Archive for December, 2009
Tom and I are off to Point Reyes for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We have booked into a B&B in Inverness for two nights. The main
Old fishing boat, "Point Reyes".
reason for choosing Point Reyes is to tour the Open Studios of the local artists. Twenty studios will be open over the weekend and we printed a list of them. I also printed a copy of the map but it was far too small to read.
We left at 7. A wet weekend was forecast but that’s OK. In fact it rained pretty heavily during the night and the roads were wet. We don’t mind the rain, except for the fact that Tom doesn’t like to take photos in the rain. Lots of rain is what we need here in California after several years of drought.
It was Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – and the official start of the holiday shopping spree. The roads were not too busy but all the car parks surrounding the shopping malls we passed were full. Some shops opened their doors just after midnight. The last place you will ever see Tom and I is fighting the masses to get that one object which we ‘must’ have at a ridiculous price. For us it is the open road, traveling to new places and meeting new and interesting people.
We stopped off in San Anselmo for breakfast at Comforts Cafe – see previous post. When we stopped outside the cafe there was a slight drizzle but the sun was shining.
After breakfast we continued along Sir Francis Drake Blvd, driving through San Geronimo, Forest Knolls and Lagunitas. It was a scenic drive with many trees showing off their autumnal colors. On our way home we plan to take a detour along the San Geronimo Valley Drive.
We pulled into Point Reyes Station at 10. Already there were a lot of cars around and we had to park on a side street. Point Reyes station is a nice place to browse the shops. There are no big stores but lots of funky little artsy craft shops. We went first to Toby’s Feed Barn where the Group Show is for the Open Studios. At the back of the store were exhibits from each of the studios which are open this weekend and here we picked up a brochure. I marked the ones we particularly want to visit. There were 17 crosses so we are going to be busy. The map in the brochure was very good I’m pleased to say.
We had time to kill as none of the studios opened until 11, so we took a wander around town. We passed the restaurant where Tom has booked for tomorrow night – Osteria Stellina. It looks really good.
As I was walking past a shop which had a large map of the the area displayed outside, I heard a woman asking two men what was there to do in the area. Of course I stopped to look at the map because I can’t resist them and the woman went on to say she was from San Jose. One of the men suggested Stinson Beach so I chimed in that Bolinas was also a nice place to visit. The same man replied that the tide was too high there. I then turned to him and asked if he lived in Bolinas and he admitted he did. I explained to the woman that Bolinas folk remove all road signs pointing to Bolinas to discourage people from visiting and that’s why it was worth a visit.
When in Point Reyes Station we always visit Point Reyes Books. Their range of books is fascinating and diverse. We idled away the time there until 11.
The first open studio we visited was Todd Pickering and it was one block over from where we were. Todd specializes in black and white photography so right up Tom’s alley. Todd and his dog met us at the door and welcomed us. He had a lot of very nice prints to look at and buy. Todd also told us he runs courses, either for groups or one to one. In February I am attending a weekend course in Sausalito and suggested to Tom it would be a good idea for him to do a photography course whilst I attended my course. We could always spend a night somewhere between Point Reyes and Sausalito, thereby saving me a trip back to San Jose in the evening or me spending a night on my own in a hotel. Todd was an interesting person to talk to. He also plays a guitar and had a CD of his music for sale.
Next door was Carolyn Mean’s porcelain and stoneware studio. She had bowls and vases on display. There were several ceramic teapots which were very decorative but impractical. There was also a selection of her seconds for sale which were very inexpensive.
As we walked back to the car there was a heavy drizzle. We were pleased to get back into the car as we were not wearing our jackets or carrying the umbrella. They were of course in the car but that was little use to us outside braving the elements.
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December 31 2009 | Special Places | No Comments »
Once again we consulted Anna’s Cool Finds to find somewhere for breakfast on our way to Point Reyes. Last time we went to Bubba’s Diner on San
Comforts Cafe in San Anselmo
Anselmo Avenue and this time we picked Comforts Cafe, which is on the same street.
We used our new Garman (we’ve named it Camilla for her British accent) to find the place. This upgraded GPS offers a lot more refinements; better directions with exit numbers off freeways, names of streets, speed limits and it shows the actual speed we are traveling. Camilla deposited us right outside Comforts Cafe.
