Best of Friends---All Four of Us

Sandy, holding me, and his brother, Ren, were so kind to share their home with me while I was visiting San Francisco. I loved being in their Grandma Tora's house-----it was so cosy and happy.
Little Daisy, the dachshund, made me laugh with her antics!
Doesn't she look a little mischievous?

Everyone Has a Smile for Me!

I've learned a lot about people as I travel. Usually, usually if I smile at someone, that person smiles back, and it makes me feel good.
Here's Dave with an early morning smile for me as I'm off for another day of adventure.

On the Way to the Market

Michael Johnson is a photographer who resides (lives) in San Francisco and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. I really liked his black and white images of the City by the Bay. We met as I was heading to the Farmer's Market. There were many vendors set up along the sidewalk before we crossed over Bay Street to the Embarcadaro.

Entering San Francisco's Farmers' Market

I just loved this sign. It was painted on a huge building at the terminal of Ferry Plaza. This organization operates the market and promotes sustainability.

Welcoming Me to the Market

Heather gave me the lowdown on the Farmer's Market. There were 130 vendors selling only food! Of the fruit and veggies, 65% were organic and all are grown in California! The market goes all year long!

Almond Brittle with Dark Chocolate

Gary's family has owned a premium nut and fruit farm for many years. Mom bought some of the almond brittle and was in heaven. Make sure you stop by his booth if you make it to the market. (Remember, because I'm a dog, I can't eat chocolate.)

Shopping Indoors and Out

The Ferry Plaza Market has shops inside too! And they are open all the time. This is an Israeli family vacationing in American and loving every minute.

To Market, To Market to Buy A.....

Ali and her son, Ben, take the bus to the market every Saturday while dad stays home and watches the new baby.
Go to Ali's website to learn about her sustainable art---- http://www.studioforurbanprojects.org

Oh My Gosh, How Sweet!!

Well, I know why these apricots are called "Candy Cots"! They are bliss! John, in the yellow shirt, developed this stone fruit for its taste, period, and he's very proud of his creation. It was the best apricot I ever ate!! His family is always there to help him out!

Freshly Picked Yesterday

This is a very special garlic from France and was it wonderful, almost sweet.
Make sure you go the Ferry Plaza on Saturday morning if you are ever in San Francisco! It's a great place to shop and "people watch"!

In the City by the Bay---San Francisco

This funny billboard was outside Loyal Army, a children's clothing shop, on Haight and Cole Streets near the west end of Golden Gate Park. I just had to stick my head through one of the holes. Dad did too. Do you see him? Do we look silly or what?

Surf and Skate Shops are Everywhere

The surf culture can be found in all kinds of places, even in big cities like San Francisco.
Elise was happy to have her picture taken with me at the Aqua Surf Shop in Haight-Ashbury. She works there!

A Couple of Local Guys

John and Dylan (on the right) dropped by the house in which I was staying in Cole Valley-----a really great neighborhood in San Francisco. They just wanted to say, "Hi".
See how they are dressed---it's July---it's usually cool here in the summer because of the "marine" (ocean) layer of air, fog, which tiptoes in and creeps over the city reminding everyone to always carry a jacket.

He's Famous. Do You Recognize Him?

Well, I really do believe I have met the Old Skin Horse. You remember the one------from THE VELVETEEN RABBIT. The wise old horse told the rabbit how you knew if you were loved, really loved. I recommend reading this classic!!

The Documentarian

Scott makes movies and is tech savvy so he was teaching me how to use a computer. I was getting it!
I met him at a neighborhood coffee shop called Tully's in Cole Valley. Now, since I'm a dog and coffee is for grownups, I always have a bowl of water instead and Mom has her soy hot chocolate and "no whip", of course!
We became good friends right away and had dinner together that night!

He Loves His Job!

Christian was collecting the recycleables in front of Tully's. See the big green can, it's just for compost------fruit and veggie leftovers------skins, cores, leaves, etc. San Francisco is a very progressive city and has been recyling for a long, long time.

