2011 - H & A WORLD CRUISE - SAN FRANCISCO

A STOP OFF IN SAN FRANCISCO TO START

OR MORE EXACTLY, PACIFICA. JUST A BIT SOUTH OF SAN FRANCISCO

BUT THAT IS GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF A BIT.

IT STARTED WTH A MAJOR SNOW STORM IN OTTAWA.
FRIENDS HAD KINDLY OFFERED A LIFT TO THE AIRPORT BUT I SUSPECT THEY WISHED THEY HAD STAYED IN BED.

THIS IS THE VIEW FROM MY OWN BED AND LIKE I SAY - IT WAS COLD

THE SCHEDULE WAS FOR ME TO GO FROM OTTAWA TO CHICAGO TO SAN FRANCISCO AND A TAXI TO THE HOTEL IN PACIFICA.

I KNEW FULL WELL THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF DELAYS & POSSIBLE RE-ROUTING, WHICH THERE WERE. THE TAXI RIDE WAS THE SCARIEST BIT.

GONNA NEED SOME READING MATTER

CHICAGO...

SAN FRANCISCO ....

AMAZINGLY I GOT TO THE HOTEL WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE SCHEDULED TIME.

THE HOTEL IS RIGHT ON THE BEACH AND BUILT TO LOOK LIKE A LIGHT-HOUSE. MAY EVEN BE A LIGHT-HOUSE FOR ALL I KNOW.
I COULD HEAR THE OCEAN GRINDING THE PEBBLES ON THE BEACH INCHES AWAY FROM MY HEAD.
OR SO IT SEEMED,

THE VIEW AT BREAKFAST IN THE HOTEL ....

THIS IS FEBRUARY AND THE WEATHER COULD BE BRISK IN CALIFORNIA, SO I DRESS UP WARM AND HEAD NORTH ....

AND TURN TO HEAD SOUTH - I BORROW A DOG FOR A PHOTO......

FROM THIS LADY WHO PAINTS PORTRAITS OF DOGS FOR A LIVING .....

THIS IS A COMFORT .... OR NOT!

NO TSUNAMI IN SIGHT SO I AM HEADING UP THE HILL ANYWAY

ANOTHER DOG TO BORROW ...

THAT'S HER GOING DOWN THE PATH ....

LOTS OF FRIENDLY PEOPLE AROUND ROCKAWAY BEACH .. HERE IS HEATHER, STUDYING TO BE A MAP MAKER

PACIFICA IS A GREAT LITTLE PLACE FOR A STOPOVER BUT YOU REALLY NEED A CAR TO GET ANYWHERE AWAY FROM THE BEACH.

NEW ZEALAND UP NEXT ...

AUCKLAND