Archive for July, 2008
Before we left this morning, I looked up breakfast places in Berkeley. We usually eat at Bette’s Ocean View Diner but decided to try somewhere different today. Cafe Durant was well recommended so we programed the address into Mollie (affectionate term for our GPS) and set off.
(click on the thumbnails for a larger version)
As we turned onto Durant Avenue in Berkeley, we began to have doubts. Maybe we had put in the wrong address. But Mollie deposited us right outside. I had read a few reviews which mentioned it being upstairs and I could see the tables, chairs and umbrellas on the second floor but still the entrance is very hard to find. There are several restaurants in the same building so look for the clues. First clue is on the big sign outside. There is an arrow pointing downwards. So we walked into a dimly lit entry way. The next clue is on the wall to the right on which is another arrow and a sign saying ‘Upstairs and turn left’.
It is unashamably a Mexican restaurant. At first we were a bit reluctant to enter. For a start the place was almost empty - never a good sign. Also it looks a bit run down. We decided though that if we could stomach the Video Cafe last weekend we should be able to manage this. We had to find out why the reviews were so good.
There was just one customer inside and he had obviously overheard our conversation. He was a young man and he told us that, indeed, the food was very good. We asked where everybody was and he said that this was early for Berkeley (8 a.m.). Even the 7-11 does not open until 8 a.m. He also said that we could sit anywhere but we had to go to the counter to order first.
The menu is huge and displayed up on the wall. I had difficulty finding the oatmeal, due to the glare of a 
badly placed spotlight, but it was there. I asked if it was cooked in the microwave but was assured that it was cooked in a pan, so I went for it ($2.95). I also order a fruit salad (3.95). Tom ordered Huevos Con Chorizo (not sure of the price but about $7).
(Again, click on the thumb for a larger version.)
The seating was different. No booths. White linen talecloths with a sheet of glass on top. Underneath each one were colorful soccer posters and every table was different. All the chairs were made out of bamboo and had cushioned seats. Out on the patio were twelve plastic tables and chairs.
The rest of the decor was bright and cheerful. Big colorful pictures on the walls plus painted plates, plaques, hanging bunches of ceramic fruit and even a wonderful black sombrero with silver decoration. Most impressive were two large, intricate, tiled mosaics.
The food was served to our table pretty fast - well we were the only customers by now. The oatmeal arrived on a large, blue, ceramic plate in a wide, shallow, round, plastic bowl with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Sugar, raisins and milk came in small plastic pots. There was not enough milk so I had to ask for more. The fruit salad came in an identical bowl to the oatmeal and contained cubes of green & orange melon and apples with slices of bananas and strawberries. It was a large portion. Tom’s Huevos, with its rice, refried and black beans with a flour tortillas, looked truly Mexican. My oatmeal was so-so but Tom was well impressed with his, so the reputation of Cafe Durant is well founded.
One word of caution, do not use the restroom - it’s pretty disgusting. To get to it you have to walk through the kitchen. When I told Tom he commented that it was part of the charm. Yeah right.
Conclusion. If you are up for trying something different and you like Mexican food, this is the place for you.
Note from Tom: Bette’s is much better. Not Mexican but wonderful scrambled eggs.
July 26 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
This might not be a good idea. We leave home at 5.30 in the dark. As we approach San Francisco on Hwy 280, the fog blankets us. It will probably be foggy at Baker Beach and we may not be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge.
First stop though is Peet’s on Geary for a coffee and quick perusal of the SF Chronicle. This is the same Peet’s where I left my pack earlier in the year. I made sure I kept my eye on my pack this time. While sitting there doing my Sudoku puzzle, I noticed a homeless guy outside on the sidewalk trying to get my attention. He stood there for about five minutes but I did not look directly at him even though he was waving at me. Tom was completely oblivious being immersed in his newspaper. I felt distinctly uncomfortable and was pleased when he shuffled away having failed to get me to look properly at him.
(Click the image for a larger version)
At 7.30 a.m. we were back in the car heading along Geary Blvd towards the ocean. I find the streets of San Francisco fascinating. Always something different to catch the eye; unusual architecture, funky shops, interesting pedestrians. Even the derelict buildings demand attention. There was an old boarded up movie theater with a sign outside still trying to tempt customers to ‘Come On In’.
