San Francisco

Monday | 1 May 2000 | San Francisco, California: Happy May Day and Greetings from San Francisco. We are at a RV park across the street from Candlestick Park - now known as 3Com Park. I have just been terrible at updating the website! Busy, busy, busy! I do not have good cellular service here, so I can probably get the words over, but not the photos. I will send them as soon as technology allows.

We left Merced Saturday morning. We left late. We were having trouble with a tire - the inside dual tire. Of course - it seems we can't go a day without something needing attention! DT pulled into several 'truck tire' places on the way to San Francisco, but no one was available to help, or the attendant had no idea how to repair our problem. Just before crossing the San Mateo Bridge, we saw a Goodyear truck tire shop, so we exited the freeway and caught the manager of the shop just as he was closing. He knew what was wrong instantly and helped us! Problem was - the tire was hot and we had to wait or "the tire could blow". It was a bit frightening for me the next few hours as I expected an explosion at any moment - but luck was with us (an entire hour of praying helped) and the problem is solved! The tire shop manager would not accept payment, a tip, a bottle of wine - nothing. It is truly amazing - the kind people we meet on our adventure. Guess which brand we will be buying next time Goldie needs tires??

Snickers needed some help so we could leave him alone tonight. My Vet had given me a sedative for him, but I had never used it. Tonight, I phoned my sister-in-law, Ali, who is a Vet Tech, for advice. Ali told me what to do and Snickers did not put up much of a fight tonight and was dozing happily when we left.
 
So, we were late for dinner with our old friend, Mr. Poo (rhymes with joe) and his family. We pulled up in front of his house at about the time of our dinner reservations! No problem, Poo arranged for a late arrival and we went to one of our favorite restaurants - Kuleto's - off Union Square. We were joined by the gorgeous and clever #3 Poo child, Upekkha, (Lisa's good friend), his niece and her husband for a lovely meal. We had several appetizers - a potato cake, grilled peppers and eggplant with fresh mozzarella, and the guys had fish-things.  We all had wonderful meals! When I spoke with Lisa and told her we had dined at Kuleto's - she was so jealous!

Sunday, DT and Poo went golfing and I stayed home with my poor dog. Snickers did not enjoy his sedative, so I guess I will not try that again. He was quiet all evening - according to the neighbors - and was quite frisky when we came home at 10:30. I took him out for a 15-minute stroll and he was very lively... but when we came back from our walk, Snickers hopped up in the bed next to DT and fell into a coma-like sleep and we could not wake him for hours! Even the next morning he was a little groggy. Ali told me about a new drug for 'doggie separation anxiety', and I will look into it the moment we arrive home.

But not to worry, Snickers is very happy now. Sunday afternoon he began Pet Camp! Yes, yes, yes... I love big cities - all those executives (and motor home travelers) who can't take care of their dogs! I found Dog Camp through my Vet and had Snickers signed-up for a stay while we are in San Francisco. They have planned activities! Snack time! Play time!  Snickers gets to play with other dogs - he will be so happy. Actually, when I "enrolled" him yesterday, he went off with the "counselor" and didn't even look back at me (the drug-pushing dog abuser that I am).
 
DT and Poo picked me up for dinner in a new 700 series BMW, which Poo had recently purchased for his #2 child. DT was driving (Poo does not drive) and the car came complete with a talking GPS. They punched-in the address to Poo's home (I had to help from the back seat, as neither DT nor Poo could figure it out and obviously Poo knows where he lives, so they didn't need to use it anyway... but none of that matters when you have a new toy to play with) and a female voice told DT where to turn and in how-many feet the turn would appear! Actually, it was quite fun - maybe we need a talking GPS in Goldie???
 
Tonight, we had dinner at Antica Trattoria. We tried their potato cake; artichoke flan, mozzarella salad and the guys had squid salad - for appetizers. I had spinach ravioli filled with peppered ricotta, topped with a sauce made from miniature cherry tomatoes - very sweet, with just the perfect touch of basil. We had several different desserts to share and lovely wine. Poo's sons and their friend, Evelyn, joined us.