Comforts is a large, double fronted deli with a cafe at the side. There are seats outside under the awning. On week days it opens at 6.30 for takeaways and the cafe opens at 8.30. We timed it perfectly for opening time of the cafe.
The cafe is not large but it is bright and modern. Soft music played in the background. The tables are small and Formica topped. A padded bench runs along the walls on either side. At the counter there are four stools.
The menu is different with an interesting range of brunch choices. There was oatmeal on the list but I decided on the Comforts homemade granola with yogurt and seasonal fresh fruit ($7.50). Tom chose buttermilk griddle cakes served with real maple syrup and sausages ($11.45).
There were five pictures on the wall - opposite the entrance were two next to each other of green apples and near the counter were two more pictures of fruit, and a large oil painting of a street scene. Set on the back wall were three deep alcoves with ceramic pots in two of them and a pot plant in the lower one.
The napkins on the table were very nice. Although made of paper, they were large and thick. They also had the Comforts logo on them and underneath is written ‘Fine City and Homestyle Food.
The food is very good. My granola contained black and golden raisins, cashew nuts, coconut, almonds and pumpkin seeds. The furit wa sliced banana and strawberries. It was crummy. Tom enjoyed his griddle cakes and sausage. The coffee was $2.25 and he pronounced it as ‘good’.
Our server was cheerful friendly and efficient. What more can anybody ask?
There were two seperate restrooms. The one I chose (and I’m sure they are both very similar) was very good. The first thing I noticed when I opened the door was the pleasant smell. It was clean and the water was hot. There was one large picture on the wall of some persimmons In the corner was an antique drop leaf table with an unusual yellow orchid in a pot. All very pleasing.
On my way back to the table I took a look at the food for sale in the deli counter. Lots of yummy looking dishes. If you are passing this way and need something for dinner, this is a good place to shop. Oh, you lucky people in San Anselmo.
Yes, this is definitely somewhere I can’t wait to come back to.
Comforts Cafe
335 San Anselmo Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960
December 28 2009 | Breakfast Log | 2 Comments »
We could not decide where to go today but when Tom read Tom Stienstra’s column in the San Francisco Chronicle this week entitled ‘Sunday
Beautiful oak on the way to Little Yosemite in the Sunol Wilderness
Drive: Alameda Creek’, we thought it would be a good place to go. The newspaper article suggested starting the drive in the Coyote Hills Regional Park near the Dumbarton Bridge and following the Alameda Creek all the way to the Sunol Regional Wilderness. We decided to bypass the first part and drove to Niles via 880 and Fremont, then turning right on Highway 84 to drive through Niles Canyon.
It was an awesome drive through the canyon. On our right was the Alameda Creek and on our left the steep sides of the canyon. Between the canyon walls and the road is the Niles Canyon Railway which runs from Niles to Sunol. The railway has a total of ten steam locomotives and 14 diesel engines in its collection and Sundays is the only day it is possible to ride the rails. Must come one day and take the trip from Niles to Sunol and back.
We took a small detour on 84 into Sunol. We were looking for breakfast and although Sunol is a tiny place we were hoping to find somewhere to eat. There was one cafe and the Brew and Bones saloon which were not open but almost next door to the saloon was the Sunol Jazz Cafe. They do a Sunday brunch but we were way too early for that, though the smell of the chicken on the BBQ was tempting, but we were able to get a breakfast sandwich inside. Tom had a cup of coffee and I splurged out and had a hot chocolate (without the whipped cream!). As we didn’t have a full breakfast I won’t do a separate review but would like to comment on the interior as it was interesting. There were some very comfy looking sofas with a coffee table complete with books underneath plus a goodly array of tables and chairs; a grand piano in the corner; sacks of coffee beans and various knick knacks and seasonal pumpkins scattered around. All and all a nice place to stop for a snack (Note from Tom: the bagel sandwiches were pretty good. Certainly much better than the fast food type you’d get at McDonald’s. Coffee was pretty good too).
Cows paying us no mind
Back on the road again we headed east along 84, driving under 680. The road became Calaveras Road and now we were driving south back towards San Jose. Along the way we passed the Valley Crest Tree Company. If you want any sort of tree this is definitely the place to go. Miles upon miles of different trees in pots, from small to large. We turned left at Geary Road and headed towards the Sunol Regional Wilderness. It was a nice drive uphill and all along the way were signs saying ‘No Parking at Any Time’. There is a $5 charge to enter the park.