We turned right on 25th Avenue and headed north to Lincoln Blvd. One thing I noticed is the number of shops selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Even at this time of the morning they are open and their goods arranged outside.
On Lincoln, we turn left onto Gibson Road, carefully avoiding several joggers out doing their early morning thing. The car park at Baker Beach was almost empty.
The fog is thick. Just across the water the Marin Headlands are hidden and as we walk onto the beach only the bottom part of the nearest pier of the Golden Gate Bridge is visible. We can’t even see the roadway. Tom decides that taking photos is not a good idea. There is a slight drizzle as well and this is not good for the camera lens. We decide to go and find somewhere for breakfast. (See breakfast log).
At 8.30 we take the same route back to Baker Beach. The fog has lifted slightly - the roadway and the bottom part of the far pier are now visible - so we set off to walk down the beach. Now on a sunny day this is a great place to visit. There is a long sandy beach and a wonderful view of the bridge. I remember my first visit here. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before so I won’t bore you again with the details. Suffice it to say that there is a nudist beach at the eastern end and neither of us were aware of that fact beforehand.
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July 23 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
Normally this is not the sort of place we would ever think of going to. It’s on Geary and 21st Avenue in the Richmond District. We asked in Starbucks, where Tom bought the New York Times, if they could recommend a good place for breakfast and this was it. As we had been cruising around for fifteen minutes searching for somewhere to eat, we decided that, like it or not, we would give it a try.
To say we were skeptical is putting it mildly. One of the big signs outside said ‘Thai Me Up’ menu and that was enough to put us off. Taking a deep breath, we opened the door.
Right from the start it was off putting. The first section is a video store and the cafe is behind. The tiles on the floor made it look like a restroom and there is a vague, undefined smell. It’s not overpoweringly obnoxious, just faintly disturbing.
It’s a large place with bright red vinyl seats. We chose a booth in the window. The seats are not at all comfortable, being kind of low. We were tempted to walk out but there was nowhere else to go so we grimaced and bit the bullet.
The menu is limited and no specials were on offer at all. There was oatmeal for $3.95 but I asked if was cooked in a microwave and the server said yes. So that’s a definite put off. I chose eggs and bacon with fruit instead of home fries or hash browns, and with wheat toast ($6.95). Tom ordered eggs, Italian sausages, hash browns and English muffins ($7.95). No coffee though as we’ve already had that earlier.
Now the decor. Lots of movie posters on the walls, some going back to the 1980’s - ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Superman IV’. There were some more modern ones though like ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Time Machine’. Amongst all the posters and faded cut out movie adverts is one large photo on the far wall of the World Trade Center.
The food arrived. Our eggs were small and clumped together. My bacon looked dry. As I’ve said before, the bacon in the US is not at all like the back rashers in the UK. We both cleared our plates so it couldn’t have been that bad. We were not impressed with the cutlery - way too flimsy. Press too hard and the forks bent. Tom also complained his fork had a metallic taste.
Now I do like to say something positive so here’s the good points. My fruit was fresh - cantaloupe, water melon, banana and grapes. Definitely not out of a tin. The preserves were not pre-packed in plastic containers, though the jars were a little grungy.
I didn’t relish the visit to the restroom but, for the sake of completeness and because you have all now come to expect it, I made the sacrifice. The Ladies was a bit grubby but I have been in worst places. The only decoration, if you could call it that, was the handwritten sign, Scotch taped to the wall, which said:
PLEASE DO NOT OVERFLOOD WITH TOILET PAPERS, PAPER TOWELS AND SANITARY SUPPLIES. Thanks
Our conclusion - if Dennys is your usual breakfast haunt you will probably like it but we will not be coming again. Note from Tom: I think I might like Dennys better.
July 20 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
After stopping for breakfast in Walnut Creek, we set off north on 680 to cross the Benicia Bridge. It always amuses us when we cross this bridge as our GPS doesn’t show the new bridge and there, on the screen, is our car in the middle of the Carquinez Straits! And there’s Molly (yes, we’ve named our GPS) yelling, “recalculating, recalculating”. North of the bridge we take the road towards Fairfield and pass the mothball fleet rusting away in Suisun Bay.
