Newark, CA - 0 km

First to explain who we are staying with and visiting. 19 years ago Norma met Cathy and Dave (who were are staying with) and John and Eileen (live right across the street) on a cruise through the Panama Canal. Over the years we have kept in touch and formed a long distance friendship. We have visited back and forth and 6 years ago Doug met them when we visited them on our way back from Florida on one of our motorcycle trips. We felt we were long overdue for a return visit so made this be the year for one.

We had a lovely BBQ last evening with the four of them as well as John and Eileen's son Kevin who is home from college.

Today we played San Francisco tourists with Eileen as our guide. We drove to Oakland and took the ferry across to SF to see the sights. We got off the ferry at Pier 1 and walked for what we think was a few miles (three hours worth). We spent most of our time on the waterfront including Fisherman’s wharf. Highlights included the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory for a chocolate sundae, watching the performers on the pier, poking through the various shops, the sea lion colony and looking at the various ships. We even found ourselves at a mushroom shop right at the ferry dock. Doug was in his glory looking at all the mushrooms and taking pictures and commenting on the exorbitant prices they were charging for them.

 

The ferry ride itself was an economical tour of the Bay itself including views of Alcatraz with stops at Angel Island and Alameda Island.

Alkatraz

We ended the afternoon with a very nice seafood pasta dinner at a San Leandro restaurant. All in all we have had a great relaxing tourist day.

John, Eileen and Kathy

Tomorrow we will ride up the California coast unless fog prevents this from happening and we have to go inland.