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.