thank you, Toby. I moved to San Francisco in 1969, 19 years old, from a small farm in Western Oregon. it felt like home immediately! I lost the magic for many years, glad it's still there!
Been several times since we live so close. My husband and I drove up the coast from San Diego to SF for our one year wedding anniversary . Never would’ve thought we’d live next door with 4 children. Funny how life is full of things you never expect.
First trip to San Franscisco was in 1981 to celebrate our 4th anniversary. I was recovering from a major bout of food poisoning which haunted me for a year. A friend arranged for us to stay a an acquaintance's townhome right on the bus route. Lovely place filled with the homeowner's photos of her naked self everywhere..... Pretty crazy. Loved everywhere we went, especially the Science Museum, Tea Garden, and Chinatown. Halloween on Castro Street was epic. Been back twice more. The last time we took a behind the scenes tour of Chinatown with our older son ..... totally terrific and an nighttime tour of Alcatraz. Unforgettable. Sure, there are issues in the city, but it is also pretty wonderful.
I understand your fascination with SF. While stationed on a Navy ship homeported in Concord CA at the weapons station, when we were not deployed in the 1972 - 1975 period, I'd drive to SF for dim sum or to play volleyball at the Marina green. Or for Irish coffees at a bar in the North Beach neighborhood. It was fun and a great diversion from my Navy responsibilities. The neighborhoods like Daly City were interesting. Also saw the gritty industrial side of the shipyards on the southeast side off I280 when we were in the yards for maintenance. A decade later, I took a round-the-city drive with my sister who had started dental school at the UOP. We had beautiful weather and still talk about that day. The movie Dirty Harry always reminds me of the City of the time.
Your description of driving terror in SF I can understand. I drove a manual transmission Fiat convertible and the worst situation was having to stop on a steep incline uphill with other cars behind you. That's when I learned to use the hand parking brake to hold the car from sliding backwards until you could get first gear and the clutch engaged.
There were some unpleasant things like the Zodiac killer and the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapping of Patty Hearst that had people unnerved.
Like your parents - i was a "Hippy" (FYI: Hippies never die, they just change realities.) i had hitchhiked with a couple of other guys, to Mexico. Spent a couple of days then hitched back. We got separated in San Fran - i ended up at the 'San Fan Francisco Zen Center' to stay overnight. After i was fed, and walking back to my room, i noticed that the pots were piled up in the kitchen with the cook rushing around like crazy. So i started washing pots. I left about 6 weeks later. Spent my time attending meditation sessions and talks and washing pots. From there, i ended up in Fire Lookout. Enjoying reading your little peeks into your life.
As always Toby, your adventurous spirit inspires me. When I read Freckled, I thought this woman has been through so much and borne it so well. It humbled me. So many of the places you go I have also been. My family moved to the Bay Area when I was 9 in 1962. I lived there until 2015 when we moved to Maui. I worked in SF from 1979 until I retired in 2014. We loved it, but it was too cold in the winter. Anyway, take care. In my dreams, I host a big party with you, Mike, Lisa and Jeff Giesick and Jim and Molly Jacobson at Mama’s. I think you know some of them.
We love San Francisco and go there every year to attend the hardly strictly bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park the first week of October. My daughter has also been living in San Francisco since 2018. I am now retired from a 25 year career of teaching AP literature at Kekaulike High School.
I have lived in the SFBA for over 40 years now. I actually started working in SF in 1984 and had driven in downtown San Francisco before that in my previous job as a field engineer. Driving up and down those hills can be rather exciting. Mahalo for writing this!
My family moved to Milpitas, CA (about an hour south of San Francisco) when I was 11. I love The City, as we called it. When I was in high school, my friends and I would regularly cut class to either go surfing in Santa Cruz or hang out in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Last year I got the chance to show my oldest daughter a little bit of The City when we sent down for a day and a half to watch the Warriors at their new arena downtown.
Golden Gate Park is one of my favorite places in San Francisco. There's just so much to see there.
I particularly love how wild and ungroomed a lot of it is. You really get a feeling of being in nature on the outlying trails, and every kind of wild animal is there!
Mahalo for the wonderful tour of San Francisco. I have never been to Northern CA. I live in NJ and my bestie is in Orange County. Prior to Covid I was supposed to visit her then fly to San Fran and the wine country. Alas, that has happened yet. Anyway, thanks for sharing your memories of your wonderful love story with Mike.
