BRIDGE
I like to meet new people and have new experiences. Marie and I used to play a lot of bridge - as couples - and Marie played a lot of bridge for 25 years, with the St. Basil’s Bridge Club in Vallejo. I also played, occasionally, during our lunch hours at C& H Sugar in San Francisco. I learned to play bridge during the Korean War. I was stationed at Mather Field, piloting T-29 aircraft. Sacramento is known for it’s tule fogs in the winter. While waiting for it to burn off, and lift, we played bridge. On some days, when it was really “socked in”, I think that we got in as much bridge- time as flying -time. But, this doesn’t suggest that I’m an expert at the game. One can repeat mistakes, rather than learn from experience.
I missed playing bridge, but no one here was interested in the game. I was glad that MJ introduced me to bocce. I not only made new acquaintances, but I learned a new skill. I met fellow bocce ballers - Mary Anne and Virginia. They asked me if I played bridge, and I replied “sorta”. They told me to show up at their next session. I have enjoyed meeting my neighbors in the community, as well as to get some mental stimulation. (I think that I am more conscious of it because of Marie’s dementia.). What interests me, are the “aging losses” that we all read about, and some of us are experiencing.
I hadn’t played bridge for 15 years, yet, what card skills I had, slowly came back - like riding a bicycle after a long absence. I have noticed changes: A problem can be communication of the content of your hand with your partner because of hearing losses (with, or without hearing aids). We also forget what’s trump - whose lead? - am I in my hand, or on the board?; whose deal? We cut cards after finishing one of the rounds, to see who partners with whom, after the “losers” move to the next table (the “lows” play with “lows” at the next table, and the “highs” with the “highs”, with the incoming “high” dealing.) So, when the two “lows” move to the next table, the conversation is “who’s high and who’s low?” Often, we have forgotten. But, we all cope with these esoteric protocols, and they are not a problem. We are all in the same sinking boat. After all - “ It’s only a game”.
RCL - 9/29/09.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
MUSEUM
NAPA VALLEY MUSEUM
Today is Wednesday, September 16, 2009. We are off on our weekly sojourn to the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville. We leave at 9:45, with five residents, and Tony and Kelli, on board our mini bus.
They are still working on the North Texas inter-change construction. While I have read about the project, I am still having trouble picturing the final result. Whatever it will look like, it will be a very nice improvement. The re-surfacing of I-80 is certainly a big improvement. The smooth ride is very nice. It is a warm sunny day, with a robin-egg blue sky above. Visibility is good.
Gas at Arco is $3.08, with oil futures about $71/bbl. We pass the Meals on Wheels delivery van. While we used to be a customer of MOW, I’d never seen the vehicle that delivered the frozen meals from the kichen in Suisun to Valleo. Traffic is light in our westbound direction, but the Eastbound lanes are clogged. I notice the Long’s (Drugs) sign is still on their warehouse in Suisun. CVS ( who bought Longs recently) has replaced the signage on all of their local drug stores.
Traffic is backed up in all four directions at the busy merge of Highways 12 and 29. This is the scene, day in- day out, at most all hours. We approach the “Y”, where Soscal, to downtown Napa, heads to the right, and we continue on #29 to go to Sonoma or up valley. There is a familiar landmark on the hill to the right - a sculpture of a man operating a grape press. My eyes are always drawn to this memorial, near the George F. Butler Memorial Bridge, crossing the Napa River. An acquaintance committed suicide at this spot, many years ago.
We are passing the Meadows of Napa Valley, a very nice retirement community. The complex has been enlarged, since it first opened, almost 25 years ago. It is very nice! We passed Marie Callendar’s. I was surprised that it was open, as the one in Fairfield closed recently. Apparently the restaurants are franchises. The scenery is quite picturesque - vineyards in the foreground, and rolling hills in the background.
We arrive at the museum at 10:35. It is located on the grounds of the huge California Veterans’ Home in Yountville. I hadn’t heard of the Museum before, probably because it was housed in St. Helena - until about eight years ago, when it was moved to Yountville. I asked a museum staff member"Why the move?" She gave me a few reasons:
- Their museum building in St. Helena needed to be earthquake proofed, which would have been very expensive; they wanted to be closer to Napa, which would give them a larger drawing pool; the Veterans Home was willing to sign a favorable long-term lease for a building on their property, and the Museum received donatios to assist them in refurbishing the new- leased building.
The Napa Valley is very picturesque, with an almost Mediterranean climate. The grapes like this weather. The Valley lies between the Mayacamas Range and the Vaca range. Yountville was founded by George Yount. He was the first non-Mexican to receive a Mexican Land Grant. In order to receive such a grant, you had to be a Catholic, and be a Mexican citizen. Yount received 11,814 acres, part of which is the present day Yountville, including the Veterans’ Home. Yount is credited with starting the first vineyard in the Napa Valley. General Vallejo hired him to make the shingles for his home in Sonoma. George Yount died in 1865. The population of Yountville today is around 3,000 people.
