California Dreaming : The Pacific coast to the North and South of San Fransisco

OK - this is what we do best.
Booze and cruise.
And sometimes eat & photograph.

We took a few guided tours out of San Fransisco City - and loved it.
We went to the Redwoods in the North, to the Aquarium in the south - showing our "Green" credentials !!


One sunny morning we visited the Redwoods at nearby Muir woods, about 40 miles north of the city. They were pretty tall - and smelled good.

It really is quiet 'jungley' in the dark damp shade of these redwoods. Jean is to scale - they are up to 300'.

On the way back from Muir woods we stopped in Sausalito - Marin county, just over the Golden Gate from the city. Yachts, water, and good views from great restaurants. This is where the hippies lived on barges in the '60's - and still do, I'm sure.

And we'll be back here again ourselves!

Tiburon - the island just over the water from Sausalito and the city - where all the billionaires live in their grand mansions.

Can you believe that lemon trees are full of fruit in Sausalito - just over the bay from San Francisco city - in balmy December?

This is the Club House overlooking the 18th hole at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Club. What a view!

I don't know how they let riff-raff like me and Jean in .... maybe we should have had some putting lessons while we were there. All the coaches look like film-stars!!

Go to the rest-room and get cleaned up after the game.

Magnificent Gold-plated pissoir in the club-house at Pebble beach - who would expect less?

The California life - just need the beach-house now.

A mansion with coastal views shows that you are entering the "17 mile drive" from Spanish Beach to Carmel - homes of the stars ...

The coastline from Spanish Beach to Carmel is picturesque; but the Pacific looks rough.

This Maltese dog took a fancy to my leg in Carmel's pet shop : "Hot Diggadee".

Maybe he/she new I lived in Malta?

Rich bitch, probably.

A Carmel house - all very posh & 'Old English'.

This is Clint Eastwood's bar "The Hog's Breath" - where you can order a 'Dirty Harry' or 'Misty' etc.

In our last few minutes here we bumped in to Ridley Scott.....just back from a Spanish Beach golf game!

Monterey - the furthest south we've been in California - up to now.

Right at the end of Cannery Row in Monterey is the world-famous aquarium, which is well worth a few hours of your time.

Some creatures you can interact with - some you'd better keep your distance.

(Note Bruno cowering away from the Leopard shark that Jean is petting).


The lighting in the aquarium is very well done - and sometimes quite breathtaking.

Monterey Aquarium is stunning. We wandered for a couple of hours - had lunch and took a hundred photos.