Not quite live Explorer Mazlatan to Vancouver.

[drron29]

So dinner that night.Again straight forward tasty food but lacking any wow or luxury factor.

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[drron29]

Now one of the highlights of the cruise.Sailing into San Francisco at dawn.A bit of fog but still outstanding.

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Not the warmest of mornings.

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Those birds keep photobombing me.

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[drron29]

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I mentioned the whales before.There was a lot of activity that morning but mainly blows and just how exciting is that.

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There were however quite a few breaches.Unfortunately the whales don't advertise just where this is going to happen which means this is what I got-

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

 

 

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[drron29]

Alcatraz appears through the fog.

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[Stumblefoot]

How was the wind on the in under the fancy bridge?

 

 

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[drron29]

The wind wasn't too bad.The temperature wasn't too high though.And I guess it wouldn't be San Francisco without the fog.Despite all that I really enjoyed this entrance.

 

 

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[rojaan19]

How was the wind on the in under the fancy bridge?

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Well it was VERY windy and bloody cold ! I had on my blue SS parka coat but no warm hat - so I took some of the photos, but Ron went out on deck - he is a hardy soul ;)

[drron29]

Of course there is also the Bay bridge.We were in San Francisco a month after 9/11.There was a major security alert when it was thought the bridges were under threat.In a mood of defiance we drove over each of San Fran's bridges with the only other vehicle on the road an army hummer alongside us.

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Amazing the numbers of cormorants flying out to sea.

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[drron29]

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Once again good to see those that paid the ultimate price honoured.

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

 

 

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[drron29]

Getting close to our berth.

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And this is it.

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[Unibok]

As a native to the area, I believe a visit to San Francisco isn't complete without fog -- it is so much of the bay area experience. How beautiful to sail in at dawn with the early morning fog. Very special indeed. Your pictures brought me home.

[Stumblefoot]

Well it was VERY windy and bloody cold ! I had on my blue SS parka coat but no warm hat - so I took some of the photos, but Ron went out on deck - he is a hardy soul ;)

He is a hardy soul! Our very first SS Cruise we sailed from San Fran in August on the Shadow and it was amazing how the wind was howling and quite chilly as we passed under the bridge.

 

 

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[Stumblefoot]

Once again good to see those that paid the ultimate price honoured.

Thought you might enjoy this pic of our friend today who works for the American Battle Monuments Commission over in France [emoji632] as they prepare the cemeteries for our Memorial Day holiday that honors those who paid the ultimate price for their service to our country. Look how precisely they place the flags at each grave stone marker.

 

 

 

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[RachelG]

He is a hardy soul! Our very first SS Cruise we sailed from San Fran in August on the Shadow and it was amazing how the wind was howling and quite chilly as we passed under the bridge.

 

 

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I have always been cold in San Francisco. What is that Mark Twain saying? Something about the coldest winter he was ever in was Summer in San Francisco.

[Stumblefoot]

I have always been cold in San Francisco. What is that Mark Twain saying? Something about the coldest winter he was ever in was Summer in San Francisco.

I agree! And, the amazing thing is how much warmer/hotter it is by crossing into the east bay.

 

 

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[drron29]

I have been known to sweat in Antarctica so i really didn't think it was that bad.

But anyway we have been to San Francisco many times though now we usually stay to the east.So the city tour or the Muir woods add on really didn't appeal to us.So we just went for a walk to bring back memories.On our first visit to the USA back in 1981 we first landed at San Francisco.I was there for a medical conference.Memorable as it was the years HIV became headline news.

But also learnt about American culture particularly tipping.In those days to an Australian a tip was either a place you took your garbage or a piece of advice for Saturday's horse race.We soon learnt your meaning.Being chased down the road by a Chinese chef brandishing a meat cleaver certainly caused us to focus on your ways.Fortunately we were taken under the wing of the Maitre'd at the White Elephant restaurant in the holiday Inn on Union Square.No problems since.

 

 

We loved the Fisherman's wharf area so we just walked.didn't take our cameras so just a few pictures by phone.Now this is my kind of boat-Wine Therapy.

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Fisherman's wharf itself was just so sad.Nothing like the feeling back in 81.

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[drron29]

We were determined though to have a seafood lunch.On the previous voyage we learnt of Boudins from the neice of the current family owners.

https://boudinbakery.com/boudin-at-the-wharf/

Now we are not lovers of sour dough so downstairs had little appeal for us so upstairs it was.Fantastic.We started off sharing a bowl of mussels with lots of garlic.

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Then a platter of Dungeness crab.

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Which made someone very happy.

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We love our garlic and San Francisco is a great place to find it used.After all Gilroy,the garlic capital of the world,is just down the road.For the full garlic experience this place is it

https://thestinkingrose.com/sf/menu1.html

But we love their sister restaurant to the east.

https://www.thedeadfish.com/

Their platters of mussels,crab etc are heaven for us.

[Stumblefoot]

So, so funny! Seeing the crazy sight of a Chinese chef chasing an Aussie couple down the street in one of America’s most liberal cities back to their iconic brand hotel sounds, well, so American.

 

Speaking of tipping, we depart in one week for our first river cruise. DW told me the Cruise Mgr and Crew expect to receive tips and the company even offered a recommendation that is over $60/daily. After sailing on SS only, you can imagine my surprise, especially when the per diem cost of the river cruise is much higher than any SS cruise we’ve done.

 

 

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[drron29]

Time to sail away.We did have regards for our fellow passengers and tried to keep our distance.

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Once again a Coast guard escort.Much more pro active going after any small boat that tried to get a closer look such as this one.

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[drron29]

There are other bridges surrounding San francisco-

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And this one in the distance.

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But we had eyes for only one.

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[drron29]

This yacht was a serial offender.The coast guard had had enough.

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We learnt later from the Captain that while this was going on a sailboarder continually tried to cut across the bow of the Explorer.As she said if he had capsized the Explorer wouldn't have been able to stop.Apparently the Coast guard ended up pushing him out of the way.Stupid is as stupid does.

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