At the end of 680 we join 80 for a few miles before turning right onto Highway 12 towards Suisun City. Another few miles brings us to the turn off to Grizzly Island on Grizzly island Road. We pass a few new houses and, before we know it, we are out in the boonies. Suddenly we were surrounded by open land, a few hills and lots of water.
The drive to the entrance of the wildlife area is about 10 miles. On the way we passed a boat launch, crossed over a high, flimsy looking bridge with very low guard rails and then a public fishing pier. There were already quite a few people fishing.
At 8 a.m. we arrive at the Wildlife HQ where you have to register. At the weekends it is not manned but there is a little kiosk where you fill in your details, tear off the bottom to keep with you and envelopes to deposit your fee - $2.50 per person. Outside there is a post in which you put the envelope.
It is a nice sunny day, a bit hazy but with quite a wind. The temperature is 66 degrees. For about the last 10 days we have suffered some really hot weather so this is far more pleasant - apart from the wind of course.
Yesterday I printed a map of Grizzly Island so, armed with that, we set off to drive into the refuge. The area is the largest area of wetlands in California. As we drive away from the headquarters, we were warned that the pavement would be ending and soon we were driving very slowly along a gravel road. Several cars passed us plus a large truck and then, coming from the other direction, a tanker. Why did we bother to get the car cleaned yesterday!
Our purpose is go on a hike. Tom is keen to take photos and I’m on the lookout for wildlife. There are elk roaming wild here and we may spot some if we are lucky.
On the right hand side of the road is a canal and I spot a river otter swimming in the water. I wanted to stop but it wasn’t safe to do so. We drove on to the nearest car park, which happened to be Lot 3. I rushed across the road but I didn’t see the otter again. I would have loved to have got a picture of it.
We decide to leave the car in this car park and headed off with all our equipment. Me with notebook, pen,
camera and binoculars and Tom with his camera and tripod. A couple of guys returned to the car park carrying bows and arrows. I wonder what they have been shooting. Maybe they’ve just been practicing. I know they do close the area at certain times of the year to allow hunting. Later on this month and during all of August there will be elk hunting. Only a limited number of people are issued hunting tags and everything is strictly controlled. There is also wildfowl, pheasant, dove, wild hog and rabbit hunting. Hunting with falcons is also permitted.
To get to the trails we cross a low, narrow wooden bridge and could either turn right or left on the canal levee or head straight ahead towards Howard Slough. We chose to strike off across land.
The path is flat but uneven. It is covered in ankle high rough grass, rank weeds and wildflowers. In winter and after rain the paths can be really muddy so whatever the time of the year, it is best to wear sensible shoes or, better still, hiking boots. There are quite a few hidden potholes and Tom managed to find three of them.
We saw a low flying harrier looking for his breakfast and further along the path a killdeer was flying around and making a hell of a racket but that was about the only wildlife we saw. It was good to walk out in the fresh air with nobody else in sight at all.
To our left was a dried up overflow slough and in several places there are crossing tracks made by large animals - elk? wild hogs?
We reach Howard Slough and walk to the Del Aqua Ditch. There we saw quite a few dead and bloated fish. It reminded us of the dead anchovies at Pillar Point Harbor but there was no friendly fisherman to tell us what had happened to the fish here.
After spending a happy couple of hours exploring Grizzly Isand, we head back to the car. We are now heading to Brentwood and their annual Corn Fest.
July 17 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
I didn’t go the the UK and Farnborough Airshow in the end. Two days before I was due to leave the number 
going was cut from seven to six and I was sacrificed. So here we are today out and about.
Our aim is to go Grizzly Island on the north side of the bay. We set out at 5.30 and at 6.30 we pulled into Walnut Creek to see if we could find somewhere to eat. Sure enough on North Main we spotted Mel’s which opens at 6 a.m.
It’s your quintessential 50’s type diner, set at the Cypress Street intersection with a small eating area outside sporting a few tables, chairs and umbrellas. There are black and white tiles both inside and out. It is compact with mostly booths and with seats up at the counter. On each table is a jukebox with a selection of old songs form the 50s, 60’s and 70’s. It costs 50c for one song or 3 for $1.
