trip to west coast

SIL got wife and I to go with a tour group to San Francisce. Had a direct flight from Charlotte, NC to SF. On the way outthere were some thick clouds over th eastern mountains, rest of flight had clear weather and could see good in the dry clear air. I have driven over much of the area so had a general idea of where we were. Western Kansas and Eastern CO were big on the center pivot irrigation systems. Lots of big green crop circles on the flat land. There is a lot of dry land in this country. There was still snow on some of the mountains. I guess we went over some of the imperial valley as we approached SF and it looks like the cities have taken much of the water needed for farming there.

Went to the Napa valley ant toured a winery. They said the land that is in vineyards is valued at $300,000 per acre. They are using drip irrigation, water comes from a lake in the hills to the East of the valley. They buy oak barrels from France to age the wine in and pay $1000 each, using them once and sometimes twice.
There is enough wine for 288 bottles in each barrel. CA produces 5% of the world's wine.

Some cattle ranching in the area. Not impressed with the pastures. It's all dry and looks like what we call cheat grass. There is a lot of stacking square bales in the open.

San Francisco was cold due to the cold ocean current along the coast. About 4PM the fog would roll in and the temperature would drop.

Toured Alcratraz island. 5 x 9 cells. Not a good place to spend time when it was a prison. It's close to the Golden Gate bridge, and the tidal currents can reach 9 knots. I don't believe anyone escaped from there. It's a mile or two swim to shore, in cold water. One guy made it to the base of the bridge and was picked up by army troops who were at a post there at the time. He nearly died from hypothermia and did die in prison. Today Alcratraz is the number one tourist attraction in the area and you have to book a trip there 2 months in
advance.

Cable car story: The cable cars run on tracks with the cable that pulls them in a slot between the rails. This woman had stopped on the tracks in her car. A cable car came up behind her and rang the bell for her to move. She rolled down her window, stuck her arm out, and motioned the cable car around. Operator rang the bell again, woman stuck her arm out and motioned him around again. Finally the operator had to get out and explain that he had to stay on the tracks and she would have to move.

Saw a big thunderstorm from the air at night as we were returning. Those things are impressive from the air.

KEH

Was a movie on the other night called Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood. He and 2 others managed to escape. Don't know if it was from a real story or not but at the end they said it was closed right after the escape.

KEH,

Did you notice another island right near Alcatraz that is the center point for the Bay Bridge (not the Golden Gate bridge)? That island is named Yuerba Buena Island. There's a man-made peninsula sticking off the island that was built for a World's Fair back in the 1930's or so. The peninsula was called "Treasure Island" back in the 1960's but I have no idea what it is called now.

I was stationed at the US Navy base on Treasure Island for a year back in 1962/1963. It was always interesting to watch the lights come on at Alcatraz in the early morning hours when I was out on "watch" walking around the island.

It's always cool in the Bay area and much of the time it's downright cold.

Tom in TN

I watched that too. At the end they said that no one knows for sure if they survived or not.

Tom,

We went over the bay bridge and I noticed the islands you mentioned but nobody specifically called our attention to it. It was mentioned that SF did a lot of filling in the bay for construction purposes.

Alcatraz Island has a teriffic view of SF.

San Quentin prison we saw from a distance is a big prison.

They did have one escape attempt from inside. Prisoners got some guards guns and keys, killed a guard, didn't get keys to work. Marines were called in and they shot rifle grenades at the prisoners, you can still see the impact of the grenades on the floor. 2 guards and 3 prisoners died.

KEH

Spent some time in SF in a former life when building retail stores. Good town. I happened to be there the weekend the Blue Angels did their show - WOW! Didn"t go to the show as it was Saturday and I was working, but was up on the roof of a 4 story building off Post Street when they did their city fly overs - I swear it was a fly through. You could hear them coming and a couple times I believe I saw their helmet goggles they were so close. Very impressive.

I live less than a mile from the SF Bay. Can't beat the climate. Don't own, don't need an air conditioner.

I grew up in East Oakland, (101st Ave)
I'm now in Oakdale, east of Modesto.. The only thing I miss from the East Bay is the climate.
It's changed so much in the last 40 years.
Where do you live?

Chuck

Chuck,

Live in Western SC, about 2 hours from Charlotte, NC. Weather here is usually good. We have changing seasons. Summers hot, winters mild, usually. Been hot, dry weather this summer.

KEH

I lived over 26 years on the penninsula around 50 miles southeast of The City. When I went there in 1960 I thought I had really "made it", it seemed as good as it could get....the place was just wonderful! But as time went by things changed...and not for the better. I won't rant, I'll just say I'm glad I don't live there now. It's sad...it's such a gorgeous place....except for the urban areas....and there's just too much urban area.