Yes, I have been to San Francisco, maybe about the first time you were. We stayed in a little court across from the zoo. It was the sweetest thing ever! An apartment sized cookstove from the 1930's or earlier, an enameled exterior. The two men who owned the little courts were in love with my Yorkie, and she felt the same about them.
My husband was there for a meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herptetologists, so you can imagine what he was thrilled with. He is a marine scientists, and we have had an interesting life for it.
The visit to the botanical gardens was my highlight. I cannot say I loved the city. I loved seeing the famous Chinatown and the steep, steeps streets. But when we went on the highest lookout, (I've forgotten the name) I looked down on the city and thought "anthill." It just gave me the creeps. I admit though, while in the midst of it, it was very exciting.
I know the place you were talking about, it is called Ocean Park Motel and they are pet friendly! I have stayed there many times myself and I love the old fashion charm! They are still operating and are my favorite place to stay when I'm not with my family.
Having lived in the Bay Area for more than 30 years, I fell in love with San Francisco over the years. It was always a favorite destination and we visited often. I too drove in San Francisco many times, often white-knuckled, especially on Lombard Street! I love your description of the city and how it somehow holds a piece of your heart. It has changed a lot since I first visited the City and attended baseball games at the Candlestick as a teenager. But it is still a jewel that keeps shining and twinkling in the fog and in the sun!
I am looking forward to seeing SF in a few months. I've been to 49 states, lived in 8. Alaska next summer will finish that bucket list item. Really enjoying traveling! Did 9 days in Maui last August after a writer friend (😉) recommended! You are a great travel agent Toby!
Born & raised there. Moved to PDX a few years ago. 😎
thank you, Toby. I moved to San Francisco in 1969, 19 years old, from a small farm in Western Oregon. it felt like home immediately! I lost the magic for many years, glad it's still there!
Been several times since we live so close. My husband and I drove up the coast from San Diego to SF for our one year wedding anniversary . Never would’ve thought we’d live next door with 4 children. Funny how life is full of things you never expect.
First trip to San Franscisco was in 1981 to celebrate our 4th anniversary. I was recovering from a major bout of food poisoning which haunted me for a year. A friend arranged for us to stay a an acquaintance's townhome right on the bus route. Lovely place filled with the homeowner's photos of her naked self everywhere..... Pretty crazy. Loved everywhere we went, especially the Science Museum, Tea Garden, and Chinatown. Halloween on Castro Street was epic. Been back twice more. The last time we took a behind the scenes tour of Chinatown with our older son ..... totally terrific and an nighttime tour of Alcatraz. Unforgettable. Sure, there are issues in the city, but it is also pretty wonderful.
Love this!
I understand your fascination with SF. While stationed on a Navy ship homeported in Concord CA at the weapons station, when we were not deployed in the 1972 - 1975 period, I'd drive to SF for dim sum or to play volleyball at the Marina green. Or for Irish coffees at a bar in the North Beach neighborhood. It was fun and a great diversion from my Navy responsibilities. The neighborhoods like Daly City were interesting. Also saw the gritty industrial side of the shipyards on the southeast side off I280 when we were in the yards for maintenance. A decade later, I took a round-the-city drive with my sister who had started dental school at the UOP. We had beautiful weather and still talk about that day. The movie Dirty Harry always reminds me of the City of the time.
Your description of driving terror in SF I can understand. I drove a manual transmission Fiat convertible and the worst situation was having to stop on a steep incline uphill with other cars behind you. That's when I learned to use the hand parking brake to hold the car from sliding backwards until you could get first gear and the clutch engaged.
There were some unpleasant things like the Zodiac killer and the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapping of Patty Hearst that had people unnerved.
I love your story, thanks so much for sharing. And thanks for understanding my driving issues!
Like your parents - i was a "Hippy" (FYI: Hippies never die, they just change realities.) i had hitchhiked with a couple of other guys, to Mexico. Spent a couple of days then hitched back. We got separated in San Fran - i ended up at the 'San Fan Francisco Zen Center' to stay overnight. After i was fed, and walking back to my room, i noticed that the pots were piled up in the kitchen with the cook rushing around like crazy. So i started washing pots. I left about 6 weeks later. Spent my time attending meditation sessions and talks and washing pots. From there, i ended up in Fire Lookout. Enjoying reading your little peeks into your life.
