I left my heart.......

in San Francisco!

Our time has come to leave the beautiful city by the bay and the city just north of there, Sausalito.  But we have had a fabulous summer making new friends and visiting with "seasoned" friends.

Jim and the Le Chat Beaute-ers.  Jim came several times with friends to visit and watch the Americas Cup races.  Always with tons of foods and drink and flowers!

The races brought all the gorgeous yachts out to show off .  Below is the Potomac, origianally Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidential Yacht.

Tasty, tasty food all over town!  Do you know what these are?

Dinner at Salito's with Jim, Bonnie and Bill.

Day at the Races!!  The winning AC 72, Oracle Team USA!

Pretty private scoot-around!  This water craft came off a mega-yacht!

Another classic yacht design.  Many of these older boats are chartered - probably to help pay for the restoration and upkeep!

First thing on our agenda now that the races are finally over is to get the Red Hottie Harley to Palm Springs where we will keep it for now.  Had to drive through King's Canyon National Park where the giant sequoias grow. 

Just a perspective as to the size of these big girls!  It was freezing up there.  Luckily Paddy had his leathers on and I don't own any.......yet.  They had snow flurries earlier that day.  Brrrr.

The road coming down from the forest was filled with hairpin turns and spectacular views.

Coming down to the desert offered a change in scenery and weather. 

With warmer (hot) weather comes the change to rocks, dry, and crusty vegetation.

Other then the need to enjoy the warmth of Palm Springs and leave the motorcycle, we were able to visit Larry, and his brother Rudy.  They all went to high school together.  

 

Snacks and champagne on the patio.

Rudy treated us to a trip up the Palm Springs tram.  In the winter they have snow up there and you can horse-shoe and cross country ski.

View down the tram with Coachella Valley in the background.

Lunch at the top!

 Larry joined us for a motorcycle day trip up to Idylwild which is a 1-1/2 hour trip into the mountains from Palm Springs.   

The air is cool and the terrain reminds me of Europe.  This past June there was a big fire in the area, so here is some damage. 

Larry enjoying the ride!

Lunch at Lulu's...................gotta eat!

Here's Marilyn - 29 feet tall!

Celebrating Doug's birthday with his wife Linda at the Black Angus in Vallejo, CA.

Last hurrah with Wayne and Elly.  They left the next day to return to French Cay Harbor on Roatan (Honduras).  They extended their trip by a week since the first week was ALL Americas Cup.

We left the bay Friday evening and sailed for 2 1/2 days.  Now in Brookings, OR waiting for the weather window to continue our trip to Portland, to store the boat for the winter.

America's Cup

We sailed away one day from Sausalito to Treasure Island which is in the center of San Francisco Bay.  Our view was of the new Bay Bridge that opened the day after Labor Day.  This bridge has been under consideration and construction since the earthquake in 1989.  The old bridge in the foreground is now being torn down and removed.  What a big job!  

 Another view of the new bridge while driving over it.

This summer we have enjoyed being able to take friends out on Le Chat Beaute to watch the races.  Our friends Wayne and Elly who we met in Feb. 2012 in Roatan came to visit for a week.  Here's Elly, Connie, and Linda all bundled up.  It was a chilly day.......brrrrrrr!

 Here's Doug, Connie, and Linda.  Doug and Linda live on the Napa River and have been nice enough to let us dock our boat there.

One day we went to the America's Cup Park on Pier 23 to view the pre-race events.  Here are the competitors: Team USA Oracle and Fly Emirates New Zealand. 

America's Cup Park.  There are numerous huge beanbags spread out on the artificial turf where you can relax and watch the race on the BIG screen.  Also you can buy all the souvenirs you ever wanted, including a pair of Louis Vuitton flip flops for $535.00............can you imagine? 

The Le Chat Beaute'-ers! 

This is just one of the many decadent yachts that are docked at the pier.  This ship/boat/yacht had not only a helicopter, but 3 tenders, 4 wave runners, kayaks, and paddle boards.  

 Team New Zealand is boarding their tender and then were motored to their AC72.

If you ever want to feel short and squatty, have your picture taken with 2 Fly Emirates Flight attendants!

The park serves all kinds of food and adult beverages - Wayne and Elly are enjoying Mumm Napa champagne.  Actually we were all enjoying the champagne!

 These two beauties are soaring by us!  Max speed is @ 40-45 kts.  Now that's FAST!

 Yesterday we went with friends Debbie and Jeff, on s/v Sailor's Run, to watch the race on land.  We walked from Sausalito over the Golden Gate Bridge.........about  2 hour (6 miles) walk.  Where's a bench???

View of the bridge from the San Francisco side.

Today is Tuesday, and even though the races were scheduled to be over last Saturday, Mother Nature comes into play to create delays, like too much wind or not enough, or from the wrong direction!  You know, you just can't have everything!  Oracle needs 4 more wins to take the coveted CUP, and New Zealand needs only one.  The winning team is then entitled to take the next race in 3 years to their home country.  Today could be the last day, but we have been saying that for a week!   If NZ wins, we have 3 years to get there!  Start saving your money and come join us!

Beautiful City by the Bay

(These photos are looking a little fuzzy - may need a new camera!)

A Bed & Breakfast on an island!

 Pre-wedding photo with the bride June and Caroline in Vallejo

 Dennis and June from S/V Shamaness

 The spent a few days in the "Delta" of the Sacramento River.  There are levies protecting the farm lands.

 Looks like Crystal River until you turn around and see Mt. Diablo!

 Yes, we did make it under this bridge.

 

Palace of Fine Arts

My favorite store!

China Town market.......they have some interesting looks foods!

This German couple rented this little tour car - with GPS and tour info in the helmets!!!

One-lane tunnel............verrrrry narrow!

Japanese Tea Garden at the Golden Gate Park

Which way???????????????

 Interesting story about the 2 rocks in the back of this Zen garden.  In the 1950's the park sent one of their garden designers to Japan to find 2 similar rocks for this garden.  He did, they were 50 miles from each other, and had them shipped to the park.  With their placement, it creates the look of a waterfall between them.  We sat here for several minutes (before another group of tourist came through) to enjoy the serenity.

An old dead tree to prop the growth of another.