Champions for a Great Cause

There was a hearing at City Hall in San Francisco about bicycling-------making a "safe bicycling network" throughout the city was the goal. It PASSED the Board of Supervisors. Kash, the ringleader on the left, Liam, and Patricia were lobbying outside, gathering support, and making sure everyone understood the importance of bike lanes all over town. Learn more: http:/sfbike.org

Really, Really Fancy

This is the entrance to City Hall in San Francisco--------is that really gold? See the "S" and the "F" intertwined above my head!
Come on in..............

Dum, Dum, Da, Dum, Dum, Dum, Da Dum

The bride, Shanshan, and groom, Su-Lin, were just about to be married at City Hall. Isn't she just the prettiest bride-------that's definately a Cinderella dress. They are students from China studying at Ohio State. Best Wishes to you both!!

Games Along the Streets of San Francisco

These men were having a fine time playing chess right out on the sidewalk in downtown. They hardly noticed me when we were having our picture taken. Wow----what focus!

My Little Paws Got Weary

I'm not used to walking so much and by the end of the sightseeing afternoon around the City by the Bay, I just had to ask for a lift. I'm on the back of a bicycle cart. It was a fun way to be transported along the waterfront/Embarcadaro.

Dinner on the Wharf

There are lots of little restaurants along the Embarcadaro-----we found the best--Pier 23. And they even had surfboards lining the backporch terrace. Charlene told us all about Pier 23----"It's one of the few places you can eat on the water." Dinner was very tasty and reasonable.

And On and On and On..........

I'm in Big Sur at noon. This is U.S. Highway 1 which runs along the West Coast of America. It's very windy and foggy at certain times of the day and year. You only want to drive it in the daylight!!

Meeting Friends for Breakfast

Jay, the dad, Rex, sitting next to him, and Casey had a late breakfast, called brunch, with me. (Casey is Mom's former student at Sunset Beach Elementary.) We were at Deetjen's, a very cool inn with restaurant that was built in the 1930's. Stop in sometime!

Getting Sleepy after Breakfast

Rex just had to take advantage of the organic chaise lounge outside of Deetjen's after we ate. Doesn't he look comfy?

Taking Care of California's Highways .........Keeping Us Safe

These officers had stopped at Deetjen's for breakfast too.
They are part of the 5th largest police force in the United States--California Highway Patrol.

Amid the Tall, Tall, Tall Trees

This was a museum mostly for grownups, but I I tried to make friends with the resident cat who really had other things on his mind than getting to know me! See the next photo.......

The Epitome of Aloof

Yes, I can honestly say this cat had other things on his mind than getting to know me!

Dropping by the Local Library

I love books, as you know, so I just stopped in to see what was happening over the summer at this small library in the woods!
It's opened on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only for about 6 hours each day.

Welcoming All the Readers

Eby is the Branch Manager and only librarian of the Big Sur Library. She loved me and my mission----to make everyone more literate and happy!

At the Seashore in Northern California

I had to hike through the woods to get to Pfeiffer Beach. It was beautiful and very cool-----everyone had on a jacket. There were kids flying kites because it was so windy. Did you notice the big wave in the background? Felt like I was home listening to the crashing surf!

Along the Coast, Way Up High

That's Big Sur behind me. The wind was very cool and fresh and the updraft made it easy to deeply breathe the misty ocean air.

Looking Straight Down

My heart was in my throat as I stared down the mountainside at the waves!
Yikes! Big Sur is BIG!

You Take the High Road and I'll Take.........

This expanse of the Big Sur coastline was breathtaking!! Sigh.

Having Fun on Top of a Big Sur Mountain

Mom and Dad loved the vitalilzing Pacific breezes. Notice the jackets. They were layering because the weather had a tendancy to change from hot to cold depending on cloud cover and altitude (how high it was.)

A Tall Glass of Lemonade, Please

My friend, Jay, built this little arrangement and the stone wall behind it.
I loved sitting way up high at the Driveway Cafe looking out at the ocean.

A Great Way to Keep Warm

Now remember, it's late June, and there's a fire cracklin'. This fireplace is back to back to another-----one faces the living room and the other the kitchen. Both were blazing! It gets pretty nippy when the fog is thick and there's so much dampness in the air.
It made me sleepy and ready for a nap! I loved this lazy afternoon in the mountains above Big Sur.

