Of the almost 7 billion people standing on this globe, only 4 (soon to be 5) of them call me Nana. This makes them the world's most precious people, or TWMPP.
Sean and Anna Dominique are the oldest of TWMPP at 11 and 7 respectively and their grandfather and I have the privilege of spending a collection of days with them. We've planned quite an adventure.
The kids have traveled from Atlanta to San Francisco as unaccompanied minors on Delta Airlines. I meet them at the airport as they come off the plane while Grandpa waits in the cell phone lot. Even though the gate agent requires picture ID from me and plenty of signatures there is no question we all belong together what with the joyful hugs and smiles and cries of delight, (mostly coming from me).
The kids have made a list (which they will revise and update many times) of the sights they want to see in the Bay Area. Our first full day together takes in the top-ranked and therefore the most highly anticipated locations.
As part of his 4th grade curriculum, Sean has completed a state report on California, therefore becoming a California expert of sorts, (the fourth grade sort). His main obsession is the Golden Gate Bridge. The first glimpse definitely lives up to expectation. It is aaaah-inspiring, no doubt about it. Today it is wreathed in wisps of fog, still visible, but festooned with circlets and boas. They will melt away completely in the bright of day and so we see the bridge in several guises before the sunshine dominates and the officially international orange structure stands boldly backed by bright blue sky.
We walk to the exact center of the span stopping to absorb the views or to contemplate the design of the suspended edifice. The traffic whizzes by as do the unending stream of rented bicycles, but we stroll, captivated by the moment, and where we are exactly now.
As we turn to walk back, somehow the conversation turns to politics.....(Grandpa??). Sean, meandering along beside his grandfather determines that he is a Republican. Anna, walking with Nana takes a poll of the family inclinations and finds that the Obama supporters heavily out-weigh the Mitt "Ramamswamy" devotees.
We explore the bridge exhibits at the visitor's center along with the floral displays touting the bridge's 75th anniversary. A gentleman working at the center asks Sean how old he is....eleven and then how old he will be in 25 more years....36. He then invites Sean to return for the bridge's 100th anniversary.
Not on their list, probably because the kids were unaware of its existence, is Lombard Street, known as the crookedest street in the world. There are 8 (Sean counted them) hairpin turns on a 27% grade in a one block section that limits cars to a 5 mile an hour pace. We drove it from top to bottom (the only way) and then piled out of the car to hike up the adjoining stairs to the top again and back down. Lots of fun. Sean makes a return trip (running) to the top just so he can wave at his grandfather. No sweat. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top of Lombard so we had our first look at the famous SF transportation which of course is high on the list of things-we-want-to-do. Later...
We drive across the GGBridge to the Marin Headlands in Golden Gate National Recreation Area just north of the bridge. We spread out our picnic lunch at one of the many roadway viewpoints and admire and photograph the bridge from this exceptional vantage point. Back in the car Sean and Anna identify the pink heads of the turkey vultures that are indigenous to this area as they swoop through the sky. Sean spots one with talons extended zeroing in on prey. Anna and I root for the prey. Sean roots for the vulture.
We drive as far as the Point Bonita Lighthouse trailhead. We can see the lighthouse in the distance before we turn back. This is a lovely lighthouse, but not the one we came to see.
Point Reyes Lighthouse in the Point Reyes National Seashore was a point of interest in Sean's state report. The feature that most draws him there is the 30 flights of stairs that descend to the point that juts ten miles out into the Pacific. A sign at the top of the staircase warns of the strenuous trip back up.
Well, walking down is easy enough, or in Sean's case, running down. The historic beacon has been replaced with a new-fangled automated apparatus. We get to examine the old one with a park ranger standing guard. This is the second foggiest location on the North American continent and a lighthouse will likely always be a necessity here. It's a beauty and the view is incredible.
Every 10th stair going back up is numbered. Motivation? Inspiration? Sean is back on top before Anna and I start the ascent. We have a leisurely climb. Brokaw is there to point out a gray whale cavorting in the deep blue sea.
Sean and Anna Dominique are the oldest of TWMPP at 11 and 7 respectively and their grandfather and I have the privilege of spending a collection of days with them. We've planned quite an adventure.
The kids have traveled from Atlanta to San Francisco as unaccompanied minors on Delta Airlines. I meet them at the airport as they come off the plane while Grandpa waits in the cell phone lot. Even though the gate agent requires picture ID from me and plenty of signatures there is no question we all belong together what with the joyful hugs and smiles and cries of delight, (mostly coming from me).
The kids have made a list (which they will revise and update many times) of the sights they want to see in the Bay Area. Our first full day together takes in the top-ranked and therefore the most highly anticipated locations.
As part of his 4th grade curriculum, Sean has completed a state report on California, therefore becoming a California expert of sorts, (the fourth grade sort). His main obsession is the Golden Gate Bridge. The first glimpse definitely lives up to expectation. It is aaaah-inspiring, no doubt about it. Today it is wreathed in wisps of fog, still visible, but festooned with circlets and boas. They will melt away completely in the bright of day and so we see the bridge in several guises before the sunshine dominates and the officially international orange structure stands boldly backed by bright blue sky.
We walk to the exact center of the span stopping to absorb the views or to contemplate the design of the suspended edifice. The traffic whizzes by as do the unending stream of rented bicycles, but we stroll, captivated by the moment, and where we are exactly now.
As we turn to walk back, somehow the conversation turns to politics.....(Grandpa??). Sean, meandering along beside his grandfather determines that he is a Republican. Anna, walking with Nana takes a poll of the family inclinations and finds that the Obama supporters heavily out-weigh the Mitt "Ramamswamy" devotees.
We explore the bridge exhibits at the visitor's center along with the floral displays touting the bridge's 75th anniversary. A gentleman working at the center asks Sean how old he is....eleven and then how old he will be in 25 more years....36. He then invites Sean to return for the bridge's 100th anniversary.
Not on their list, probably because the kids were unaware of its existence, is Lombard Street, known as the crookedest street in the world. There are 8 (Sean counted them) hairpin turns on a 27% grade in a one block section that limits cars to a 5 mile an hour pace. We drove it from top to bottom (the only way) and then piled out of the car to hike up the adjoining stairs to the top again and back down. Lots of fun. Sean makes a return trip (running) to the top just so he can wave at his grandfather. No sweat. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top of Lombard so we had our first look at the famous SF transportation which of course is high on the list of things-we-want-to-do. Later...
We drive across the GGBridge to the Marin Headlands in Golden Gate National Recreation Area just north of the bridge. We spread out our picnic lunch at one of the many roadway viewpoints and admire and photograph the bridge from this exceptional vantage point. Back in the car Sean and Anna identify the pink heads of the turkey vultures that are indigenous to this area as they swoop through the sky. Sean spots one with talons extended zeroing in on prey. Anna and I root for the prey. Sean roots for the vulture.
We drive as far as the Point Bonita Lighthouse trailhead. We can see the lighthouse in the distance before we turn back. This is a lovely lighthouse, but not the one we came to see.
Well, walking down is easy enough, or in Sean's case, running down. The historic beacon has been replaced with a new-fangled automated apparatus. We get to examine the old one with a park ranger standing guard. This is the second foggiest location on the North American continent and a lighthouse will likely always be a necessity here. It's a beauty and the view is incredible.
Every 10th stair going back up is numbered. Motivation? Inspiration? Sean is back on top before Anna and I start the ascent. We have a leisurely climb. Brokaw is there to point out a gray whale cavorting in the deep blue sea.
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| Our Whale |
What amazing adventures! Missing you guys. xx
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