Sunday, January 15, 2017

West Coast Wanderings

Where were we? Oh yeah-everywhere. 

Or maybe it just felt that way? I know I travel a lot, but have I mentioned here I'm not a great traveler? Hubs is a great traveler and sometimes a great traveler traveling with a mediocre traveler is a test of how much you are loved.

A lot apparently.

Oh and guess what I'm doing again before a new month rolls in? Mostly I love to travel, except when I don't. When flights are delayed, then cancelled, when it rains buckets in a state where 'it never rains in California', when our luggage doesn't make the connection we ourselves had to run for...

As an aside, I've informed hubs I do not run in airports. It's a travel policy of mine, one of them anyway. Hubs says I have a whole handbook of travel policies, but tops on the list is I am not running in an airport. I will walk briskly and skip the restroom stop if I must, but I'm not running.

So where were we really? Mostly San Francisco, but we started our travels in Washington State because another rule I have is if we're going to be anywhere on the west coast we're either coming or going via Washington State. Daughter1 and her hubs did not get to come home for Christmas this year, and while I'd seen them back in October on my side trek from Arizona (hey I was already out west remember), hubs hadn't seen them since the end of July, and that's just way too long not to see your girl.


I will try not to blabber on about how beautiful the Seattle-Tacoma area is, how much I love Mt. Rainier, how tall the trees are and how expansive the Puget Sound, but y'all seriously this part of the country is stunning.


And very very far from the Eastern half of the U. S. of A.


We had a lovely few days walking in the woods, helping Daughter1 with some garage shelving and organizing, and eating lots of clam chowder in picturesque venues. We also took the newlyweds out to celebrate their second wedding anniversary which occurred the day before we arrived. Two years. Be still my heart.


Daughter1 dropped us at the airport on Sunday to catch our flight to San Francisco, but between the monsoon like rains in California and the snowy weather across the rest of the country we were delayed. Then delayed some more, and then some more, and then finally cancelled.

Hubs and I had a nice dinner in the hotel restaurant because what else are you going to do when your flight gets cancelled, and then finally made our flight to California the next afternoon. Not without more delays, but we did get there and I guess that's what counts. Actually I know that's what counts-ha!

We entered the hotel lobby and were immediately swept up in a literal sea of navy blue suits. The conference had taken over every hotel, Starbucks, suite, nook, and cranny in Union Square. It was a fantastic spot for people watching that's for sure!

Tuesday the weather was bordering on monsoon so I went with Plan B. I'm not a wimp about walking in the rain, but this was beyond rain. Umbrellas were inside out and the wind was whipping. Insanity! I walked a little more than half a mile in it and spent the rest of the day inside the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Question for you...who decides what is art? I was so missing my Daughters who can always be counted on to educate me as to why this is art-


It looks suspiciously like the light in our garage.

There was a whole lot I loved, particularly the William Kentridge Refusal of Time exhibit for anyone reading here who enjoys art and museums and is fascinated by the passing of time like me, and it was the perfect way to spend a rainy day in a new city.


Wednesday the sun peeked out, or rather the rain stayed mostly away so I hiked over to Chinatown while hubs worked, then later we Ubered out to the suburbs to catch up with some of our oldest and bestest friends.


It poured again on Thursday and it was cold too, so I read a book and napped while the guys worked and then on Friday the sun shone and it was glorious and we rambled around Napa all the day long.




Hmm...it appears this should have been three two posts, but in short (ha!) here's my take away from our ten days on the go-

The Evergreen State ranks right up there as one of the prettiest.


Washington is too far from South Carolina.


Old friends pick up right where they left off no matter the time or distance between them, and actually it does rain in California which means I need to go back to San Fran to see all the many things I missed, and also I wish I had an orange tree in my backyard.


Finally, when you get home at almost 2 am without your luggage, but then you wake up in your own bed and sip morning coffee on your dock in near 70 degree temps in the middle of January you will feel a little bit like Dorothy...


...there's no place like home.

12 comments:

  1. Loved your post. San Francisco is my favorite US city to visit but my heart is in the Pacific Northwest. Just left there after two years and can't wait to go back!

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  2. Whew! That was quite a week! So glad your trip included getting to spend some time with Daughter1!! Sorry it rained on your 'parade' but happy to know you spent some time in the art museum there in San Francisco. Wishing you a restful week!

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  3. You all look so happy at the anniversary dinner! We have committed to seeing the girls at least once a quarter - I hope it works!

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  4. Oh, I love San Francisco and so sorry that the weather was not "fit" while you were there. And, of course, you are so right, Tacoma and Seattle are just gorgeous.So glad you got some special time with your daughter and know you will be glad when they can one day live closer. Happy rest of the week!

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  5. Thanks for bringing us along on your wonderful travels. I agree with you -- Washington State is amazingly beautiful.

    As for the art, looks to me like a fluorescent bulb in process of falling to the floor where itty bitty pieces of glass will be sure to spread all over the floor. But then, what do I know?!!

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  6. Wow, you HAVE been on the go! I'm tired just reading about your travels :) So glad you made if home safely, even if your did arrive without your luggage...and I agree with Dorothy, there's no place like home :)
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  7. Had so much fun with yall out here! I can't wait for you to come back :)

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  8. It sounds like you've had a wonderful adventure. :) I am glad that you got to see your girl and her love.
    Have a blessed day!

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  9. The Pacific Northwest is on our wish list for a travel destination. Your descriptions and pictures make it even more enticing. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. And you are right, there is no place like home, but oh the fun of rediscovering that fact after a great trip.

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  10. Sounds a great trip and must have been lovely to share some quality time with your daughter and son-in-law.

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  11. Glad you got to visit with your daughter. I can no longer run through an airport if I wanted to. So sorry about the CA rain, it is a record year! Glad you got to visit Napa and enjoyed your time with your friends. Enjoyed all the photos.

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  12. Well I missed this post because I was in California, too, and not in my home state of Washington while you visited. I got to enjoy California rain, too. Glad you could visit your daughter here in Washington.

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