Californian Gallery

Lots of pictures from the San Francisco Trip >

Pacific Ocean backdrop.  Great photo by Donna.

Toes in the Ocean. Had to do activity and shot. 

Other obligatory shots: Cable Car ride. And (Margaret) at Fell Street in San Francisco.

Monster hire car - Chevrolet Tahoe.

(left) Sign reads "hello marijuana, goodbye hangover" - and (right) Parson Jones, Redwood Tree 1300 years old !

Dianne, Toni and Joanne at Painted Ladies, San Francisco.

Tomahawk Steak. To quote our Debbie: "Soo Good" 

Toni and Jimmy looking very much at home.

Francis Ford Coppola's Winery Pool area.

(left) Crazy curves of Lombard Street, San Francisco







Also here's a couple of dumb videos to watch >

Bill being silly at Lombard Street: Actually doing a Michael Portillo impression. FYI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcLZlO2Q640

And waves of Canadian Geese. Lake Merritt Park, Oakland

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dObI4GJqKiU&feature=youtu.be

Bobby and Bill talking music - probably.

Scroll down for FULL story below ⬇

San Francisco Reunion

Wind the clock back to December last: I innocently sent an email to friends in America asking if they had it on their radar that this summer it would be 40 years since we all meet in San Francisco. Suggesting it would be great if we could all met up again..... well while we were away in Cape Town, amazingly the idea grew to the point that it became fully organised - dates, places to stay, people to see again - all we had to do was book a flight to California. 'The Big Reunion on the West Coast' was on !

"It was ALL about the people" was how Margaret described the trip on our return after two weeks of good old American hospitality, socialising, catching up and making new friends.
Here's a basic breakdown of our visit that saw us accommodation hopping 4 times in perfect harmony.... follow the map below (scale in miles, to be strictly American).  

First stop: Daly City.
Six of us in an Airbnb only a short drive into San Francisco.
Which included Dancing in Dolores Park to 'Uptown Funk'.
Don't believe be just watch (left)

And the obligatory photo outside the apartment (2108 Hayes Street) where I first meet everyone in 1978.
(Picture Below)

40 years and counting - M&B with Joanne, Carol and Jimmy and Toni.  Photo Anon

Next stop: Oakland.
Carol had flown home and the five of us stayed in Joanne's son's apartment across the bay in Oakland. Dianne (Jo's sister) was also with us for a few days.
We did the City streets in our monster truck (Chevrolet Tahoe) and celebrated Joanne's birthday. 
A night out at Drake's Dealership is accounted for here >>>

Moving On: Week Two
Joanne (along with Dianne) had gone off to cruise the Mediterranean Sea and Gary drove the four of us north to Debbie's home in Santa Rosa. We had visited during the first week but this time we stayed and enjoyed lovely towns, beautiful wineries, a majestic Redwood forest, the Pacific Ocean, Bodega Bay (where Hitchcock filmed 'The Birds'), Francis Ford Coppola's Winery Pool Day and generally had a ball with everyone.
Scroll back up to the map if I have lost you.

Our Fourth and final place came with a magnificent view. Gary's house in Sausalito overlooked the bay. See my 'Hockney' like photo montage below.

Gary took us on a scenic drive around to Point Reyes Station and Highway 1 coastal road and back via an English pub and Mill Valley. 
We said fond farewells from Sausalito but not before drink's at Hal's and another BBQ at Gary's and more group photos - which was what it was ALL about.

In some sort of chronological order:

Winery picnic.
(L to R) Gary, Frank, Jimmy, Joanne (at back), Debbie, Margaret (at back), Carol, Bill, Grace, Toni and Donna.
Do we all look intoxicated ?   Photo Donna Bianchi

Wine Tasting.   Photo Donna Bianchi

This is my favourite shot. Giant Redwoods.  Photo Donna Bianchi

At Coppola's Pools.  Photo Deborah Gustafson

In Sausalito with Hal, Debbie and Tim.  Photo Donna Bianchi

At Gary's house.  Photo Donna Bianchi

Finally (left) trick photo >
If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair


Photo credits:
With thanks and love to Debbie and Donna and Joanne.




A Gallery of extras images will follow later.