The Veterans’ Home of California, in Yountville, was founded in 1884, and is the largest veterans’ home in the U.S. About 1100 aged or disabled veterans - both men and women of all wars - live here.
While the Napa Valley Museum is small - on two levels - it is very well done. It contains many items from the early pioneer days of Yountvtlle, and a superior collection of local rocks, ores and minerals. Also, exhibited are:
An Edison cylinder player; an upright telephone, with a separate receiver (we had one of theses phones when I was growing up in Michigan). A kerosene lamp. (I can remember that we had a number of these, and we lit the wicks quite often during power outages.); A large table-radio; a U.S.Mail stage coach, built by the Copperhead Coach Company in 1869; a sign (circa 1930) “Napa 13,155 - elev. 17`; an early picture of the old Uptown theatre. (The last I heard, the theatre was purchased by a couple of Hollywood producers, who also own wineries. They planned on renovating the theatre which was built in 1936. But, I think that the renovating work has stalled, and their plans are on hold.) - a Civil War “General Grant” wheel chair. There also was a picture of the President sitting in one just like it. The chair has metal wheels, and the steel rims were wrapped to deaden the noise.
The Museum has a unique program staffed by volunteers. They have eleven trunks to transport different “theme” exhibits from the museum to the schools for exhibition and commentary.
The very well done exhibit of gems and minerals was very interesting to me. They are exhibited in the main level section as well as the basement- section. We leave the museum at 12:20.
It only took Tony only five minutes, to drive to the Napa Valley Grill in Yountville, We had a very nice lunch. \There was a good selection of entree’s, and the quality was good. It was moderately priced. I would rate it a 4* The Chef de Cuisine is Jason Buckley. The restaurant is located at the north end of the Vintage 1870 shopping complex. We leave the restaurant at 2:00.
We re-trace our route back to Fairfield. Visibility is good. From the high bridge on Highway 29, I can see Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County - a distance of about 30 miles. We pass just east of the Napa Airport, as Tony turns onto Highway 12. We are running next to a freight train heading in the opposite direction while riding through Jameson Canyon. There are still large inventories of “Clunkers” on the Fairfield auto dealers’ lots, bordering
I-80.
We are back at Quail Creek at 2:45, after covering about 60 miles. It was a very nice day.
RCL - 9/22/09.
Today is Wednesday, September 16, 2009. We are off on our weekly sojourn to the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville. We leave at 9:45, with five residents, and Tony and Kelli, on board our mini bus.
They are still working on the North Texas inter-change construction. While I have read about the project, I am still having trouble picturing the final result. Whatever it will look like, it will be a very nice improvement. The re-surfacing of I-80 is certainly a big improvement. The smooth ride is very nice. It is a warm sunny day, with a robin-egg blue sky above. Visibility is good.
Gas at Arco is $3.08, with oil futures about $71/bbl. We pass the Meals on Wheels delivery van. While we used to be a customer of MOW, I’d never seen the vehicle that delivered the frozen meals from the kichen in Suisun to Valleo. Traffic is light in our westbound direction, but the Eastbound lanes are clogged. I notice the Long’s (Drugs) sign is still on their warehouse in Suisun. CVS ( who bought Longs recently) has replaced the signage on all of their local drug stores.
Traffic is backed up in all four directions at the busy merge of Highways 12 and 29. This is the scene, day in- day out, at most all hours. We approach the “Y”, where Soscal, to downtown Napa, heads to the right, and we continue on #29 to go to Sonoma or up valley. There is a familiar landmark on the hill to the right - a sculpture of a man operating a grape press. My eyes are always drawn to this memorial, near the George F. Butler Memorial Bridge, crossing the Napa River. An acquaintance committed suicide at this spot, many years ago.
We are passing the Meadows of Napa Valley, a very nice retirement community. The complex has been enlarged, since it first opened, almost 25 years ago. It is very nice! We passed Marie Callendar’s. I was surprised that it was open, as the one in Fairfield closed recently. Apparently the restaurants are franchises. The scenery is quite picturesque - vineyards in the foreground, and rolling hills in the background.
We arrive at the museum at 10:35. It is located on the grounds of the huge California Veterans’ Home in Yountville. I hadn’t heard of the Museum before, probably because it was housed in St. Helena - until about eight years ago, when it was moved to Yountville. I asked a museum staff member"Why the move?" She gave me a few reasons:
- Their museum building in St. Helena needed to be earthquake proofed, which would have been very expensive; they wanted to be closer to Napa, which would give them a larger drawing pool; the Veterans Home was willing to sign a favorable long-term lease for a building on their property, and the Museum received donatios to assist them in refurbishing the new- leased building.
