Welcome to California!

They say a man and a woman can see the same thing, yet tell completely different stories! I asked Jennifer to add her comments about our trip! Read below for my take and her take on one amazing trip! :)

Scott - Howdy and welcome to NAPA valley, California - the premier wine growing area in the country! Jen and I were at it again leaving Texas in our dust and followed Manifest Destiny straight to the coast! We took a tour of Robert Mandovi's winery and got to sample some $200 wine! We both prefer white wine and let me tell you, get some food in yourself before you try this at home!

Jen - I like the Manifest Destiny comment, a phrase used in both acquiring BOTH Texas and the West Coast. You forgot to add that you went back for seconds! (Riesling wine is the best white wine because it tastes least like tree bark). A recommendation I received - http://www.shademountainwinery.com/wine/white.html

Scott - Here I am in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. $5 toll - definately worth it! Such beautiful scenary in the San Francisco area!

Jen - Ham. At least the photographer is good. Remember when I told you how upset I used to get when I spelled words wrong? Scott would have been out in round one of the spelling bee! "Definitely, Scenery, Blatant, Mondovi, Trolley, Absolutely, A lot".

Scott - Chooooo-chooooo!! Here we are being blantant tourists, riding the Trolly cars from Powell Street to Fisherman's Wharf (How many times did the guy 'try' and take this shot?!). So anyone for seafood? While Jen was stuffing her mouth with shrimp and clam chowder, I used my time wisely and purchased some cool license plates they sell downtown! (With the wind from the bay always remember to bring a jacket since it is 20 degrees colder near the Bay!

Jen - 'Ding ding' would have been more appropriate, since there was no engine and there was a bell, but good idea. Really good picture though; I also like the one you took of me and the Fisherman's Warf. I've never seen the sky as blue as out there. You could have said we also spent time for you at the In & Out Burger as an alternative to enjoying the food San Fran is known for!

Scott - Lombard street! Yep, here's that famous winding road everyone drives along in San Fran. Speaking of cars, I was lucky to get a rental car for this trip. Cruising on US 101 and Cali Rt 1 absotuley rocked! We learned from our last trip that taxi fares would be too much, we adjusted and had a blast in the process!

Jen - Credit the navigator :

Scott - Alcatraz! Yep law enforcement finally found me and off I went to the most notorious prison! Yee-haw, luckily I was joined by like 200 eager "visitors". I know this was Jen's favorite part, and boy did we learn alot about Al Capone, "Machine Gun Kelly" etc. Got the headset tour, listened to the cell doors open and close, and got the "private tour" of the hospital facilities. Anyone for a sleep-over? It's illegal, but possible! :)

Jen - Law enforcement, haha, right Scott, you country yee haw boy, this was my favorite part! How did you guess? The night tour was amazing!

Scott - Here's a view from our hotel. I personally thought this looked like Italy with the rolling hills and green green trees, but alas it was Central CA! Nice location in San Rafael, just a 15 minute cruise to San Fran and Oakland. Thanks for the free breakfasts and pool/hot tub area!

Jen - Next time we'll be sure to ask for extra pillows!!

Scott - Both being HUGE sports fans we took in an A's - Blue Jays baseball game! Great seats watching my boy, Tim Hudson, throw a complete game shut-out! And remember kids, always wear your sunscreen! Later we took a drive to SBC Park (Giants Stadium). On our way we listened to Smarty Jones lose the Triple crown horse race! boooooo (but I told you soo Jen). How much is it for parking 25 cents for 10 minutes?!?!

Jen - And whose brilliant idea was it to make it to Oakland?!? (you need " - " before 25). Too bad Scott didn't send me the other picture of the scoreboard. Oh well. I'm glad Smarty Jones lost, I didn't miss the chance to see a triple crown by going to CA. No picture of SBC? Why not?

Scott - Ok so I tried to be fancy with my Adobe Photoshop but alas I got tired. But I don't care this shot(s) still rocks! Where are we? Can you say the Pacific Ocean! Yep yep, it was freezing cold (bon-fires on the beach), but we still splashed around and even got spinny-with-it! Then we drove up to Lincoln Park and watched the sunset (above).

Jen - We hit up the beach AFTER the fabulous Golden Gate Park and cruising around looking at the awesome houses in the city. Remember the seals on the rocks?

Scott - Here is the picture that almost got me run over! We just got off the GGB and I looked over my shoulder and saw this view (even more amazing in person), and I said to myself, "I have to get this shot". So I screech the car to a stop at the nearest "open space" and ran back along the "mountain side" 6 inches from oncoming traffic, to snap this beauty! Jen later wondered if I got hit by a car if I would have called her cell. AS IF!!! Later we visited the town of Sausalito. Amazing views and plenty of "Yacht vs Sail-boat" action!

Jen - What do you mean 'as if' ? If you were lying there you would have wanted to call someone who could get you help before you went unconscious. If you called the wrong person you might have wasted your time and may have died. I would have been a very logical choice.

Scott - Yeah baby! We'd tasted some expensive wines in Napa Valley so we figured we do some "extra homework" and stopped at a SafeWay and picked up this $9.95 bottle of Camelot white wine! hehe Two hours later there was nothing left in that bottle, and only the TV on with some Chris Isaac movie on Showtime! :)

Jen - I think Camelot was actually cheaper than that. Chris Isaac's movie was not a highlight. Scott losing his ice cream, being rejected by Hooters to use their bathroom or trying to open the wine were more memorable (or Old Sacramento, Bay Bridge, or the Rose garden!). I want to go back!