Amazon Basin

A good thing about San Francisco is that City Hall will not allow big shopping malls in the city.There are for instance no Walmarts in San Francesco. There are big malls but they are way out on the perimeter. The city is full of quirky, charming, little shops.

Two degrees in be-bop, a PHD in swing  He's the master of rhythm he's a rock and roll king  If you like country with a boogie beat he's the man to meet (he's the man to meet)  If you like the sound of shufflin' feet he can't be beat (I say he can't be beat)  If you... If you wanna  If you wanna feel real nice, just ask the Rock and Roll doctor's advice

Two degrees in be-bop, a PHD in swing
He’s the master of rhythm he’s a rock and roll king
If you like country with a boogie beat he’s the man to meet (he’s the man to meet)
If you like the sound of shufflin’ feet he can’t be beat (I say he can’t be beat)
If you… If you wanna
If you wanna feel real nice, just ask the Rock and Roll doctor’s advice.

This is where I take my flute for its annual overhaul. Daniel is a great guy.

Bike shop and funky barber

Bike shop and funky barber

Only sells soda pop and candy

Only sells soda pop and candy

Self explanatory

Self explanatory

Buy jewels

Buy jewels

Man with no hair looks for hat

Man with no hair looks for hat

Jokes Wood

Jokes Wood

I am always surprised on returning to Europe by the vitriol that normally reasonable folk vent on Starbucks. I like Starbucks but I have only been in US Starbucks, maybe the overseas ones have smelly toilets and rude staff. Anyway, a central theme is that Starbucks have strangled the native coffee shop species. I cannot actually remember ever going to a coffee shop in Britain when I lived there but that was some time ago.  We went to the pub. Anyway there are loads of Starbucks in the City but also loads and loads of fantastic independent coffee shops.

Just around the corner

Just around the corner

Another local coffee shop

Another local coffee shop

These places all offer many different excellent coffees, chais etc, fresh sandwiches, pastries, sofas, armchairs, fast wireless. The staff are friendly, quirky and fun. I suppose if people want to get rid of Starbucks they should open some competition

 Er, inside

Er, inside

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Cliché

So it is a bit predictable to drone on about the charm of San Francisco architecture but I am going to do it anyway. Ben and I stumble off to have breakfast and we take pictures of houses en route.

Queen Annes

Queen Annes

A house in Haight Ashbury

A house in Haight Ashbury

Breakfast Burrito

Breakfast Burrito

Light Sculpture

Light Sculpture

Eggs Benedict - it was Ben's birthday on Wednesday and we are still celebrating

Eggs Benedict – it was Ben’s birthday on Wednesday and we are still celebrating

Desolation Row

Desolation Row

Brugmansia

Brugmansia!

I nearly bought this house in 2002 but was talked out of it. Big mistake! It is on Clayton just across the road from where Bebo lives. It has a roof terrace that overlooks the city. I must have been mad.

I nearly bought this house in 2002 but was talked out of it. Big mistake! It is on Clayton just across the road from where Bebo lives. Not the prettiest but it has a roof terrace that overlooks the city. I must have been mad.

So all these houses are within 5 mins of where the boys live.

On Central

On Central

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Truck Love

Topher’s truck has been a godsend during this trip. She has taken us everywhere with all kinds of good stuff in the flatbed. We decide to give her a hairdo.

Wash

Wash

We take her to the local car hair saloon.

Shampoo

Shampoo

These places are amazing.

Rinse

Rinse

Styling

Styling

Isn’t she pretty.

La belle truckette

La belle truckette

Thanks truck.

 

 

 

 

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New Lamps for Old

The washing machine in the apartment is busted. It washes but does not spin thus leaving soaking wet clothes that take forever to dry and do not feel good. We thus determine to get a replacement. At this stage another demonstration of the joys of living in San Francisco kicks in. We look at Craigs List http://sfbay.craigslist.org/ find a selection of second-hand washers. A seller is contacted  and we take Topher’s truck down to the Mission.

This guy is worth millions of dollars

This guy is worth millions of dollars

Sweet Chinese guy who can barely speak English sells the washer, which looks immaculate, for $100. His wife gives us tea and they are generally happy, smiling, kind people who make us feel good. He explains that he worked as a cook in a restaurant for 28 years. I say he has a nice house – an Edwardian beauty in the most fashionable part of the Mission. He explains he bought it in 1991. It must be worth around $2 million now. He also has another house in the Sunset. He is a very wealthy man. That’s California for you. Good luck my friend.

