Here I am on the road again, this time heading to Joshua Tree National Park for the JT Art Expo. http://www.jtnparts.org/ I left home on Nov 3rd and plan to return on the 17/18th. Along the way (sort of) are numerous friends and places that I adore, so I found a few to fit into the itinerary. First of those is San Francisco. I used to live nearby in Palo Alto, and treasured the time I spent up in the city. This way-stop afforded two friend visits, a family I'm close to since my days living there and a photographer friend who I've met up with all over the country. I had roughly a full day with each, first driving down to Mountain View on Wednesday to leave my car (full of artwork) with them for safe keeping. A brief chat, then I took Caltrain up to the city and met my other friend for dinner in the Mission, then we headed back to her place for the night. The next morning I took a morning walk through Golden Gate Park, paid visits to the deYoung Museum and Legion of Honor, lunch at Outerlands in Sunset, later afternoon light at Sutro beach around the bathhouse ruins, then a meet-up with friends of my friend downtown on the 29th floor where the SF tourism board offices are. Amazing sunset views from that vantage, everything from Market, the Transamerica building, Golden Gate bridge, the bay...all visible in glorious light. Then a wander through City Lights bookstore, leisurely dinner and drinks at Tosca, and another meet up with people at the Page. My friend headed out on a trip the next morning, but I stayed in the city, wandering around Chinatown, Union Square, riding the old streetcars I love, and finally taking Caltrain back down to Mountain View. I had Friday evening and most of the next day with one of my favorite families, I've missed them terribly. It was great to have the time to chat and catch up. In late afternoon, I headed back on the road, this time for Yosemite, which I have somehow never been to!

Sunset on Mount Hood in Oregon,
while stopped for road construction

Pei's Plants

Stowe Lake

Japanese Gardens in Golden Gate Park

Window in rocks, Sutro beach

Bathhouse ruins

Late afternoon sun at Sutro beach

City lights coming on

Sunset on San Francisco

Chinatown

Union Square

I was told that this seagull stands here posing, every day.

Sea lions at Pier 39

Bus stop

Cable car on turn table at the end of the line.

Fruit Orange! One very cool little dog.

For my last day in the park I hiked around the trail at Split Rock and ended up crossing paths with a desert tortoise. I had been hoping to see one, knowing it was not likely, and then on the last hike of the visit I nearly stepped on one. He tucked into his shell, I backed off, and then waited. He poked his head out, we watched each other for a while, then he decided it was safe to come back out and head on his way down the trail. It's impossible to spend too long watching a tortoise. They are fantastic creatures, full of personality.