The breakfast menu isn’t large but there was oatmeal. It was only offered in a package called Up ‘N At ‘Em with a choice of oatmeal, granola or cold cereal with toast, juice and coffee or tea, all for $6.59. Tom ordered Mel’s San Francisco Scramble which was $8.29. The coffee was $2.19 - what weird prices!
Mel’s is clean, bright and fresh. The windows are large so it is easy to see what is gong on outside, though at this time of the morning there’s not much to see. Every inch of wall is covered in old photos of various Mel’s drive-ins and diners. The first Mel’s opened in 1947.
Five minutes after ordering, my orange juice and tea arrived. I was impressed with the tea. A glass plate was presented to me on which was a mug, a jug of hot water and a choice of tea bags - black tea, Earl Grey, herb and green tea. There was even some honey. Hey, I can even have two cups.
In another five minutes our food was served. My oatmeal came in a small round bowl on an oval plate. Next to the bowl was the toast. On another glass plate came the sugar and raisins in two plastic pots with lids. I dislike sugar like this as it’s always compacted and difficult to break up so it can be sprinkled on top of the oatmeal. The milk came in a small glass jug. Even though it didn’t look as though there would be enough milk, there was, in fact, plenty.
Of course I have to check out the restroom and, to be truthful, I was disappointed. There was just one unisex room at the back. It was large, clean and functional with nice hot water. Not one single piece of decoration to liven up the place at all though. In fact it can be summed up in one word - boring.
In summary, both Tom and I agreed that the food was good, as was the service, so we will recommend it.
July 14 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Tom has been to Yosemite Valley a bunch of times and I have been maybe half a dozen times but neither of us has ever been to Glacier Point. Here are some nice photos from Park Vision. So when Tom’s Dad, Don, suggested we take a trip up there, we were all for it.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Yosemite is about an hour’s drive north of Fresno and we set out at 7.30. It is going to be yet another very hot day in Fresno but it may be cooler up in the mountains.
We head north on Route 41 and drive through Coarsegold, with its huge casino on the hill, and Oakhurst and enter Yosemite through the south entrance.
Immediately I am on the lookout for bears. One day I just know I’ll be lucky. All the while we are in the park, I have my camera ready and waiting.
At the beginning there is not much traffic but fifteen minutes in we join the end of a caravan and our speed drops to below 30. There are turn outs and the caravan gets shorter but I prefer going slower - more chances of seeing a bear.
At Chinquapin we turn right towards Glacier Point. It is an interesting 16 mile drive to our destination.
There is one really scary bend near the end where I had to close my eyes.
We got stuck behind a smelly bus. Later I found out it was the hikers’ bus. There is a four mile hike from Yosemite Village in the valley to Glacier Point. Hikers are encouraged to park in the village, walk up to Glacier Point and catch the bus back down to the village.
We pull into Washburn Point lookout for a spectacular view of the Clark Range and the Vernal and Nevada Falls. Half Dome is right in front of us but up here we see it from a different angle.
There were a lot of cars at Glacier Point but we had no trouble finding a parking place. From the car park it is a quarter of a mile (here’s a map) and a very easy hike, to the end but there are interesting spots along the way. We left Don sitting near the concession shop and Tom and I carried on to the end, taking the short detour via the geology hut.
The view at the end was amazing. Looking down at the village; to the right to see the rest of the valley and to the left to see both the upper and lower Yosemite Falls, is breathtaking. Why has nobody ever told us about this awesome place? Yosemite never ceases to amaze me.
If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, the this is one place you must visit.
By the way, saw no bears this time. Maybe I will be lucky next time.
July 09 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
Sorry there have been no posts for a couple of weeks but we have been busy doing other things.
Two weeks ago we went to San Francisco where we saw ‘Tuna Does Vegas’ at the Curran Theater. We have seen a couple of the Tuna plays here locally at The Stage but were disappointed in this latest production,
Before the play we wandered around Union Square and had a look in Macy’s and Bloomingdales. After the play we visited a couple of photography galleries on Geary and then had a wonderful dinner at the Farallon Restaurant on Post.
