Tam’s Think Tank

The Golden Lady

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

As Vicki and Sandy finished the marathon (Sandy went along with Vicki the last half of her 13 mile walk), Karen and I wandered along the water from the Golden Gate to the wharf. A long walk, but worth it. Lovely day. Beautiful, gorgeous, and we were there.

Ghirardelli Square

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

We stood in Ghirardelli Square before going in to enjoy a delicious sundae. The sky was spectacular. Love clouds like this. The view ended up being almost as tasty as the Ghirardelli wares. Yes indeed.

Under Water

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

Inside Steinhart Aquarium in the Academy of Sciences building in Golden Gate Park. Not a huge aquarium, but fairly good considering it’s size.

Musee Mecanique

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

We had to wander into this place to check it out. Once we did… it was on! Ms. Pacman and Galaga. I won one, Sandy the other. Close, both games. There were some pretty cool things in this building. Free to get in and totally worth it. They have restored many old and original coin operated games, etc. You can get a glimpse of a coin operated peep show (totally G rated) and gawk at the enormous laughing Sal. It’s worth a look and few cents…

View Alcatraz

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

And you could… from that spot.

Alcatraz

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

We didn’t venture out to it this time around, but it’s impressive just looking out at it.

BART

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

We took BART from San Jose to San Francisco and back again. LOVED it. We are total fans of mass transit, in whatever form it comes. Once we got to San Francisco we bought a three day pass and ended riding on buses, streetcars, and a cable car. Pretty cool, and pretty efficient.

Farmland, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Northern California is beautiful.  Karen took this one.

Blade, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Here it is… the controversial wing/blade. OK, not really controversial, I just made that up. I thought wing, and then heard windmill blade, which makes so much more sense. So here it is… one of many we saw traveling down the road.

Getting The Shot, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I’m always grabbing the camera and shooting something. Even if it’s something that on the surface might not initially seem that interesting. What can I say… the world through a lens is fascinating to me and very different looking than the real world. I don’t see dead people… I see photographs. Everywhere.

Entering Sacramento, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I actually have more photos to post from our trip than the ones I’m putting up here, but they will have to wait until I upload them from my computer to flickr and then to the ol’ blog. Patience, as my mom likes to say, is a virtue. Meanwhile… these are some I took on our way down to San Jose. Taken with the actual camera and not the iPhone camera. This is the hodge podge form of blogging. Spotty. Non-linear. Yeah… all of that.

College Dorm Living, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I thought I’d blog a few more photos from our road trip to San Jose. This is one I took in our nephews dorm room. Very good of them to let you know there’s high voltage around. Safe? You be the judge.

Monday Morning in San Jose, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Monday morning in San Jose. Karen’s working today and I’m hanging out
with the fam. I made the obligatory Starbucks run earlier and while we
enjoyed our beverages we looked at lodging options for Chicago… For
the wedding don’t ya know.

Pretty mellow around here. It’s been a nice day this far.

Back At In N Out, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Another trip for burgers. Have to take advantage of the availability
of good burgers. Yum!

Walking in San Jose, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

So it’s now Saturday. We’ve spent one full day and a partial here and are enjoying the sunshine and the slightly warmer weather. It’s not warm enough for shorts, but it’s warmer than Oregon. Woo Hoo! Our routine goes like this… we get up, have breakfast at Karen’s parent’s place, and then we walk to the nearby Starbucks for London Fog and Chai. Good routine.

Shasta, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Mt. Shasta was beautiful. The clouds sitting right at the top, clear blue sky, snow on the mountain. Gorgeous.

Siskiyous, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We got up wondering if we’d have too much snow for the rented Jeep Liberty to handle. The forecast said there was a possibility for up to 4 or 5 inches. We had a dusting. No problem for the Jeep, even in 2 wheel drive. Our first stop, as I posted earlier, was Starbucks. Had to get that London Fog and the Chai. A must have for any road trip, not to mention any time we leave the house for any length of time at all.

This was taken as we ventured through the Siskiyou Mountains.  We were in 4 wheel drive for about 10 minutes.  We didn’t really need to do it, but we thought why not… we’d gotten the 4 wheel drive because we thought we might need it.  We didn’t want it to go to waste.  We crack me up.

We are almost to San Jose. Seems we did know the way after all. There’s loads to report from our travels today, however considering the fact that I’m a blithering idiot right now I’ll have to rain check my posts on the day. Perhaps tomorrow when I’ve slept and my head is mo longer filled with cotton candy. Perhaps….

The Parents Backyard in San Jose, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

This is Karen’s parent’s backyard. Doesn’t it look inviting? It is. We spent much of our last visit sitting out there enjoying some great company and good conversation.

I know, I know, I’m early with this post for Photo Hunt Saturday. But here’s the deal… I’m home today from work, not feeling all that well, and I have nothing better to do. Hence the post today.

About my post for this week’s theme, old fashioned… We went to San Jose last June and while there we ventured out to the Stanford in nearby Palo Alto. This place is fantastic. Admission is cheap, popcorn, snacks and soda are priced from the 50′s or so, and you get a double feature, complete with live organist popping up out of the floor during intermission. It’s old fashioned all the way around, and really incredible.If you want to join the hunt and the fun, check out the specifics at photo hunt.

Redwood

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

14 hours. We drove 14 hours in what was probably the worst weather I’ve ever driven in, besides maybe that time we were trying to get to the Tampa airport during the tornado warning. We started in Sacramento at 8:30 and found ourselves pulling into Mom and Don’s driveway at about 10:30 that night. A long long day. Moments of tension, moments of slight fear, silly moments, hysterically funny moments, and some very tired moments. And yet… we loved it. Adventure… going with whatever happens, making the most of it, and finding the fun in almost everything. That’s us. We love road trips, and love them still.

Final total coming home… 48 hours from Vegas back home (14 driving in one day), 1200+ miles, three stops for gas, one bone for Weston, two bully stix for Weston, and 12 chai tea lattes. Wow. What a trip!

Thanks Dan, Linda, Amanda, and DJ for putting us up and hanging out with us for a few days. It was good to see you guys. We love you.

Thanks Mom and Don for providing us a nice little sanctuary on our travels back home. The company was lovely and the breakfast terrific.

We are, as of yesterday, Saturday the 4th, back home. A day later than planned, but home. It’s always wonderful to be here after traveling, and today it’s even more so. We slept well, and are just enjoying our being quietly together at home as a little family. Ah, wonderful.

The Boys

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

Another highlight… seeing this group near Crescent City, CA, and getting some good pictures of them.

Sun Breaks

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

There were moments when the rain stopped, just for a bit, and the sun shown through.

All Alone

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

Not many people out on the road. Wonder why?

Hwy 101

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

Driving on hwy 20 from Williams, California over to the beach was wonderful. There were a couple of mini rock slides, but that was minor and nothing compared to the big wind we had experienced on I5. All it did on 20 was rain. Rain we’re used to.

Hwy 101 was OK for awhile. Periods of rain, wind, periods of rain, lightening, more wind, more rain. There were a few highlights… the chipper woman in the the plush red velveteen pants who served Karen more chai at the Starbucks in Brookings, Oregon. Karen came out with the chai and said, “this was served to me by a woman in plush red velveteen pants”. We laughed. We also listened to some great music, sang, loved on Weston a bit (he was an excellent car traveling dog), and had some great conversation. All of that when times were happy and bright… in other times, no radio, not much conversation, and a shaking dog who was afraid of the rain, wind, and lightening. It, all of it, was an adventure.