The Napa Valley is very picturesque, with an almost Mediterranean climate. The grapes like this weather. The Valley lies between the Mayacamas Range and the Vaca range. Yountville was founded by George Yount. He was the first non-Mexican to receive a Mexican Land Grant. In order to receive such a grant, you had to be a Catholic, and be a Mexican citizen. Yount received 11,814 acres, part of which is the present day Yountville, including the Veterans’ Home. Yount is credited with starting the first vineyard in the Napa Valley. General Vallejo hired him to make the shingles for his home in Sonoma. George Yount died in 1865. The population of Yountville today is around 3,000 people.
The Veterans’ Home of California, in Yountville, was founded in 1884, and is the largest veterans’ home in the U.S. About 1100 aged or disabled veterans - both men and women of all wars - live here.
While the Napa Valley Museum is small - on two levels - it is very well done. It contains many items from the early pioneer days of Yountvtlle, and a superior collection of local rocks, ores and minerals. Also, exhibited are:
An Edison cylinder player; an upright telephone, with a separate receiver (we had one of theses phones when I was growing up in Michigan). A kerosene lamp. (I can remember that we had a number of these, and we lit the wicks quite often during power outages.); A large table-radio; a U.S.Mail stage coach, built by the Copperhead Coach Company in 1869; a sign (circa 1930) “Napa 13,155 - elev. 17`; an early picture of the old Uptown theatre. (The last I heard, the theatre was purchased by a couple of Hollywood producers, who also own wineries. They planned on renovating the theatre which was built in 1936. But, I think that the renovating work has stalled, and their plans are on hold.) - a Civil War “General Grant” wheel chair. There also was a picture of the President sitting in one just like it. The chair has metal wheels, and the steel rims were wrapped to deaden the noise.
The Museum has a unique program staffed by volunteers. They have eleven trunks to transport different “theme” exhibits from the museum to the schools for exhibition and commentary.
The very well done exhibit of gems and minerals was very interesting to me. They are exhibited in the main level section as well as the basement- section. We leave the museum at 12:20.
It only took Tony only five minutes, to drive to the Napa Valley Grill in Yountville, We had a very nice lunch. \There was a good selection of entree’s, and the quality was good. It was moderately priced. I would rate it a 4* The Chef de Cuisine is Jason Buckley. The restaurant is located at the north end of the Vintage 1870 shopping complex. We leave the restaurant at 2:00.
We re-trace our route back to Fairfield. Visibility is good. From the high bridge on Highway 29, I can see Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County - a distance of about 30 miles. We pass just east of the Napa Airport, as Tony turns onto Highway 12. We are running next to a freight train heading in the opposite direction while riding through Jameson Canyon. There are still large inventories of “Clunkers” on the Fairfield auto dealers’ lots, bordering
I-80.
We are back at Quail Creek at 2:45, after covering about 60 miles. It was a very nice day.
RCL - 9/22/09.
Monday, September 14, 2009
SONOMA
SONOMA
I had a very enjoyable day yesterday. Joan and Manny invited me to ride over to Sonoma with them. The weather was pleasant - not too hot. They wanted to check out the Katmandu Festival in Depot Park. The theme was based on the Nepalese culture. Nepal is in South Asia. It is the world’s youngest republic. China borders Nepal to the north, and India to the east, south and west. The population of Nepal is 30 million people. The capital is Kathmandu. Mt. Everest is located in Nepal. There were many booths exhibiting and selling their arts and crafts. It was very interesting to me, because I had not been exposed to their culture before. Manny had visited one of their festivals in Berkeley, and liked it. He wanted to introduce Joan and I to his experience.
I was interested in the spiritual part of the Festival. A benediction opened the gathering. I am not sure whether it was a priest from the Hindu faith, or Buddhism who officiated. (Hinduism is practiced by a majority of the people, although some are Buddhists.) I jotted down a few of his words:-
“When we have a problem or obstacle in our lives. we should stop, step back, take a deep breath, and move on. It will bring calmness and peace.” Also. He said, “We must have the energy and ability to forgive.”
The three of us walked around the park and observed all the different booths. There were a large variety of different crafts and foods displayed. Afterwards, we walked through the park and ended up at the Lasalette Restaurant. It specializes in Portuguese foods. I got to taste a few of them during our very nice lunch, and they were very tasty. We ate under an umbrella outside, and this appealing atmosphere made everything taste even better.
After lunch, we spent some time “people watching” while Joan and Manny enjoyed their latte’s. Then, Manny drove around Sonoma to see some of the interesting houses. We had an un-eventful ride back to Fairfield. The traffic was noticeably heavier this time of day, than it was when we came over this morning.
I always enjoy visiting Sonoma. It is not only a beautiful setting, but the city has a very inviting environment. Most of all it is triggers the recall of many happy memories that I have of our family “get-togethers” on holidays, and special times, at the Park in Sonoma.
RCL - 9/14/09.
