a bit of an update...

I love it here. Let me just get that out here. I don't know that I've ever been to a prettier state. And it's cool here...but then it's warmer...and then cooler...crazy.

Now...here's the trip update...We left out for San Francisco Wednesday morning. Once we got there, the whirlwind began. We had so much we wanted to do and so little time to do it in. Natalie'sister lives in San Fran, so we started out with a driving tour. This included Lombard Street (the supposed crookedest road in the world, but Travel Channel just did a documentary that showed otherwise...), the Full House House, Chinatown, and Little Italy, the San Fran Bridge, Twin Peaks, and other stuff I'm probably forgetting right now. I ran into the Beat Museum real quick to get my feel of what it might have been like to hang out with Jack Keruack (...and I prob. mispelled his name...)

We ate at a pretty cool restaurant that night and then attempted to see the view of the city from Twin Peaks at night. The fog was just not cooperating though!

Thursday was CRAZY BUSY and we MUST have walked 10,000 miles! We started out at Muir Woods for a little hike through the redwoods and then hit up Muir Beach. Beautiful!!! Loved it. The waves got me though so I was wet. We then headed to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Ate a quick snack at the Hard Rock Cafe. Then hit up Alcatraz. It was sooooo neat! I loved loved loved it. I'll have to post some pics later on...I will say that the wind was INSANE. I mean, it just pushed you along. After a few hours touring Alcatraz, we headed to Haight and Ashbury, grabbed a burger, took a pic of some psychodelic shops, and Jerry Garcia's house of course, and then headed back into Lake Tahoe.

Today - Finally finally finally, we got to sleep in! I was sooo excited!! We visited Natalie's other sister's art museum. Really interesting! I bought two books =) Then we went to the beach (forgot the name of it) and sat in the sun for about an hour. Then -- and here's the highlight -- we met some of Natalie's sister's friends for a boat ride on Fallen Leaf Lake. Seen the movie The Bodyguard? Remember the scene where the boat blows up? This is where that was all filmed! The lake and the mountains and the trees are all amazingly beautiful! I cannot even describe it! We got to do a little fishing. And I caught the most fish - a whopping TWO!! Loved it! Loved the rush of getting a bite and pulling it in. We stayed out on the boat all evening. Got some great pics that I hope to share.

Now I'm home. Exhausted. But happy. And blessed.

Three more days here...then it's off to Key West and Cozumel...