My 1996 Trip to the San Franciso Bay
In 1996, around the time of late December or early January, Moms and a friend and I made a trip out to California for a visit to my home town and family. While there, we visited the San Francisco Bay for a day, since my parents live only a couple hours east in the Sierra foothills. We walked about the piers, and took a ferry ride out onto the bay, for a look at the Golden Gate Bridge, and the shores of Alcatraz Island. Although we encountered HORRENDOUS traffic trying to get across the Bay Bridge on the way home that evening, we had an excellent time, highlighted by meeting our closest family friends, the Andrews, at a restaurant on the pier. Below is the story......
Please note that I am missing many pertinate details. I have included email links for use by those who could give me those details. I would very much appreciate it...
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These seagulls followed the ferry we took out on the bay, flying behind the boat at the same speed so that they seemed to hover there. People would toss up morsels of food from chips and crackers to pieces of lunchmeat. The gulls missed NOTHING, lunging around like bats while we were under "full steam"! We got this great picture from directly underneath one of them, while the boat was cruising at a speed of about 25 miles per hour. |
| This is a mural under construction on the Pier 39 Parking garage. It is lighted at night, and features a mother whale and her kid. What kind of whales are depicted here? What is the proper terminology to use? Email me if you know. |  |
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Here's a view of the dock from which we left on the ferry, as we depart for our 45 minute cruise of the San Francisco Bay. The American Flag flies off the aft port side as we leave the harbor, heading out for the open bay, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge. In the background is an almost picture perfect 'Frisco skyline. |
This is a view of one of the many busy piers jutting out into the harbor, and it contains the restaurant we would later meet the Andrews at. I forget the name of the place now - if you know, email me! |
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Alcatraz Island
Once a famous prison, now a
famous movie site. Once a refuge for rebels, now place of
tourism. You can even get locked in a cell momentarily, if you
want to. Me, I'm happy with seeing it from the water...
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This is a shot as we approach the island. In the background is what landmark? If you know, email me. |
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Here we are, now close enough to make out the details. Just the thought of its purpose, of what the experience of having had to live here must have like, makes me shudder... |
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Now we are right up on the Island. In the background is what bridge? Which side of the Island is this? If you know, email me. |
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Here is the other side of the Island, with the famous stack in the foreground. What side of the Island is this? Email me if you know. |
The Golden Gate Bridge
After viewing Alcatraz Island, the boat took us out to the mouth of the San Francisco Bay, and view of the Golden Gate Bridge not so easily accessible to many - from the Bay! The pictures don't do it justice - it was, and is, an awesome marvel of engineering, and a graceful sight.
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Compared to the mighty Golden Gate Bridge, look at the 20' sailboat in the lefthand foreground. Looks like a toy, doesn't it? Which side of the Bridge am I looking at? If you know, email me. |
| I remember that my grandpa worked on this bridge so many years ago when it was being built, and here is a piece of it in the afternoon sunshine, still shining a nice quiet tone of red in its perpetually renewed coat of paint. |  |
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I love sillouette pictures, and this one came out pretty good I thought - the chance seagull makes it perfect!. This one makes an EXCELLENT desktop background in large-format - email me if you want one. |
After a day of walking and cruising, and getting up early to get down here, we were glad for a rest, a beer or something, and a reunion with Bob and Carol Andrews. It was a great trip, and one of a kind. Little did we know the traffic nightmare ahead of us - 2 hours to go 1/3 of a mile, and then the little Dodge Omni we were in started to fail us - at one point leaving us against the right shoulder with the hazards on! We made it home fine, but what a day!!!!!!!
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We met at a restaurant near the famous Fisherman's Wharf. |
| From left to right there is myself, Terry, Bob, then Carol...... |  |
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Now we're getting a little relaxed!
Very cozy atmosphere.. From left to right there is Bob, Terry Myself, and Moms, otherwise known as Barbara!!!! |