I had a very enjoyable day yesterday. Joan and Manny invited me to ride over to Sonoma with them. The weather was pleasant - not too hot. They wanted to check out the Katmandu Festival in Depot Park. The theme was based on the Nepalese culture. Nepal is in South Asia. It is the world’s youngest republic. China borders Nepal to the north, and India to the east, south and west. The population of Nepal is 30 million people. The capital is Kathmandu. Mt. Everest is located in Nepal. There were many booths exhibiting and selling their arts and crafts. It was very interesting to me, because I had not been exposed to their culture before. Manny had visited one of their festivals in Berkeley, and liked it. He wanted to introduce Joan and I to his experience.
I was interested in the spiritual part of the Festival. A benediction opened the gathering. I am not sure whether it was a priest from the Hindu faith, or Buddhism who officiated. (Hinduism is practiced by a majority of the people, although some are Buddhists.) I jotted down a few of his words:-
“When we have a problem or obstacle in our lives. we should stop, step back, take a deep breath, and move on. It will bring calmness and peace.” Also. He said, “We must have the energy and ability to forgive.”
The three of us walked around the park and observed all the different booths. There were a large variety of different crafts and foods displayed. Afterwards, we walked through the park and ended up at the Lasalette Restaurant. It specializes in Portuguese foods. I got to taste a few of them during our very nice lunch, and they were very tasty. We ate under an umbrella outside, and this appealing atmosphere made everything taste even better.
After lunch, we spent some time “people watching” while Joan and Manny enjoyed their latte’s. Then, Manny drove around Sonoma to see some of the interesting houses. We had an un-eventful ride back to Fairfield. The traffic was noticeably heavier this time of day, than it was when we came over this morning.
I always enjoy visiting Sonoma. It is not only a beautiful setting, but the city has a very inviting environment. Most of all it is triggers the recall of many happy memories that I have of our family “get-togethers” on holidays, and special times, at the Park in Sonoma.
RCL - 9/14/09.
Friday, September 11, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
Today is Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (09/09/09!)
Our trip today is to San Francisco. We are headed for the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The big attraction is the “Treasures of King Tut” exhibit. “Tut” is short for his formal name - Tutankhamun. - the “living image of Amun”. The exhibit was here before. I thought it was about 20 years ago - it was 30 years ago! Where did the years go? How about 3300 years? Some of the items in the exhibit are over 3,000 years ago!
We have a packed bus - five residents, two CNA’s ; a family caretaker; and Kelli and Tony. We head out at 9:20. Kelli checks into her smart phone and finds that the temperature at this time in San Francisco is 56 degrees. The construction on the I-80 ramps is continuing. It is starting to show some progress. It won’t be finished until next year. In the meantime, the work is slowing down traffic plus, interfering with the construction crews. Shell is listing gas at “3.16. The futures price is about $71/bbl., up $3.00.The Chevron station has closed (project impacted.)
We pass a small area blackened by fire. Traffic is light - in both directions. The overlay on I-80W has been completed between Fairfield and Vallejo - a distance of about 15 miles. It really provides a much smoother ride - except - there are still many intermittent short sections of very bumpy concrete. This uneven pavement not only gives a teeth jarring- bumpy ride, but they are doing damage to front ends and tires - let alone jar people’s nervous systems
Trucks are queued up at the west bound scales. A little high fog as we start up the grade. Then, we hit heavier fog as we near Vallejo. Vallejo is socked in. We pass the California Maritime academy to the right, located on Carquinez Strait. It is prime property. The school is now part to the California State College System. We are driving on the relatively new (as bridges go) Westbound -Carquinez Bridge. They did a great job in building the bridge and connecting ramps. It is a beauty!
When going by this area, I always check out C&H sugar down below on the left side. I think back to the great years 1962 - 1969 that I worked in the Refinery. I can barely see Mt. Tam through the haze. It is probably 40 miles away. We pass Golden Gate Fields. It is quite a picturesque track. I don’t know if the Races are being held. It is at this junction - where traffic from Richmond is merging - that the freeway speed usually bogs down. This morning is no exception.
Kelli points out all the geese sitting on the screened soccer fields off to our right, They are quite a contrast against the green background. Why do they like to rest on golf courses and soccer fields when there are other nice areas?
We are in the back-up waiting to go through the toll booths. The fog hasn’t completely lifted yet. It seems strange to be riding on the bridge a day after it was opened. It was down for a few days over Labor Day to replace a large section next to Yuerba Buena Island. I can see the old section sitting to the side of the bridge. They were about ready to open it up early Tuesday morning when an inspector detected a crack in an upper I bar. To repair this added an extra day to the bridge closure. I am looking at the new East span of the bridge under construction, off to my right. We are riding a little higher than the new East span.
I never get tired of the beautiful view of the San Francisco scene from the bridge. This view, alone, justifies the trip into San Francisco! Of course, I always sort out the “One California Street” building - hidden among the skyscrapers surrounding it. When the building went up in the late 60’s, there was a height restriction in the building code. Apparently, that restriction was rescinded, because there are many taller buildings now. I spent 14 great years working in that building. There are no cruise ships in.