Doin' Art with My Friend, Casey

It was good to see Casey, Mom's former student, in California. Here we are doing some coloring at his uncle's place. It was his grandma, Linda, who took care of me while I was visiting there. How gracious she was to take the time to be my tourguide in Big Sur! I was very grateful.

On the Way to San Francisco

Still on Route 1 along the coast just miles south of the "City by the Bay" and look what I found----a surf shop.
I'm in Davenport and that's Nattali. He owns Home Grown Surfboards, has been shaping for 14 years, and sponsors up and coming surfers in his neighborhood. Most importantly, he's an environmentalist which means he takes good care of the planet!

Fresh Fruit and Veggies All Along the Way

It was just one fruit stand after another! Mom was in heaven.

North of Los Angeles

There were lots of places to ask questions, and you know me, the curious dog, I always ask.
Sylvia was so helpful-------gave us maps and directions and we were on our way. If you are planning a trip to the Golden State, go to: http://www.visitcalifornia.com

All Along the Coast

I am in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a town called Arroyo Grande. It was getting pretty nippy as the sun was setting on those glowing, golden hills behind me! I always have to remember to bring my little doggie sweater with me when I'm in California on the coast or near it and nighttime is coming.

Gettin' Around the Golden State

Many people on the West Coast take vacations and bring their accommodations (beds) with them.
This is an Alaskan Camper designed by a woman----it sets down into the back of a Toyota truck. Best of all, it has an electric pump that lifts up the top and opens up the cots when it's time for bed.
Maybe one summer I'll take another road trip and "camp" like this!

He's Sweeter than He Looks

I met Juan Peron, the chihuahua, at Ragged Point on Route 1 heading to Big Sur. It was foggy and cool and Juan was running around like crazy. He's a good jumper! This little fellow was rescued by his owner, Paul, who adoped him at a flea market in Santa Cruz. He'd been left behind at a migrant workers camp in Salinas in the Central Valley and brought to school by some children and he ended up in Paul's arms. Lucky amigo!!
This was an incredibly beautiful spot and if you ever want to stay there, go to: http://raggedpointinn.com

Getting Ready for a Big Job ....................And I Mean Big!!

This was a bale of cable wire netting ready to be laid on a mountain at Rain Rocks in Big Sur.

My Head was Spinning

The mountains along the Pacific Ocean at Big Sur are always raining rocks. The men climbing up this wall at Pitkin's Curve on Route 1 are lacing the cable netting together to make one big blanket. It will slow the boulders and rocks down as they tumble to the seashore. The process is called "Rockfall Abatement." It means stopping rocks. Yikes, my knees got wobbly as I watched them scramble up the mountain's face.

Makin' our Way to Malibu

I just had to stop here-----Will Rogers Beach. There were sooooooo many volleyball courts in the sand. (Click on my tail and look hard behind me.) Sam, on the left, and Brandon filled me in on the happenings. They were teaching surfing at Perfect Day Surf Camp.
Sam is just getting ready to go off to college with a big scholarship to Pepperdine. Bravo, Sam!!
By the way, why don't you "google" Will Rogers------he's a wonderful American writer and very, very funny!!

Bring Along Some Cash and Spend the Day

Unlike Hawaii, some of the beaches in California charge for parking.
Be aware. Be prepared.

Recycling is a Good Thing to Do

I stopped by an excellent thrift shop in Malibu and talked to Martha, the manager. Read the carved sign behind her (click on it) to see how the shop spends the $10,000 to $12,000 it earns from sales each month. Mom and Dad bought lots of books there! I guess they'll either give them away or mail them back to Hawaii.

The Artist's Studio as a Guestroom

Lynn and her husband, Peter, were so kind to put me up in their apartment in Mailbu. I loved it! I had a view of the beach and Lynn's art was all over the place. And what do you think of that bowl of paints in the foreground?
To see her abstract realist surf art and more, contact her at: lynngrayson@live.com