside her own head. When she started arguing with “someone” over how stupid it was for them to order coffee instead of hot tea, I just moved a little faster. You know, these days you have to be sure to check for bluetooths, but in this case, her ears were clear, if not her head.
Today there was a man with a sign that asked for donations for him to buy weed. But the topper was the guy walking around with his cup held out singing, “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Give a buck so I can get drunk, drunk as a skunk today.” You gotta appreciate the honesty.
After our cruise, we walked along Fisherman’s Wharf down to look at the ships on Hyde St. Pier at the Maritime Museum. Such an interesting collection here--scow schooners, the Balclutha (square-rigger), tugboats. We stopped in at the Boudin Bakery to see the Turtle-shaped Sourdough Bread being made.Then a walk back to Alioto’s where we had lunch—Ray chose a Prawn something, and I had the grilled salmon. We shared a dessert sampler with a cannoli, raspberry sherbet, strawberries, & crème brulee. The view here can’t be beat—the Golden Gate Bridge framed so beautiful in the large windows while you enjoy your delicious food. Never had a bad meal here.
Saw signs that the Exploratorium is being moved to Pier 15, to open in 2013. Don’t know what that will be like without its distinctive domed roof.
Pictures from top: sunset last night; seals at Pier 39; 2 photos of Boudin Bakery; coming back into Pacifica.