We are riding along one- way Fell street heading for Golden Gate Park. I always enjoy the Victorian era architecture on this street. The Chevron station has regular gas posted at $3.38. Tony veers off onto John F. Kennedy Drive into the Park. We pass the Hall of Flowers which was extensively refurbished a few years ago. The flowers and landscaping in front, are a sight to behold! We are passing the large Rose Garden. It is always interesting when I see all the cars parked in the posted “No Parking Anytime.” zone. We arrive at the de Young at 10{45. While waiting to go in the exhibit, A fellow walked by that was the perfect image of Steve Gibbens. While I just saw him from the back, he was Steve’s height and build, had on a hat like Steve wore, as well as a denim jacket. He even had the distinctive gait of Steve! Spooky!
I enjoyed the Exhibit very much. King Tut was nine years old when he became pharaoh. He ruled for only nine years. When he became king he married. They had no surviving offspring, but two female babies were found in small coffins in the king’s tomb - neither ha lived to term.
What is interesting to me is that the king died at the age of 19. There has been much speculation on the cause of his death. Tony and T were discussing it ,and we both came to the conclusion, that at his young age the King must have had some help. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. After a nice lunch in the museum’s cafeteria, we leave at 2:30.
The Park is certainly a beautiful treasure. How fortunate it is that the City of San Francisco had the foresight to see the need for a Park, and set the land aside late in the Nineteenth century. Golden gate Park is larger (at 1,000 acres) than Central park in New York!
We returned along Oak Street, which is one-way in-bound to downtown. The homes near the Park are well maintained and probably are worth a $million! But, further along the homes look like multiple rentals and are run -down. Most are badly in need of exterior painting (not a cheap item).Looking in the windows I don’t think the white (?) curtains have been washed in a good many years.
I see the Haight-Ashbury sign for the nearby area. The district is famous for it’s role as a center for the hippie movement of the 1960’s - especially, the “Summer of Love” in 1967.” Traffic is just crawling. Here it is in the muddle of the afternoon in the middle of the week. We come upon a sign, “Curve - 35 mph”. Tony volunteers that we are going 5mph! We are going so slow that the motorcyclists are passing , riding the line dividing the two lanes. They are really rolling the dice. A driver with a mean streak could really put the squeeze on them!
We finally have reached the lower level of the bridge. (2:55). While the traffic speed usually picks up at this point, it is still slow going. Before we hit Yuerba Buena Island, a huge container ship is passing under the bridge below us, heading for the Port of Oakland. The marking on the bow included the word “Egypt”. It is only fitting after we saw the King Tut exhibit.
The slow pace of traffic is probably impeded by the new configuration resulting from the sectional replacement over the weekend. Instead of the roadway being straight, through the tunnel, as it was before, there is now an S curve, and the speed limit has been reduced from 50 to 40 mph. The drivers aren’t used to this change. We leave the bridge and are on the flat at 3:55.
We are passing the high rise apartment buildings in Albany,( across from Golden gate Fields). I vividly remember when I was commuting from Vallejo to San Francisco, and riding by these units. They had a huge sign saying “If you lived here, you would now be home”. A ship is unloading raw sugar at the C&H Sugar Bulk Station. We reach the Carquinez Bridge toll booth at 3:30. We are passing the Springstown Postal Station in Vallejo. I read where this is one of the over 400 nation wide that the Post office recommends closing, trying to reduce their budget shortfall. There are a lot of trucks waiting in the Eastbound Truck scales in Cordelia.
The Chevron gas station on North Texas Street has closed - impacted by the surrounding road construction. The Shell station is advertising gas at $3.16. The spot price of crude oil is $71.31/ bbl. We pull in to Quail Creek at 4:00. Our trip probably totaled 100 miles.
While it was a long and tiring day, it was well worth it, to see such a great piece of history!
RCL - 09/09/09.
Today is Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (09/09/09!)
Our trip today is to San Francisco. We are headed for the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The big attraction is the “Treasures of King Tut” exhibit. “Tut” is short for his formal name - Tutankhamun. - the “living image of Amun”. The exhibit was here before. I thought it was about 20 years ago - it was 30 years ago! Where did the years go? How about 3300 years? Some of the items in the exhibit are over 3,000 years ago!
We have a packed bus - five residents, two CNA’s ; a family caretaker; and Kelli and Tony. We head out at 9:20. Kelli checks into her smart phone and finds that the temperature at this time in San Francisco is 56 degrees. The construction on the I-80 ramps is continuing. It is starting to show some progress. It won’t be finished until next year. In the meantime, the work is slowing down traffic plus, interfering with the construction crews. Shell is listing gas at “3.16. The futures price is about $71/bbl., up $3.00.The Chevron station has closed (project impacted.)
