Farewell San Francisco

 3 July 2024

Our last drive over the Golden Gate bridge as we headed for the airport. We had an amazing holiday with Kevin & Michelle and Daisy dog , they've been fantastic hosts and lots of fun.

We managed to squeeze in a bit of help with polishing my brother's rowing shell at the Sausalito Open Water Rowing Club - check out that shine.....it's bound to go faster now 😁

A last cheeky lunch at the local Pho spot.

It was also a sad time as my dear old dad passed away in his sleep in New Zealand and whilst we were not able to get back in time for the funeral (NZ 3 July/SF 2 July),  it was lovely to join via technology and be together with our San Francisco family.

With 3 July being one of the biggest traffic days of the year on the road and in the sky,  as families travel in advance of  Independence Day, we got to the airport early. We hit no snags so had  lots of time for people watching until our flight mid evening.

14 hours later and just like that we're on the other side of the world. Sunny Brisbane!

Not bad for a winters day, beach walk in 22°C - lovely jubly!

Pt Bonita Lighthouse

 

Point Bonita was the last staffed lighthouse on the California coast.

Up until 1940 the lighthouse could be reached by a trail, but erosion caused the trail to crumble into the sea. A wooden walkway was installed, but when that became treacherous a suspension bridge was built in 1954. This is the only lighthouse in the United States which can only be reached by a suspension bridge.

Before you can take the suspension bridge you need to walk down to a tunnel - this is boys own adventure stuff! 

There were stunning views in every direction and of course we had a hot, sunny day....they say it never rains in California 😄

E Voila! The suspension bridge - very cool!

The lighthouse was often the first sight hardy sailors and new settlers saw as they approached San Francisco. It now has a fabulous little museum and great old photographs that tell the story of the lives of the early lighthouse keepers.

The marine life looked abundant. Seals sunning themselves on rocks way down on the shore, the biggest flocks of pelicans we've ever seen, shags busy working as a team herding fish for their dinner, fishing charters boats - wonderful. Highly recommend this short walk and glimpse into early life of the Bay Area. They have park rangers there too if you want information - great location but the rangers looked so hot in their uniforms I really felt for them.

The Bay Area

We've had some wonderful times exploring the Bay Area, it has so much going for it - a great outdoors playground. The parkland alongside the coast and in the high country is so beautiful and offers so many adventures - hiking, sailing, rowing, climbing, horseriding, trekking, bird watching, kayaking, mountain biking....I could go on but I'll stop there!

We've loved mooching about in Sausalito. 

Many times we'd park the car in the free parking and wander along the waterfront - icecreams were a factor on hot days😁

The view to the city changed on every visit taking into account the fog factor.

Across the bridge we took the Lands End track and had spectacular views, we had Miss Daisy dog with us, she knew the track and all the good sniffing spots.

Across from the park was the Legion of Honor museum and a very moving holocaust memorial.

The museum itself is an architectural stunner!  More Rodan sculptures than you could shake a stick at, incredible.

Photo of the day was Daisy on the track in the evening light👍