At the entrance we were given a small trail map and we discussed which trail we were going to hike. We decided on the Canyon View Trail but actually locating it took some time. It was difficult to work out exactly where it started and there were no signs to point us in the right direction. It was only when we were finally on the right track did I discover that by looking on the back of the map there was an enlarged map of the Sunol Valley Floor which clear shows how to get to the start of the trail. Eventually we found the right one but only after crossing the creek over rather unstable stepping stones. There were a couple of other hikers starting off at the same time, an athletic younger man and his dog and an older gentleman with his granddaughter. The athletic man strode away and disappeared into the distance but the man and his granddaughter were taking it slowly. He was taking photos as well and he told us that he had spotted a woodpecker.
Soon Tom and I were on our own and really enjoying our walk. Our route seemed to be uphill all the way but it was a very pleasant hike. There we were, not too far from home and only a few miles from 680 but it felt as if we were hundreds of miles from civilization. There were pretty views, lots of trees and the sound of birdsong. At one point I saw a raptor gliding way up – could it have been a Golden Eagle?
After about a mile we had to open a squeaky gate. We soon realized the gate was there because cattle were grazing. For the next part of the hike we encountered quite a few cows. Some took no notice at all, while others lifted their heads and stared at us as if we were creatures from another planet. The weather was just right; the sun was shining but there was a slight breeze. As we were warm from all the uphill climbing, the breeze felt marvelous. The athletic man with his dog came striding around the corner. They must have made it to the end and were on their way back.
There was a lot of grass around and due to the rains of last week it is looking quite green. The golden grass of the summer has gone. We speculated
Over that first ridge is Little Yosemite in the Sunol Regional Wilderness.
that there would be a lot of wildflowers here in the spring and we must plan to make another visit then. Standing all on its own in a little dip was a magnificent oak tree, its leaves turning a gorgeous brown and underneath a carpet of fallen leaves. While Tom was taking photos of the tree, a young couple came by. I asked them if there was a loop trail we could take back to the car and they said there was. When we reached the gate near some water troughs we just had to turn right down the service road which would take us back to the car park. They also told us not to miss Little Yosemite. That sounded very intriguing.
We rounded a corner and the path began to descend rather steeply. Tom told me not to walk and write as he was worried I would stumble over the edge. Below us were wonderful craggy views. We concluded this must be Little Yosemite Valley were were looking down onto. There was a unmarked steep downhill detour leading off to the right. Tom ventured down it and I followed. It ended at a scenic overview with a with dizzying drop to the valley beneath. I suffered vertigo when I looked down and had to back away from the edge. We climbed back to the marked trail and carried on until the cattle troughs and a gate. There was a sign for Little Yosemite but we had no idea whether to turn left or right.
A lady with a dog was standing nearby so I asked her where we could find Little Yosemite and she said we had arrived. In front of us were a lot of rocks. We could hear the sound of water but there was no sign of it. The lady, who was there with her husband and kids, told us there has been not much water these last couple of years. The best time to come though was in the spring. Then the water is in full spate it it tumbles and falls over the rocks.
We walked back to the car park along Camp Ohlone Road. To our right was the Alameda Creek. From here it falls towards Niles Canyon and continues downwards until it empties into the South Francisco Bay just north of the Dumbarton Bridge. The road sloped steadily downhill. No more steep climbing today for us. We passed underneath the scenic overlook and we strained our necks to see the top – it was a long way up. A group of riders on horseback passed us and we exchanged greetings.
We came to a sign which warned of a bridge ahead. No vehicles over 8 tons or tracked vehicles could drive over the bridge – they had to drive through the creek. Over the bridge we crossed another cattle grid and were in the Lower Car Park called Alameda Grove. It was only a short walk from there back to the car.
We really enjoyed our walk in the Sunol Regional Wilderness and we will be back.
December 19 2009 | Special Places | No Comments »
View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks
Today we were a bit confused when we woke up. I have a radio wave clock and it showed the right time but Tom’s alarm was an hour ahead. It took some time to work that that in fact the clocks had gone back an hour during the night.
(Click on the photos for larger versions)
We hope it is not going to be foggy in the city today as we are off to Twin Peaks and the fantastic views of the bay and the city of San Francisco. It is a place I have never been to and have been keen to go to for a while. We are going to incorporate a stairway walk as well.