We pass a small area blackened by fire. Traffic is light - in both directions. The overlay on I-80W has been completed between Fairfield and Vallejo - a distance of about 15 miles. It really provides a much smoother ride - except - there are still many intermittent short sections of very bumpy concrete. This uneven pavement not only gives a teeth jarring- bumpy ride, but they are doing damage to front ends and tires - let alone jar people’s nervous systems
Trucks are queued up at the west bound scales. A little high fog as we start up the grade. Then, we hit heavier fog as we near Vallejo. Vallejo is socked in. We pass the California Maritime academy to the right, located on Carquinez Strait. It is prime property. The school is now part to the California State College System. We are driving on the relatively new (as bridges go) Westbound -Carquinez Bridge. They did a great job in building the bridge and connecting ramps. It is a beauty!
When going by this area, I always check out C&H sugar down below on the left side. I think back to the great years 1962 - 1969 that I worked in the Refinery. I can barely see Mt. Tam through the haze. It is probably 40 miles away. We pass Golden Gate Fields. It is quite a picturesque track. I don’t know if the Races are being held. It is at this junction - where traffic from Richmond is merging - that the freeway speed usually bogs down. This morning is no exception.
Kelli points out all the geese sitting on the screened soccer fields off to our right, They are quite a contrast against the green background. Why do they like to rest on golf courses and soccer fields when there are other nice areas?
We are in the back-up waiting to go through the toll booths. The fog hasn’t completely lifted yet. It seems strange to be riding on the bridge a day after it was opened. It was down for a few days over Labor Day to replace a large section next to Yuerba Buena Island. I can see the old section sitting to the side of the bridge. They were about ready to open it up early Tuesday morning when an inspector detected a crack in an upper I bar. To repair this added an extra day to the bridge closure. I am looking at the new East span of the bridge under construction, off to my right. We are riding a little higher than the new East span.
I never get tired of the beautiful view of the San Francisco scene from the bridge. This view, alone, justifies the trip into San Francisco! Of course, I always sort out the “One California Street” building - hidden among the skyscrapers surrounding it. When the building went up in the late 60’s, there was a height restriction in the building code. Apparently, that restriction was rescinded, because there are many taller buildings now. I spent 14 great years working in that building. There are no cruise ships in.
We are riding along one- way Fell street heading for Golden Gate Park. I always enjoy the Victorian era architecture on this street. The Chevron station has regular gas posted at $3.38. Tony veers off onto John F. Kennedy Drive into the Park. We pass the Hall of Flowers which was extensively refurbished a few years ago. The flowers and landscaping in front, are a sight to behold! We are passing the large Rose Garden. It is always interesting when I see all the cars parked in the posted “No Parking Anytime.” zone. We arrive at the de Young at 10{45. While waiting to go in the exhibit, A fellow walked by that was the perfect image of Steve Gibbens. While I just saw him from the back, he was Steve’s height and build, had on a hat like Steve wore, as well as a denim jacket. He even had the distinctive gait of Steve! Spooky!
I enjoyed the Exhibit very much. King Tut was nine years old when he became pharaoh. He ruled for only nine years. When he became king he married. They had no surviving offspring, but two female babies were found in small coffins in the king’s tomb - neither ha lived to term.
What is interesting to me is that the king died at the age of 19. There has been much speculation on the cause of his death. Tony and T were discussing it ,and we both came to the conclusion, that at his young age the King must have had some help. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. After a nice lunch in the museum’s cafeteria, we leave at 2:30.
The Park is certainly a beautiful treasure. How fortunate it is that the City of San Francisco had the foresight to see the need for a Park, and set the land aside late in the Nineteenth century. Golden gate Park is larger (at 1,000 acres) than Central park in New York!
We returned along Oak Street, which is one-way in-bound to downtown. The homes near the Park are well maintained and probably are worth a $million! But, further along the homes look like multiple rentals and are run -down. Most are badly in need of exterior painting (not a cheap item).Looking in the windows I don’t think the white (?) curtains have been washed in a good many years.
I see the Haight-Ashbury sign for the nearby area. The district is famous for it’s role as a center for the hippie movement of the 1960’s - especially, the “Summer of Love” in 1967.” Traffic is just crawling. Here it is in the muddle of the afternoon in the middle of the week. We come upon a sign, “Curve - 35 mph”. Tony volunteers that we are going 5mph! We are going so slow that the motorcyclists are passing , riding the line dividing the two lanes. They are really rolling the dice. A driver with a mean streak could really put the squeeze on them!
We finally have reached the lower level of the bridge. (2:55). While the traffic speed usually picks up at this point, it is still slow going. Before we hit Yuerba Buena Island, a huge container ship is passing under the bridge below us, heading for the Port of Oakland. The marking on the bow included the word “Egypt”. It is only fitting after we saw the King Tut exhibit.
