Love Me Some Fresh Fruit Season. Why? Because I Love Yogurt and Granola for Breakfast to Kick off a Fantastic Day.

I was a good boy yesterday. I hunkered down, worked on grants, worked on summer programs, wrote contracts, ordered materials, and caught up on many items that I put to the side for a week. I also walked in the heat with Karal (yuck) and watched the first World Cup game with Leo. But for the most part I put everything in gear so I can work for a few days from Syracuse. My windows to visit the parental units are limited and I had two options before July. I promised myself if I got work stuff done yesterday, I could travel today...

...which I plan on doing after I weed-whack and pack. It's going to be another scorcher in CT today, but then it will cool off. The following two weekends I have weddings and graduation parties. Of course, July is summer programs, too. I figure now offers the best window to get a few days in Central New York, now that the semester is over and I successfully did the California thing.

I also need to cover my blueberry bushes. They are loaded and I'm afraid they will ripen while in Syracuse and the birds will get them all. I need to be strategic as I want to get as many as I can. In my head, I own a blueberry farm, but the couple of plants suffice. I will be ahead of the Nikki/Mike birthdays, but less pressed for time if I get there today for a short bit. I can do most of my other work online and this way I'll be able to cover Father's Day with Butch (I got to Mother's Day, too, but a week or so late).

I'm looking forward to another great breakfast and to listening to books. It's so nice to be back in my car, too. Our rental, a Mitsubishi, was horrible. I've not been in a car with such awful pickup since my high school, college days when my friends and I drove hand-me-down cars. 

Here's to safe travels. I'm in no rush...just going to ride with the day.

And the Award for Canine Best Sport While The Homeowner Is Away Goes to Kararlyn Khara Caramel Cupcake.

Karal wanted to get up at 6 a.m. est., but I convinced her it was too early. I covered my head with a black t-shirt because I didn't fall asleep until 3 a.m. - West to East jet lag is real. I got up, made an omelet, sipped coffee, and tackled email (which took the better part of the day). Besides a quick trip to get a few groceries and a rendezvous of walking Karal 4 miles, my day was spent processing the week's worth of work I put off while away.

The photo of Karal was also sent from Mateo, who stayed at the house and kept her routine of long walks and lots of play.

I much prefer watching the NBA files on West Coast time because they are over by 8 and you can move on. In the east, the 4th game kept me up late.

I also mowed the lawn. I debated if I wanted to wait until the morning but with the threat of rain and higher humidity, I thought it best to get I done before the game started. 

I did my best to lay low and let the time change settle back in. It's not as bad as London and Copenhagen, and it's nowhere near Tokyo. Still, I wanted to acclimate my mind and body to Connecticut time and now put too much pressure on getting out in the world. Besides, the laundry, itself, occupied most of the day.

Nothing Like a Day of Air Travel in Recycled Fart Air. It Began at 5:45 a.m. Pacific Time and Ends at 12:15 p.m. EST. All the Joys.

I'm a regular guy. I need my routines and like my local comforts including the loo for the morning poo and a good two hours to get my brain started. Well, yesterday, that didn't happen. I was go go go...Uber, Bart, Tram, check-in, breakfast, public toilets, terminal, flight. All to travel 3,008 miles from point A (a mini-vacation/family reunion/break) to point B (Karal, the house, a lawn to be mowed, the comforts of local goods, familiarity). 

I must say the veggie burrito for breakfast was great...just would rather have one closer to the world I live and not at an airport. 

The photo is from the stadium at Berkeley named for those that fought in the Great War (WWII). The statue is to honor the Big Game in the 1960s. Chitunga and climbed up the hill to the stadium and, hence, I got this shot.

You know you're in California, though, when the airport has more pho, veggie-burgers, and salads than the usual airport fair.