Last weekend we visited friends who live on a winery up in the Santa Cruz mountains. Normally they have wonderful views overlooking Monterey Bay and Loch Lomand but not at the moment. There are so many wildfires burning all around that the quality of the air has been affected and it is very hazy. The worst fire is at Big Sur, which is just to the south of Monterey. 12 miles of Highway 1 have been closed for quite a few days. We heard that the fire came very close to Nepenthe but it was reprieved, at least for the time being.
Last Friday was the 4th of July and we drove to Fresno to visit Tom’s Dad for the weekend. We left home after breakfast on Friday, which is a bit later than normal. In so doing, we encountered more traffic than usual. On Interstate 5 we were right behind a truck which blew a tire. What with the smell, bits of rubber flying everywhere and having to avoid a large piece of tire deposited on the road right in front of us, it was a hairy few seconds.
It was a relief to turn onto Nees Avenue and enjoy the relative calm of driving past cotton fields and orchards towards Firebaugh.
For lunch, the three of us took a drive south to Harris Ranch. Our intended route was via Routes 41 and 198. The Central Valley is a vast, complex area of agricultural activity. On the surface it may appear boring - long straight roads with views for miles over huge fields. But, for me, there is always something interesting to look at. Well I was so busy writing instead of navigating that instead of turning right on Route 198 we found ourselves many miles south of Lemoore. We drove on to Kettleman City where we turned right onto Interstate 5 for the 25 mile drive north to Harris Ranch. Some detour we took, all 50 miles of it!
Harris Ranch is a huge cattle ranch with between 70 and 100 thousand head of cows at any one time. Approaching from the south though we did not see any cattle, the hotel and hotel complex was the first thing we saw.
There are three restaurants, all in the same building - the Bar Restaurant, the Kitchen Restaurant and the Steakhouse. The last one is the most expensive but it is only during the evenings. We plumped for the Kitchen Restaurant. Although they were busy, the pace was not rushed at all. Tom and I had burgers and Don had a sandwich. On the way home we turned on our GPS (should have done that on the way down) and drove up a few exits on I5. After exiting on to Hwy 145 we immediately saw not just a few cows but thousands of head of cattle. They were in pens. Each fair sized pen held about a dozen cows but they were not crowded. There were an awful lot of pens though and not one blade of grass to be seen. We then passed some buildings and saw a mountain of grain. Poor cows were heading to the slaughter house. We yelled for them to escape but they’re pretty stupid.
Before long we were back in Fresno. The rest of the afternoon we relaxed and I took a dip in the pool. As the temperature was well over 90, it was a real pleasure to jump into the cool water.
On the Saturday we were up early and the three of us drove to Yosemite to visit Glacier Point (see next blog) and in the evening we went to watch the Fresno Grizzlies play the Sacramento River Cats at the Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno. It was a lovely, warm Fresno night and we all enjoyed the ballgame.
This coming Thursday I am off to the UK for 12 days on a business trip. I will be at the Farnborough Air Show but, of course, I will take time to visit the family. Tom hopes to be out and about over the next couple of weekends so watch out for his posts.
We should be back to normal by the end of July.
July 07 2008 | Further Afield | 1 Comment »
Before we left this morning, I looked up breakfast places in Berkeley. We usually eat at Bette’s Ocean View Diner but decided to try somewhere different today. Cafe Durant was well recommended so we programed the address into Mollie (affectionate term for our GPS) and set off.
badly placed spotlight, but it was there. I asked if it was cooked in the microwave but was assured that it was cooked in a pan, so I went for it ($2.95). I also order a fruit salad (3.95). Tom ordered Huevos Con Chorizo (not sure of the price but about $7).
The food was served to our table pretty fast - well we were the only customers by now. The oatmeal arrived on a large, blue, ceramic plate in a wide, shallow, round, plastic bowl with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Sugar, raisins and milk came in small plastic pots. There was not enough milk so I had to ask for more. The fruit salad came in an identical bowl to the oatmeal and contained cubes of green & orange melon and apples with slices of bananas and strawberries. It was a large portion. Tom’s Huevos, with its rice, refried and black beans with a flour tortillas, looked truly Mexican. My oatmeal was so-so but Tom was well impressed with his, so the reputation of Cafe Durant is well founded.