The slow pace of traffic is probably impeded by the new configuration resulting from the sectional replacement over the weekend. Instead of the roadway being straight, through the tunnel, as it was before, there is now an S curve, and the speed limit has been reduced from 50 to 40 mph. The drivers aren’t used to this change. We leave the bridge and are on the flat at 3:55.
We are passing the high rise apartment buildings in Albany,( across from Golden gate Fields). I vividly remember when I was commuting from Vallejo to San Francisco, and riding by these units. They had a huge sign saying “If you lived here, you would now be home”. A ship is unloading raw sugar at the C&H Sugar Bulk Station. We reach the Carquinez Bridge toll booth at 3:30. We are passing the Springstown Postal Station in Vallejo. I read where this is one of the over 400 nation wide that the Post office recommends closing, trying to reduce their budget shortfall. There are a lot of trucks waiting in the Eastbound Truck scales in Cordelia.
The Chevron gas station on North Texas Street has closed - impacted by the surrounding road construction. The Shell station is advertising gas at $3.16. The spot price of crude oil is $71.31/ bbl. We pull in to Quail Creek at 4:00. Our trip probably totaled 100 miles.
While it was a long and tiring day, it was well worth it, to see such a great piece of history!
RCL - 09/09/09.
Friday, September 4, 2009
VALLEJO
VALLEJO
I had a very enjoyable day today. My daughter, Joan, treated me to lunch in Vallejo. The traffic going down was moderately heavy - quite a few trucks. I think that some of the drivers called in to work “sick,” with the pre-holiday flu! It was an uneventful ride. At the top of Hunter Hill, I could see the Six Flags Park and the rest of Vallejo below. I experienced a strange feeling of nostalgia. Why not - after living in the city for 46 years. It is a case of “You can take the lad out of Vallejo, but you can’t take Vallejo out of the lad!” While living there, I admit to bad mouthing my home town. But, I’m finding that I really do miss the hilly topography, the great Mediterranean weather and the beautiful Napa River waterfront.
Joan drove by our former home, at 528 Brooke Drive, to check on how the renter is treating it. She made two passes, so that I could make a good appraisal. The house and yard looked as good as it did when we lived there - 18 months ago. More nostalgia!
Then, Joan drove through the downtown, on our way to the waterfront. It looked about the same. We drove by the nice library and City Hall. It reminded me that the city had filed for bankruptcy over a year ago. It’s too bad. Vallejo’s 120,000 citizens deserve better than this.
We had a nice lunch in the “Front Room”, sitting at the edge of the picturesque -Napa River. Marie and I have had lunch or dinner here many times. Victor, who waited on us the first time that we were there many years ago greeted us. He remembered me, and of course I remembered him. He has aged gracefully, and looked the same as the last time I saw him. I don’t think that he is trying! Joan mentioned to him that I was 90 years old. He acted surprised, and asked me to rub his head for good luck - which I did.
Joan and I walked a little along the waterfront, and got to see the Vallejo Ferry docking - inbound from San Francisco. A slight cooling breeze was coming off the water. The temperature here runs from 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Fairfield. Joan asked me if I would like to drive over the bridge to Mare Island, and I speedily said “Yes”.
Mare Island is a unique place. People observe it but don’t know much about it’s history. We drive above the Napa River on a causeway with a draw bridge in the middle. Fortunately it is closed. Mare Island is 3.5 miles long and one mile wide. It seems larger than this when you drive on it. General Vallejo named it after his horse in 1835. The Navy Department purchased the land for $83,410 in 1852. It is unclear, to me, who was the seller. The Island became the first permanent U.S. naval installation on the west coast. The shipyard built many naval ships and submarines (some nuclear) until it was closed in 1966. The peak employment during WWII was about 40,000. When Congress ordered the Base closed, employment was about 5800.
The government deeded Mare Island to the City of Vallejo for redevelopment. The government also assumed the responsibility for the extensive “clean-up” of the Island. Besides preserving many of Mare Island’s structures and resources, Vallejo requested that the Island be added to the list of National Historic Landmarks.
In 1998, the City of Vallejo contracted with Lennar to redevelop about 5600 acres on the Island. Joan drove us by their large housing development, including a new school. Marie and I had visited the Model Homes a few years ago, and I was surprised at how many new homes have been built since then. When we looked, the homes were priced between 700 and 800 thousand dollars!
Then, she drove down Cedar street where her friend Madeleine Metzger lived. Madeleine’s dad was an Naval Officer on the island, and remained there as a civilian Nuclear Engineer Joan enjoyed telling me about her many interesting experiences while visiting Madeleine. Then she drove down Walnut Avenue where all the large colonial style officers’ homes have been preserved. They are very majestic and most appealing. They are so inviting that I would like to live in one of them. Then, she drove up the hill to the nice golf course. What a tremendous view from there! Then back down to the former Officers’ Club where Marie and I had attended many functions. It is now being used by Touro University.