New lamps for old

New lamps for old

Polar vortex at the house in San Francisco

Polar vortex at the house in San Francisco

We heave the old machine into the truck and take it to Green Citizen. http://www.greencitizen.com/california_san_francisco_computer_electronic_recycling_center.php

This is a great place that takes anything that you want to get rid of for free, as long as it plugs into the wall. The staff are  California emblematic,”Yay, no problem Brother, glad to help. A donation? No need man just tell people about us.” This is what I am doing.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

The whole exercise was a delight.

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Año Nuevo

When I first went to California I could not handle words with a little squiggle above the N. This symbol changes the pronunciation of  Año Nuevo from Anno as in Latin to Anyo as in er, well, you know.  Thus Cañada is not verbalized like the huge country with Mounties but is pronounced Canyada. I do not know why, but I always stumbled on such words indicating that I was a no good greenhorn. Now I can say them easily and it makes me feel Californian.

What do you mean,you don't like sponge cake?

What do you mean, you don’t like sponge cake?

We go to Año Nuevo to watch Elephant Seals. I also used to think that Elephant Seals only hung out on remote islands in the extreme South Atlantic and could only be seen following a very strenuous sea voyage during which you wore wet clothes for weeks on end,  developing terrible chaffing and skin fungi in intimate parts of the body.   Here you can eat a late breakfast of Eggs Benedict on Haight, get in the truck, motor South, stopping off to get body  lotion and be amongst the Elephant Seals at 12:00.

Is there any point building yet another neutrino experiment?

Is there any point building yet another neutrino experiment?

Mummy Elephant Seal suckling two new borns. Crow anticipates

Mummy Elephant Seal suckling two newborn. Crow anticipates

Ben is not an Elephant Seal

Ben is not an Elephant Seal

Sailor James

Sailor James

Sun goes down on another perfect day in California

Sun goes down on another perfect day in California

 

 

 

 

 

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Is it a Fish? Is it a Bird?

From Moss Landing we head to Monterey to go diving in the cold Pacific Ocean. The truck is small and we all squeeze across the front cab.

There are two bucket seats, which means James is sitting on the center console. Notice pained expression.

There are two bucket seats, which means James is sitting on the center console. Notice pained expression.

The water is cold and we need big thick wetsuits and hoods.

Good way to fill a pick-up flatbed

Good way to fill a pick-up flatbed. In addition to diving gear there is an outboard and an inflatable boat.

Whoa, this is not Okinawa. There are seals and sea-lions swimming around us, which fulfills a childhood dream cherished since watching seals from boats in Scotland.  Orange giant jellyfish abound. What are those wierdo fish? They aren’t fish they are cormorants diving down and ripping food from the ocean floor. They come very very close and seem unconcerned by our presence. Truly amazing. All the wild life is calmer than in Okinawan seas, which I imagine has to do with slower metabolism due to cold water. Whatever; it makes for great diving as you can get very close to fish and er sea-lions.

Yay!

Yay!

I so wish I had brought my underwater camera thing. We do 2 amazing dives, getting very cold and unco happy.

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A Place of Deep Mud or Mire

We borrow Topher’s truck and head south to Elkhorn Slough, which is pronounced slew as in, “As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.” We have  a boat, we have an outboard that works, what else do you need?

Pump up the volume

Pump up the volume

We go on a wildlife binge.

A congregation of Marbled Godwits

A congregation of Marbled Godwits

Sea lions snooze

Sea lions snooze

Bufflehead beat it

Bufflehead beat it

We cruise up and down the Slough and out towards the ocean. The place is heaving with wild things.

A See You Jimmy Otter

A See You Jimmy Otter

Holy Mackerel - a Belted Kingfisher

Holy Mackerel – a Belted Kingfisher

DSC_0630

Suffering Surf Scoters!

There are so many Sea Otters, which do not seem to mind you being there as long as you are polite.

Have we been introduced?

Have we been introduced ?

Harbor Seal

Worried Harbor Seal

Eared Grebe

Eared Grebe

I feel like this most of the time.

I feel like this most of the time.