It was definitely great bonding time for the kid and I: talking plans, ideas, wonders, steps, aging, and life. In so many ways we're complete opposites. In others...we're exactly the same and finish one another's ideas. He's still not the best communicator, but I appreciate his fierce independence and self-reliant ways. Not a fan of how brisk he walks, though, because it's like a slow trot for me to catch up and I get sweaty.

The connection was in Denver and Mateo sent me photos of Karal excited to know I'll be home within 24 hours, which was good inspiration fro the travel.

I knew this trip was about seeing Bobbie & Dick, though. I needed to thread the loop back to them as they were so central to me when I first moved to Louisville....many villages helped to raise me, including their own (and I am thankful). 

Funny how a little town in Sherburne would give birth to 3 Crandalls who have offered guidance throughout my life. As the generation gets older and less mobile, it was important for me to make an effort to share love while I can. 

Ready to Call It a Week: Berkeley, National Writing Project, Knicks Game, and a Speak Easy. I Guess that Will be the Wrap Before Flying All the Way Home Today

I did a good job. I managed to talk Chitunga out of riding bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge because I don't enjoy the heights and wasn't fond of high winds and fog. Instead, I convinced him we needed to BART to see the National Writing Project office at Berkeley and to walk the campus, which was a much better choice, if I do say so myself. We were fortunate, too, because Tanya Baker, Executive Director, was able to meet us for coffee before she had meetings. 

We did walk the campus and it was gorgeous. We trained back and then headed to two bars for the Knicks game: the first packed solid and the second conveniently able to seat us at a bar with a menu for dinner. We ate and watched San Antonia upset the Knicks at home (which makes for a much better series). 

On our way out, Chitunga said we had one more place to stop and when we got to the location, he tapped on the door three times and rang a bell. A man opened and asked, "Are you hear from the Speak Easy?" and Chitunga said we were. The code was Books. We were brought into a dark bar with lots of books and we had a final night cap. I was like, "What is this about," and he reported it's his new thing...finding speakeasies all over the country which apparently is a trend to throw back to prohibition. You walk inside and the waiters and waitresses are dressed in attire of those times. It was fun. 

Tunga said it's a tradition for Alyssa and him to spend the last night of travel so he can get a drink, she can order water, and they debrief the experiences they just had. It was a good tradition to join in on, as we debriefed the week and he said the highlight for him was bonding with Hanna and Samantha, which he wasn't expecting. Now he hopes to connect Samantha with Sue in Louisville. 

I won't be in Connecticut until midnight Eastern time, so I'm departing San Francisco knowing the day will be exceptionally long. I have my books. I paid for extra leg room. I am hopeful for a smooth trip, knowing such travel is rare...but I can hope. And I'm connecting in Denver and that makes me happy, because I love that part of the nation and look forward to seeing the mountains.

Then There Was the Sunday When We Walked 10.5 Miles to and through Golden Gate Park (with Trolly Assistance on the Way Back)

During Covid, when Will, Jess, Chitunga, and I would hike, Will and I used to marvel at how fast Jess and Chitunga can move in their steps. I texted early to say, "Kid, you go all the way. I'll get there, but I can't go as quickly as you do." We started with a visit to San Francisco University, founded in 1855, with one of the most beautiful cathedrals I've ever seen. The campus is simply stunning and the climb up to see over much of the city was beautiful. 

But then we climbed down to find the Golden Gate Park, walked its entirety to the Pacific Ocean, then grabbed a drink at a beach bar, before taking a trolly back to the Wharf where we're staying.

I could walk Golden Gate Park over and over again. There is so much to see, it's clean, it's super diverse, and everyone seems to be there to recreate. I got my pace going, worked up a sweat, and by the time I made it to the ocean, the winds dried me off and caused me to freeze. It was cold by the water. 

These hotel prices are something, though, and it's one of those, "When in Rome...well, San Francisco...pay what the Romans pay." Phew. It is something. 

I keep waiting for my legs to be sore from all the inclines (and they hurt), but it's nothing too painful. I guess it's because I walk so much at home...just not as far or as quick to try to keep up with Chitunga. 

