September 20, 2010 – Today was a day of exploring!  Angie took us for a very scenic drive to Point Reyes Station Park.  We opened our windows to take in the wonderful smell of the Eucalyptus trees as we wound in and out of the mountains enjoying the beautiful forest view including age-old Redwood trees.  We stopped at Stinson Beach to wade in the Pacific Ocean – it was in the high 70’s but I wasn’t too bummed that we didn’t have our swimsuits as I looked at the warning signs posted to alert bathers of the potential presence of great white sharks.  The theme from Jaws was running through my mind as we walked through the water.   Just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, we drove up Mount Tamalpais.  It has redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot peak – we were looking DOWN at the Golden Gate Bridge!  Joe & I were amazed at how well Angie could drive because we were both admittedly (not to Angie but to each other) a nervous wreck as we made the climb!

 

  

Angie had to work and gave us a list of pubs and sport bars to visit but we decided to take advantage of our hotel (Anne if you’re reading this, you know how I like my amenities!).  We took a sauna (separate saunas for men & women – geez, I had to sneak into the men’s to join Joe) and headed for the outside pool & hot tub.  We were so surprised that the pool was filled with salt water!  We met a nice young couple from England in the hot tub and enjoyed a visit with them.

Back to the room to wait for Angie – we had our own private cocktail hour with NINE kinds of olives that were gifted to us from Angie’s friend, Leanne, who’s Italian family sells them at the weekly local Farmer’s Market.  We only opened one container, hoping to share them along the way home to Michigan.  We have (you have to read this with a Forest Gump accent):

Oil cured olives

Double trouble (garlic/jalapeno) olives

Sandra’s Olive Mix (Sandra likes green and black olives with garlic, sun ripened tomatoes, chili, mixed herbs & spices) olives

Sundried Tomato Olives (with garlic and basil)

Napa Valley Olives (blue cheese, figs, balsamic vinegar)

Habanero stuffed green olives

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

California Jalapeno stuffed Green Olives

Mediterraneon Olive mix (with feta cheese, sundried tomato, chili peppers, spices & herbs) olives

Angie picked us up after work and we went to TAPS to watch the 49ers game.  The whole bar faces numerous TV screens.  All I can say is that it’s a good thing the Packers weren’t playing – we would have been run out of there!  I had the best beer I ever tasted – Summer Soltice – it tasted like cream soda J  Allison, if you're reading this - we miss you!