Jim's visit, Mark & Alisha, and Pacific Voyagers, Part 2

Jim had this week off as vacation, so he came up for a short visit.  He arrived Monday afternoon, and we went out to dinner that night to celebrate his up-coming birthday.  We had dinner at a new restaurant in El Granada - Flavors.  The sign on the restaurant says that it serves "California Comfort" food - and "comfort" is code for huge portions!  But the food was wonderful, and we each brought home a doggie bag with enough food in it for another meal.

On Tuesday we went into SF, as the Pacific Voyager canoes were going to anchor at Hyde Street lagoon, where you could see them close up, and even go on board.

Mark and Alisha and their dog, Tricky Woo, are staying at Mark's brother Eric's house in Pittsburgh, so they drove over and met us at the lagoon.  The canoes were about an hour coming in, but, one by one they sailed through the small inlet to the lagoon, sails wide open.  It was quite an amazing sight!  The five canoes came right up on the beach, and, after filling out a consent form (they are filming for a documentary) we were allowed to board the canoes.  We took turns going onto the various canoes.  They were from New Zealand, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tahiti and Fiji.

The crews on the ship were really nice and answered lots of questions.  Being on the canoe confirmed my suspicion that they were WAY too small to have made that voyage!  But, make it they did!  They will be heading south to Monterrey, Long Beach and San Diego, where they will be until they make the reverse trip in July next year. 

We were SO fortunate to be able to see and board the canoes - truly a once in a lifetime experience!

After touring the canoes we went to Chrissy Field where we had a great visit and picnic lunch.

Tuesday night we went to dinner for Lee's birthday at another restaurant in El Granada.  Imagine El Granada having restaurants!!  This time it was Cafe Gibraltar, a Mediterranean restaurant with great food.  Another wonderful dinner!  I did quite well with all these celebrations - I didn't cook at all!

Jim left on Wednesday afternoon to go home.  We got a picture of Rex in the car with the "Shih Tzu on Board" sign that Mark and Alisha had given him in his birthday card - perfect!!

Happy Birthday, Jim!!

The first canoe to sail in - this one is from NZ and you can see the Maori flag in the back

Getting beached - you can see the poor crew member in that very cold water!

The second Canoe is in - this one was from the Cook Islands

The Samoa canoe is in!

The New Zealand canoe - you can see how small that little house is!

The Maori carving on the New Zealand canoe

More carvings, and the tiller

Carvings around the door.  This little house is where all the cooking is done!

The Fiji canoe

Mark and Alisha aboard the Cook Island canoe

Jim on the Cook Island canoe

Lee on the New Zealand canoe

The Samoan canoe.  Each of the canoe hulls contained 8 bunks - cozy, huh?

Mark, Alish and Jim, with the Fiji and Samoa canoes behind them

All five canoes in the distance

Picnic at Chrissy Field.  It wasn't very warm, but at least the sun was shining!

Jim & Rex, Alisha & Tricky Woo, Pat and Lee.  You can see fog creeping in, covering the golden gate bridge - typical San Francisco summer day!

Rex and his "Shih Tzu on Board" sign, as they get ready to go home

There!  This works better!  I think that the sign is a pretty good likeness for Rex!

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Thanks to Jim, Mark and Alisha for a great day in San Francisco!