Our first stop was for breakfast and then it was off to find Twin Peaks. Fortunately we spotted a sign so followed it. The drive to the top was curvy and there were great glimpses of the fantastic views off to the right all the way up. Twin Peaks is exactly that – two identical peaks very close to each other. Round each peak is a one way road which is like a figure of 8. We headed for the small car park at the top. The Sutro Tower is one peak over.
My, the view is wonderful and almost 360 degrees. There was no fog but it was a bit hazy. We could see the San Francisco end of the Bay Bridge but not Oakland and the east bay. The top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Alcatraz and the whole of the city were laid out in front of us. The sun was bright so hoped the fog will burn off before we started our walk.
At first there were not many people around but within ten minutes a tour bus turned up and disgorged its passengers. Suddenly Tom was
Tourists, tourists, tourists.
surrounded by a horde of French people, chattering loudly, all vying to get the best view in their allotted 10 minute stop. One visitor actually climbed to the top of the raining and swayed precariously while her partner took a picture. Almost as foolhardy as the guy who climbed over the railings at the Grand Canyon to sit on the edge of the cliff to have his photo taken. Then another tour bus arrived, this time the passengers were Japanese. They were far more thoughtful and courteous and didn’t crowd Tom or stand in front of his camera. I’m not decrying the French per se but was interested to see how differently the two cultures behaved.
While Tom clicked away I tried to pick out the landmarks. Of course the Transamerica Pyramid and the Bank of American buildings were easily spotted. Coit Tower was more difficult but I found it eventually. I worked out where Golden Gate Park was but only the extreme eastern end and the Pan Handle could be seen. There were a couple of hilltops nearby but didn’t know what they were. I checked Google Maps when I got home. The larger one was the Buena Vista Park and the smaller one Corona Heights Playground where the Randall Museum is situated. On a clear day we would be able to see Mounts Tamalpais and Diablo. We will have to come one morning before the sun rise – that would be a great shot.
The first two tour buses departed but their places were soon taken by two more buses. It was time to make a move before more buses arrived and we were completely crowded out.
We drove down Twin Peaks Blvd towards the city to find the start of our staircase walk – No. 13 in the third edition of Adah Bakalinsky’s ‘Stairway Walks in San Francisco’ – at the Iron Alley Stairway on Clayton Street. We found it without difficulty but painted on the stairway was a sign saying the staircase was closed. Finding somewhere to park was a bit of a problem but in the end we struck lucky and found a very convenient place right at the top of the Iron Alley Stairway on Corbett Avenue.
Twin Peaks homes perched on the hillside. That's the Sutro Tower in the back.
We started the walk by crossing Corbett and up Iron Alley to Graystone Terrace. Looking up the hill it was fascinating to see not only the many different types of house built on the side of the hill but also to wonder at the views they must have of the city beneath them. Taking a left on Graystone we walked to Cooper Alley where we descended a concrete stairway between houses back to Corbett. Here we took another left and passed Rooftop Elementary School with its sparkling tile mural on the wall arriving back at our car, which we walked right past carrying on towards Clayton. Along this section we looked up the hill again and could see the scenic viewpoint on Twin Peaks were we had been just half an hour before.
At the junction or Corbett and Clayton is a small garden strip along the side of the house which is beautifully laid out and well stocked with small trees and shrubs, including a lantana growing vertically in a pot. We have lantana in our garden and it is a ground cover plant. I have never seen it growing vertically before. On Clayton we turned left, climbing uphill to Twin Peaks Blvd. We were surprised at how quiet everything was with very few people around. We passed one guy outside his garage repairing his motorcycle and that was the first person we had seen, apart from a jogger who passed us earlier.
Between the houses to our right we caught glimpses of the city and the, when we turned left on Twin Peaks Blvd we got some glorious views of Golden Gate Park, including the De Young Museum, the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge and out beyond the Bonita lighthouse to the ocean. There is an open patch of ground at the foot of a rocky outcrop which is called Tank Hill. While Tom took photos, I perched myself on a small rock and looked over the rooftops to the north.
Onwards and upwards to a short wooden stairway which led to the top of Tank Hill. There is a covered reservoir on the top which you could walk over. There are a lot of reservoirs up here on Twin Peaks where water for San Francisco is stored.