Besides Touro University, Mare Island is also the home of the Us Forest Service regional office and the administrative offices of the Vallejo Unified School District. (The District sold their former offices on Valle Vista Street to obtain funds to apply to the Districts’ annual re-payment to the State. for a $60 MM loan to avoid bankruptcy.) St. Peter’s Chapel has been refurbished, and is a tourist attraction because of it’s valuable Tiffany stained -glass windows.
Then, back to Fairfield where we hit the warm air. Fairfield can be as much as 10-15 degrees warmer, in the summer, than Vallejo, and 5-10 degrees cooler in the winter.
It was a very nice day. I hated to see it end.
RCL 9/3/09.
I had a very enjoyable day today. My daughter, Joan, treated me to lunch in Vallejo. The traffic going down was moderately heavy - quite a few trucks. I think that some of the drivers called in to work “sick,” with the pre-holiday flu! It was an uneventful ride. At the top of Hunter Hill, I could see the Six Flags Park and the rest of Vallejo below. I experienced a strange feeling of nostalgia. Why not - after living in the city for 46 years. It is a case of “You can take the lad out of Vallejo, but you can’t take Vallejo out of the lad!” While living there, I admit to bad mouthing my home town. But, I’m finding that I really do miss the hilly topography, the great Mediterranean weather and the beautiful Napa River waterfront.
Joan drove by our former home, at 528 Brooke Drive, to check on how the renter is treating it. She made two passes, so that I could make a good appraisal. The house and yard looked as good as it did when we lived there - 18 months ago. More nostalgia!
Then, Joan drove through the downtown, on our way to the waterfront. It looked about the same. We drove by the nice library and City Hall. It reminded me that the city had filed for bankruptcy over a year ago. It’s too bad. Vallejo’s 120,000 citizens deserve better than this.
We had a nice lunch in the “Front Room”, sitting at the edge of the picturesque -Napa River. Marie and I have had lunch or dinner here many times. Victor, who waited on us the first time that we were there many years ago greeted us. He remembered me, and of course I remembered him. He has aged gracefully, and looked the same as the last time I saw him. I don’t think that he is trying! Joan mentioned to him that I was 90 years old. He acted surprised, and asked me to rub his head for good luck - which I did.
Joan and I walked a little along the waterfront, and got to see the Vallejo Ferry docking - inbound from San Francisco. A slight cooling breeze was coming off the water. The temperature here runs from 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Fairfield. Joan asked me if I would like to drive over the bridge to Mare Island, and I speedily said “Yes”.
Mare Island is a unique place. People observe it but don’t know much about it’s history. We drive above the Napa River on a causeway with a draw bridge in the middle. Fortunately it is closed. Mare Island is 3.5 miles long and one mile wide. It seems larger than this when you drive on it. General Vallejo named it after his horse in 1835. The Navy Department purchased the land for $83,410 in 1852. It is unclear, to me, who was the seller. The Island became the first permanent U.S. naval installation on the west coast. The shipyard built many naval ships and submarines (some nuclear) until it was closed in 1966. The peak employment during WWII was about 40,000. When Congress ordered the Base closed, employment was about 5800.
The government deeded Mare Island to the City of Vallejo for redevelopment. The government also assumed the responsibility for the extensive “clean-up” of the Island. Besides preserving many of Mare Island’s structures and resources, Vallejo requested that the Island be added to the list of National Historic Landmarks.
In 1998, the City of Vallejo contracted with Lennar to redevelop about 5600 acres on the Island. Joan drove us by their large housing development, including a new school. Marie and I had visited the Model Homes a few years ago, and I was surprised at how many new homes have been built since then. When we looked, the homes were priced between 700 and 800 thousand dollars!
Then, she drove down Cedar street where her friend Madeleine Metzger lived. Madeleine’s dad was an Naval Officer on the island, and remained there as a civilian Nuclear Engineer Joan enjoyed telling me about her many interesting experiences while visiting Madeleine. Then she drove down Walnut Avenue where all the large colonial style officers’ homes have been preserved. They are very majestic and most appealing. They are so inviting that I would like to live in one of them. Then, she drove up the hill to the nice golf course. What a tremendous view from there! Then back down to the former Officers’ Club where Marie and I had attended many functions. It is now being used by Touro University.
Besides Touro University, Mare Island is also the home of the Us Forest Service regional office and the administrative offices of the Vallejo Unified School District. (The District sold their former offices on Valle Vista Street to obtain funds to apply to the Districts’ annual re-payment to the State. for a $60 MM loan to avoid bankruptcy.) St. Peter’s Chapel has been refurbished, and is a tourist attraction because of it’s valuable Tiffany stained -glass windows.
Then, back to Fairfield where we hit the warm air. Fairfield can be as much as 10-15 degrees warmer, in the summer, than Vallejo, and 5-10 degrees cooler in the winter.
It was a very nice day. I hated to see it end.
RCL 9/3/09.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