And we finished it off with another Jazz concert, this time starting Frank Catalano, whose resume was quite impressive. His talent on the saxophone was out of this world. We went out for Moroccon food (it was okay) and spend a fortune on another concert - actually, Tunga picked up this one as it was his spur of the moment idea. Definitely an exhausting Sunday and not one for rest like it is supposed to be. 

Not sure what is in store today but I overheard him talking about more hiking. Bless my feet and legs. Pray for the muscles. Give me the mental strength to persevere. Memories are being made. 

San Fran. Paula West. Keys Jazz Bistro. Alcatraz. Lombard Street. Fisherman's Wharf. Burritos. Tired Feed. We Trained/Bused into Golden Gate Bridge Land

I'm definitely not mobile like I used to be and climbing up to Lombard Street and walking back down worked up quite a sweat, even if the temperatures were in the lower 60s. That is an incline. Tunga kept saying, it's only one more block. Bastard. And he's like Legolas in Lord of the Rings. I'm glad we turned in the car and trained/bused in, because I can't imagine navigating this traffic with a car (or finding parking). So many people. So much movement. So many hills. Nope. Better on food. 

After walking all day, Tunga said he wanted to go to a Jazz Bar, so we showed up at Keys Jazz Bistro where Paula West was performing. The musicians and her were amazing and even if the cover charge was steep for live music, there I no regret here. Amazing performance and felt blessed to have the experience. There was quite the applause when she sang, "When that man is dead and gone." (you can guess who she is singing about today...it was/is an Irvin Berlin song written about Adolph Hitler, but rethought given the orange ass destroying our nation at every turn). 

A few manhattan's calmed the bones in the feet and I imagine I'll be tired from the climbing on Lombard Street. We also spend much time looking at the Golden Gate Bridge (too foggy and sunny to see it fully) and Alcatraz). 

Not sure what we'll do today, because the hotel we booked isn't the greatest. Looked wonderful online, but when we opened our doors and saw our mattresses were on the floor and there was nowhere to put our things, we realized San Fran is out of its frickn' mind with these prices. We hope to relocate elsewhere today, but we need a place to sit and plan.

Love visiting major cities but soon conclude there's no way I would ever want to live on top of so many others all the time. Great to visit such locations, but I like my green, the freedom of roads that don't climb straight up and down, and not having that layer of dirt hit ya as soon as you get outside. 

But the view of the city and from the water was/is simply outstanding. 

Moving Beyond Sonora This Morning After a Night of Family at the Hotel & a Day Hike for a Lifetime. So Glad We Did This Trip.

Chitunga and I did old school Columbia, CA (western, gold mining town) and followed it with a hike at New Melones Lake and did the Heron Point Trail. At one point, a bald eagle flew out of the tree and flew over our heads. It was stunning, and then we realized the mate was in the tree and she soon followed. It was a majestic experience for the ages.

At night, after we watched the Knicks for a while at the pool bar, we met Patrick, Hanna, Samantha, Jane, and her friend for Perch Rooftop Dining, the foo-foo-fee scenic restaurant on the top floor. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime dinners and we all ate like royalty. I've never had oysters before, but they were delicious and I will be ordering them in the future again. I had Sea Bass which was also outstanding. 

At dinner, we really dug into great conversations and gained tremendous respect for the beauty and brilliance of Samantha and Hanna, but also at the amazing strength and perseverance of Patrick holding the West Coast family together. A lot more of the t's were crossed and I's dotted. It was a healing and necessary meal.

My face got a little read today while hiking, which became a topic for conversation because Jane is a skin cancer survivor. This led to moisturizing conversations as Hanna is obsessed with never having wrinkles. She is brilliant like her dad and I knew after we broke bread together why it was necessary to do this trip. 

Today, though, we head towards San Francisco. We'll see what comes from it all.