A rookery of Sea Lions

A rookery of Sea Lions

This Western Grebe has a busted bill

This Western Grebe has a busted bill

"I say, I think that Froggy is croaking at me."   An Englishwoman once said that to me on a ski slope upon being being addressed by a Frenchman.

“I say, I think that Froggy is croaking at me.”
An Englishwoman once said that to me on a ski slope upon being addressed by a Frenchman.

All good things must come to an end

All good things must come to an end

Incredible day. We then went to Phil’s Fish Market http://www.philsfishmarket.com/menu.html where we ate amazing fish, drank Sierra Nevada and listened to bluegrass.

Kampai!!

Kampai!!

Oh California I'm coming home Oh make me feel good rock 'n' roll band I'm your biggest fan California I'm coming home

Oh California I’m coming home
Oh make me feel good rock ‘n’ roll band
I’m your biggest fan
California I’m coming home

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Crabs

So, it is crab season in San Francisco. You can get them everywhere, not just from the toilet seat.

We buy a big live crab from a Chinese supermarket and eat it.

Eat now

Eat now

 

Boiled beef and carrots, Boiled beef and carrots, That's the stuff for your "Derby Kell", Makes you fit and keeps you well. Don't live like vegetarians On food they give to parrots, Blow out your kite, from Morn 'til night, On boiled beef and carrots.

Boiled beef and carrots,
Boiled beef and carrots,
That’s the stuff for your “Derby Kell”,
Makes you fit and keeps you well.
Don’t live like vegetarians
On food they give to parrots,
Blow out your kite, from Morn ’til night,
On boiled beef and carrots.

First we cook it. We boil it alive, cut it in chunks, then stir fry with garlic, ginger, spring onions and chili.

It is awesome with beer.

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Motorcycle Madness

I am in San Francisco. Son James has a motorcycle. He lets me drive it. I ride around San Francisco on a motorcycle. I am 61 years old but nobody knows because I am wearing a full face helmet. I am careful where I park; in hidden corners, behind abandoned containers, deep in underground parking lots, so that nobody can see my transition from motorcycle outlaw to bald, fat old man.

He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye The tears were beginning to show As he drove away on that rainy night I begged him to go slow But whether he heard, I'll never know Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!

He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I’ll never know
Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!

The weather is glorious. San Francisco has never looked more wonderful and I am with my boys.

IMG_0507

Health food – check out the salad!

CCTV

CCTV

Yay, CCTV mirror art

Yay, CCTV mirror art

I roar off to watch birds on Chrissy Field. Quite tricky to find somewhere to do my Superman /Clark Kent switch and I think some people may have realized that the motorcycle outlaw is actually an aging birdwatcher – damn!

DSC_0155

Pelican on the dock of the Bay

Snowy Plover! Desperately rare

Snowy Plover! Desperately rare

White crowned Sparrow - not rare here but very rare as in non-existent in Okinawa.

White crowned Sparrow – not rare here but very rare as in non-existent in Okinawa.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret, wrong Snowy Egret

Xmas tree/house

Xmas tree/house

I am blessed to have such great sons, who live in a great city and one of whom has a motorcycle! Ben has a scooter – I will try that tomorrow. Compliments of the season y’all.

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Yes. This is Xmas

I set off for California where I am to spend the festive season. Xmas day in Okinawa is grey, rainy and cold, well, er,you know 19 degrees. I am leaving my car at the airport, so that a student whose girlfriend is flying in at about the same time, can pick it up and use it while I am away. Discussing how he can find the car he says, ” Like, just send me some photos when you park.”

I do not like to admit that I have no idea how to do this. Anyway I have just been allotted a new iPhone and I take some photos. I feel so proud as I work out how to blast them through the ether into the other guy’s phone. He messages back saying he has found the car. It is so easy but I still find it conceptually difficult. I mean how do photos travel through the air and how do they find their way to another phone? Actually I think I could just about explain how, but I marvel.

Anyway, I sit in the lounge reading the Japan Times and sure enough on the front page there is the article outlining that yesterday the Abe cabinet doubled our university’s annual budget.

I celebrate budget increase with Santa' helpers

I celebrate budget increase with Santa’ helpers

Hooray! Nice end to a very satisfactory year in Okinawa. California here I come.

Happy Yuletide to all!

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