A little further uphill there was a small outcrop of rocks and another outstanding view of the city but this time from a different angle. The haze had cleared and we can now see Oakland clearly but Mount Diablo was vaguely discernible in the background. There was a slight breeze up there but it felt good and it carried the wonderful smell of eucalyptus to me.
Back down on Twin Peaks Blvd where it bears left at the junction with Clarendon Avenue there is a small public garden where we sat in the shade for a few minutes on a stone bench. We continued walking on Twin Peaks Blvd and passed a big blue house with enormous windows and we spotted a white grand piano inside. At the junction with Raccoon Drive we turned left and walked past some very nice houses. About halfway along we passed what looked like a stone sculpture but on closer inspection it turned out to be made of styrofoam. Raccoon Drive descended and at the
Pemberton Place. A lovely stairway.
bottom we turned left. I knew it was a dead end road with a pathway through to Crown Terrace but Tom didn’t know and became worried that I was walking through somebody’s garden. There was a sign that said ‘Residents Only’ and ‘No Trespassing’ but according to Adah’s book it was a legitimate way through.
Crown Terrace is a gem and surely a highly desirable place to live. Here you are within a short distance of the city but away from a lot of traffic. A short way along is Pemberton Place which in reality is a long stairway crossing Graystone and Villa Terrace and descends all the way back to Clayton. It is a marvelous stairway with occasional landings where you can sit and admire the view over the city. Back on Clayton we turned right and then right again onto Corbett and made our way back to the car.
As I was about to get into the car, a young man came out of a nearby house and approached the Iron Alley stairway and started to descend. I stopped him and asked why there was a sign at the bottom which said it was closed. He said it had been closed for some time for repair and a gate was put at the top to prevent children using it to get to the school as it was dangerous. The gate is still there but is not locked any more and the stairway has been repaired. The sign at the bottom has not been removed though. We’ll remember that next time.
We have had another interesting day, discovering Twin Peaks and then enjoying the staircase walk and all it cost was the price of the gas and breakfast at the Squat and Gobble. How’s that for good value?
December 10 2009 | Neighborhoods and Special Places | No Comments »
The West Portal Squat and Gobble in San Francisco
We are on our way to Twin Peaks today and passed this breakfast place en route. Who could resist such a name?
The Squat and Gobble is right next to the Muni west portal tunnel, right on the corner of Portola West and Vicente. There are little tables and wrought iron chairs outside. Inside it is large and bright with soft guitar music playing in the background.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
The first thing you see as you walk in the door is a huge blackboard with their whole, extensive, menu written up, inter-spaced with colorful drawings of the food. Here you choose and pay for your food before you find a table and sit down, clutching your order number on its little stand in your hand.
Tom ordered the Triple Gobbler, which consisted of two pancakes, two eggs and two apple sausages for $9.25. There was granola on the board but no oatmeal. I did ask if they did oatmeal and was told they did. Great. I was also asked if I wanted it made with water or milk. This made me question whether it is made straight out of a packet and heated in a microwave. They assured me it wasn’t so I went for it. I was tempted by the choice of pancakes but resisted.
A long padded bench is fixed along the outside wall and the tables are small but can be pushed together. Covering the whole of one wall is a mural showing food in the foreground, including a bottle of Squat and Gobble wine, and a a scenic view in the background. There is a back section as well where they have framed pictures on the wall of food.
Tom’s coffee was brought first and he was impressed. It was good and strong. He thought it was as good as Peet’s. Then the food arrived and there was plenty of it. Tom’s came on a big white plate and my oatmeal in a very large glass bowl on a round white plate. It was topped with a liberal serving of bananas and strawberries. I had asked for mine to be made with milk so no milk came separately. I asked for and received a small jug of milk. The oatmeal had cinnamon on it and was good. There was too much for me to eat it all and I left some. That’s a first for me!
The restroom was one of the better ones. It was large and clean with plenty of hot water. There was one picture on the wall of a couple dancing. In the corner was a potted plant on a nice stand. The mirror was large and I liked the matt silver frame.
Our conclusion – lots of food, quick efficient service, pleasant surroundings and the food was good. Would we come here again? Yes and next time I’ll have the pancakes.
Squat and Gobble
1 W Portal Ave
San Francisco, CA
December 05 2009 | Breakfast Log | 2 Comments »
