She's a pretty city, but a little stinky

Our friends Terri and Steve picked us up in Sausalito to show their place up in Santa Rosa and introduce us to the local wine. We left Jeorgia on a mooring in front of he Sausalito Yacht Club. We drove up to the Sonoma area and checked out some very cool small wineries. The pictures are few as the photographer was busy enjoying glasses of wine. Of course, it sure helped when Terri flashed her I'm in the wine biz business card. Steve graciously volunteered to be the designated driver and chef extraordinaire for dinner.

Headed off to checkout the grapes.

They're a couple of weeks from harvest.

Our hosts while in wine country, Samson and Paris

What good dogs!

Organic farming, Sonoma Valley style, at Red Barn Farms - think expensive but delicious lettuce.

We headed over to South Beach Marina under the Bay Bridge to get some serious city time in. The navigation notes for the Bay Bridge give the clearance going under the bridge with the proviso that it might be 10 feet less during heavy traffic and warm temperatures. We fit under this time with 100 feet to spare.

The night view from our slip in South Beach Marina

  The marina is right next to AT&T park where the Giants play. There was series going on with he Dodgers while we were their. Lots of folks waking around with their new bright orange t shirts: Duck the Fodgers. The marina is right near the Muni lines T & N, so two bucks gets you anywhere you need. And the Caltrans terminal is also just a few blocks away. $2.50 to get to the South San Francisco West Marine...to pick up boat parts.

If you are headed this way and want to stay in the city for a few days of being a tourist, the South Beach Marina is much nicer than Pier 39 on the Embarcadero. Pier 39 transient slips are basically untenable. The swells, surge and wakes make it one of the roughest anchorages you've ever been in. Not to mention the sea lions, who have the run of the place.

J-Boat parking at Pier 39

Original transient dock at Pier 39

We headed up to China Town with our friends Steve and Maria. I insisted that we ride the trolley car. Why else go to San Francisco?

That's the ticket taker on the right -- he thinks he's a conductor.

Chris and Maria shopping for weird things in China Town

Down from the restaurant we settled on, courtesy of Woo Hoo.

A gecko who escaped from the financial district hanging out at the rain forest in the Science Museum in the Golden Gate park.

Another SF character

We went out to a delicious tapas place, Lolo, with our friends Bill and Gary. Bill's sailing buddy David came along with his partner Patrick. We had some great dinner conversation and enjoyed the Mission District's local color. It must have been dark - no pictures... or it was the wine at dinner and cocktails afterward.

Looking for chocolate before we left SF

Rolex Big Boat Series was running on our way out of the bay

We couldn't see a lot of the bridge on the way out

A last view of SF

Off to Half Moon Bay and then Monterey.

Paul