As I mentioned before, we went to Point Lobos on Monday morning. What I failed to mention was that as soon as we arrived at Point Lobos, I became sick. Not horribly ill, but sick enough that it put a damper on the day. I decided, because I’m stubborn and stupid, to stick it out for the day and in the long run, I was very glad I did. After the beautiful hike around Point Lobos and our quest to find otters, we spent the afternoon at the aquarium where we did see otters and there were many bathrooms nearby (very important when one is ill).

It was the final weeks of the jelly fish exhibit. Let me first say that I find aquatic life to be the nastiest, scariest looking creatures on the planet. Sharks, fish, and everything else living in the deep are horror personified and makes my skin crawl. Jelly fish are not an exception to this fact. That said, the jelly fish exhibit was amazing. In fact, I could say it was utterly beautiful. I have some pictures, but the lighting isn’t the greatest in the aquarium and I didn’t want to use my flash on the poor, scary things that I used whatever tricks I had to get shots.

We stayed in Monterey for dinner and drove back to our room that night. All I remember about Tuesday is that we went to Haight Ashbury to see the Hippies in their natural habitat. We were lucky to get out alive.

Wednesday it was a trip to Muir Woods because the Husband wanted to see red wood trees. Or something. I don’t know. He talks and all I hear is blah, blah, blah. (Kidding the Husband! Love you!) It was a really nice hike and of course I took pictures. Later, the drive up the scary mountain road with the Husband who has vertigo issues but refused to let me drive was…interesting. He’s lucky I let him live. The beach we ended up at was nice if not cold and wet.

Then on our last day in San Francisco we saw a flier for the Winchester Mystery House. You all know that house and if you dont’, you should. Back in the day (the late 1800s), Sarah Winchester, widow of William Winchester, went to a psychic. You see her only daughter had died and years later her husband died. In her depression and lonliness she went to a spiritualist who told her the spirits who died from the Winchester Rifle had cursed the Winchester family. To live a long life, Sarah must build every day and so Sarah headed west and built every day until she died. She was scary rich and her house is insane. There are doors that open to nothing but a long drop, windows that open up to walls, stairs that go nowhere, and the number 13 figures in heavily into everything. I highly recommend that you visit the house and take a tour when you are out there.

And that’s it! That’s our trip to San Francisco. Except for getting sick, it was a very good trip and we were very happy to see Shana, Byron, and the kitties. I have to admit, San Francisco is not my kind of town. While I like the food and variety, the energy is off and the weather is too cold.

I took a lot of photos on Day 4 (Sunday) of our trip, so I’m breaking it up into two posts. Your welcome. I also pretty much stopped taking pictures until the last day of the trip, so we’re getting there. I know all of you have been following the pictures fanatically and will be terribly sad to see the end.

Or not.

Anyway, on Sunday, the Husband and I trekked out on our own to Monterey. We decided to spend the morning at Point Lobos and walk through the Cypress Trees. It was amazing and I don’t think I can even begin to capture the beauty on camera. Not without a few lenses (are you listening Husband?). Anyway, while walking through the trees, we ran into a deer or something similar (I am not a biologist so what do I know). We actually ran into the deer twice. The first time he (or she, again what do I know) was feeding just off the trail. Later, he crossed the trail in front of us and wouldn’t leave. The Husband had to shoo the little guy away. I refused because I’ve seen TV. I know cute little fluffy animals often attack and kill innocent humans. They are vicious.

I guess Point Lobos is an otter hang out and if you know what to look for, you can find them. We actually found a few. Unfortunately, they are all far away so we had no idea if we were right. Instead, I took a lot of pictures of what could have been an otter with the zoom lens. I love that little lens.

There was another alcove where we wandered amongst the tourists to look at “poo island” where birds and sea lions made their home. We spoke with some Dutch travellers who were looking for Whales. Sadly, we didn’t see any whales, but I did waste time getting pictures of more birds because your really cannot have enough pictures of birds.

Click the image to see the photos.

On Sunday we decided to go to Angel Island for the day. The Husband and Byron biked out to the ferry while Shana and I met them by car. With only two bikes and a wife with a bad ankle, that was how the bikers were picked so don’t judge us drivers!

Angel Island was spectacular except for lunch. There were birds and bird excrement everywhere so even though the food was good, the bird poo just didn’t cut it. The Husband and I took over the bikes and biked the island while the others hiked. The views are spectacular and next time you are in San Francisco I recommend spending some time there.

Click on the image to view the photos of the day.

I’m slowly catching up on past photos. Maybe if I get caught up I’ll go back to the Hawai’i ones. When did we go? 2007? 2006? The mind is the first thing to go.

Anyway, I have the day 2 photos from San Francisco. I think we spent the morning with Shana and Byron at the Farmers’ Market, which was amazing. Even with all the hippies (kidding). Then we wandered the city (again). I stupidly wanted to check out Union Square and paid for that mistake by surrounding myself with too many people.

After that dibacle and some rest, Shana took us to a beach where I got to pull out the camera. Have I mentioned I’m a crazy person when it comes to a camera?

Anyway, click the photo to see more.

The college is closed starting Dec 24 to the first Monday in January. Hopefully I won’t be too lazy on the couch watching movies and knitting and I will finish San Fran shots and get into Halloween. As I said, slowly catching up.