back to California (the last part)...

So, on this trip, we were running on both Eastern Time and Pacific Time. While that gives you a lot of hours in a day, it'll make you fairly tired by day seven. Pure giddiness kept us going strong.

We drove north out of Carmel on Highway 1, with the Pacific Ocean just to our left the entire way. This part of Highway 1 is much different than the part south of Carmel. There's much more farm country and fewer sweeping vistas of the ocean.

On a whim, we stopped at this strawberry farm about an hour south of San Francisco. It was a super-cute place with an honor system in place when buying your jam or berries. What a jam jamboree! (quote from a kids' book)
They had these beautiful sunflowers right along the road at the berry farm.
Out of nowhere, we turned a corner to see this lighthouse on a point.
We arrived in the city at lunchtime and followed our noses to the clam chowder. We ate lunch at the Sea Lion Cafe, at which these sea lions park themselves and entertain you with their fighting and shouting and whining (we felt at home). You don't eat outside here...icky aroma.
Standing on Pier 39, with a view of Alcatraz.
Our hotel...The Mark Hopkins Intercontinental on Nob Hill.
The hotel was across the street from Grace Cathedral. When we went in, there was a guy in his young-twenties playing the organ (and he did a mighty fine job of it).
Chinatown...
The view from the side street of the hotel.
We were in the city on the night of our actual anniversary. We gussied up (see picture) for dinner at a nice restaurant down the hill from our hotel. We got a ride there, but truly experienced the city when we walked back up the hill after dinner. No small feat in 3" heels, by the way. (Lauren picked out my dress, by the way. I should take her clothes shopping more often!)It's impossible to get a picture of yourself on a trolley car. I tried to get a picture of Jeff and found myself running down a hill to jump back on the trolley (fun stuff). I grabbed this picture while waiting to cross the street.
The Wharf. We found the food here yummy as can be. We found the trinkity-touristy aspect of it somewhat annoying. We preferred to just wander the other parts of the city.
We wandered (and stole a bus ride) to the Palace of the Fine Arts.
On the way back towards the Wharf for lunch, we went looking for that bus again, but happened upon this park when the bus eluded us. Our feet were feeling the hurt, but the view was worth it.
Fort Mason. Many of the WWII soldiers departed and returned from this Fort. The soldiers in the Bataan Death March were among them.
The "Painted Ladies" are what these homes in Alamo Square are called.
It's ridiculous how out of our way we went just so I could take a picture of this windmill in the Golden Gate Recreation Area. It's tough being Dutch.
Our last dinner in California was at the Cliff House right on the rocks of the Pacific. This was the view from our table. (sigh)
And there it is. Quite a wonderful trip. Thank you for letting us share it with you!