Thanks so much for sharing and being a part of it! 🙏🏻
As always Toby, your adventurous spirit inspires me. When I read Freckled, I thought this woman has been through so much and borne it so well. It humbled me. So many of the places you go I have also been. My family moved to the Bay Area when I was 9 in 1962. I lived there until 2015 when we moved to Maui. I worked in SF from 1979 until I retired in 2014. We loved it, but it was too cold in the winter. Anyway, take care. In my dreams, I host a big party with you, Mike, Lisa and Jeff Giesick and Jim and Molly Jacobson at Mama’s. I think you know some of them.
We know and love them all! Let's make that happen!
We love San Francisco and go there every year to attend the hardly strictly bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park the first week of October. My daughter has also been living in San Francisco since 2018. I am now retired from a 25 year career of teaching AP literature at Kekaulike High School.
Yay you! Maybe we can connect next time you go to the festival!
I have lived in the SFBA for over 40 years now. I actually started working in SF in 1984 and had driven in downtown San Francisco before that in my previous job as a field engineer. Driving up and down those hills can be rather exciting. Mahalo for writing this!
You're welcome, it was a joy to revisit my early memories of the city.
My family moved to Milpitas, CA (about an hour south of San Francisco) when I was 11. I love The City, as we called it. When I was in high school, my friends and I would regularly cut class to either go surfing in Santa Cruz or hang out in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Last year I got the chance to show my oldest daughter a little bit of The City when we sent down for a day and a half to watch the Warriors at their new arena downtown.
Golden Gate Park is one of my favorite places in San Francisco. There's just so much to see there.
I particularly love how wild and ungroomed a lot of it is. You really get a feeling of being in nature on the outlying trails, and every kind of wild animal is there!
Mahalo for the wonderful tour of San Francisco. I have never been to Northern CA. I live in NJ and my bestie is in Orange County. Prior to Covid I was supposed to visit her then fly to San Fran and the wine country. Alas, that has happened yet. Anyway, thanks for sharing your memories of your wonderful love story with Mike.
You're welcome! I hope you still get to make that trip! It's definitely worth doing.
Yes, I have been to San Francisco, maybe about the first time you were. We stayed in a little court across from the zoo. It was the sweetest thing ever! An apartment sized cookstove from the 1930's or earlier, an enameled exterior. The two men who owned the little courts were in love with my Yorkie, and she felt the same about them.
My husband was there for a meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herptetologists, so you can imagine what he was thrilled with. He is a marine scientists, and we have had an interesting life for it.
The visit to the botanical gardens was my highlight. I cannot say I loved the city. I loved seeing the famous Chinatown and the steep, steeps streets. But when we went on the highest lookout, (I've forgotten the name) I looked down on the city and thought "anthill." It just gave me the creeps. I admit though, while in the midst of it, it was very exciting.
I know the place you were talking about, it is called Ocean Park Motel and they are pet friendly! I have stayed there many times myself and I love the old fashion charm! They are still operating and are my favorite place to stay when I'm not with my family.
Having lived in the Bay Area for more than 30 years, I fell in love with San Francisco over the years. It was always a favorite destination and we visited often. I too drove in San Francisco many times, often white-knuckled, especially on Lombard Street! I love your description of the city and how it somehow holds a piece of your heart. It has changed a lot since I first visited the City and attended baseball games at the Candlestick as a teenager. But it is still a jewel that keeps shining and twinkling in the fog and in the sun!
Perfectly said... it IS a jewel of a city!
I am looking forward to seeing SF in a few months. I've been to 49 states, lived in 8. Alaska next summer will finish that bucket list item. Really enjoying traveling! Did 9 days in Maui last August after a writer friend (😉) recommended! You are a great travel agent Toby!
Yay! Hope you have an amazing time!
Stripped the gears on my dads vw bug driving in sf. Those hills are scary.
Loved going to golden gate park in the 70's. They would close it traffic on sundays so everyone could bike or roller skate.
They close The Great Highway along the beach on weekends now. It's great!
Since I live about 45 miles away I’ve been there quite a few times.
Like you, Toby, the traffic terrifies me, so we take public transit when we go.
Smart lady!