Nov. 28, 2011 Ottawa, ON

Home to Haliburton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov. 27, 2011 Ottawa, ON

Grey Cup Party at Colleen's

Nov. 26, 2011 Ottawa, ON

walmart

dinner with Joan, Chuck, Sharon and Jenna at Kelsey's

drop Jenna off for the 6:40 pm train to Kingston

Nov. 25, 2011 Kingston, ON

continental breakfast in hotel

Bank, Haircuts,  CAA

Ticket at Jenna's residence   :^(

Take Shane, Jenna and Curtis to Ottawa

Drop Shane and Curtis off at Erica and Morgan's

Jenna, Sharon and I to Colleen & Brian's

Watch the Vanier Cup.  Go MAC Go  (Yikes!)

Nov. 24, 2011 Toronto, ON

check out of Westin Bristol

Brunch at the Red Maple with Gramma and Gramp Dibb in Burlington

Check in to Holiday inn Express on Division (in kingston)
Dinner at Geneva's with Shane and Jenna in Kingston

Nov. 23, 2011 Vancouver, BC

check-out

taxi to airport

breakfast at airport

10:00 am flight to Toronto

shuttle to Westin-Bristol

Dinner at

Nov. 22, 2011 Vancouver, BC

arrived at 3:00 IN THE MORNING

did customs, got our bags, a taxi to the Crown Plaza Hotel

Went to bed at 4:21 am Hawaii time  (6:21 am Vancouver time)

Bank

Dinner with Michael and Cam at The Cactus Club

Nov. 21, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfast in the room

Moring walk on the beach (had to get coffee at ABC)

Sat by the pool

Leftover pizza for lunch

pack,

taxi to airport

Maui flight departs at 4:39 pm to Honolulu
Get in to Honolulu airport at 5:15 pm

Dinner at Tequileria??

Browse the shops

Made it to gate 24 just in time for the BTTB to arrive.  Pictures with Rob and the tuba section.  FUNNY!

9:20 pm flight to Vancouver.  LONG!  Movies they played were "The Help" and "Gulliver's Travels"

Nov. 20, 2001 Maui, HI

breakfast in the room

morning walk

pool

lunch in the room

ordered pizza for dinner

packed up some luggage

Nov. 19, 2011 Maui, HI

breakfast in  the room

bus to Kahului

Lunch at McDonald's

Pool

Dinner in the room:  Grilled Cheese and a salad (From Dina's Sand Witch)

Nov. 18, 2011 Maui, HI

7:15 am shuttle to the "Road to Hana" trip with valley Isle Excursions

Continental breakfast as Cafe O'Lei

Stops at views, falls, shops.

Hana wasn't much:  A restaurant, a store

Gulch opools

Winery

Nov. 15, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfast in the room

Morning walk (Oops a little too late, the tide is high!  Couldn't go as far as we usually could)

Morning swim

A lazy day "at home"

Dinner at Cafe O'Lei

Nov. 14, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfast in the room

Not a cloud in the sky SO, we make the trek up to Haleakala Crater.  Stopped at first Visitor Center, Leleiwi Overlook, The Summit.  On the way down we stopped at the top visitor center and she told us to do the Halemau trail (at 8000 feet)  We did that.  Nice views.  still above the clouds.  Picnic lunch at lower Visitor center (LOTS of clouds and LOTS of people).  Looks like we timed everything right.

Drove down to village of Makawao and Pa'ia.  Lots of sugar cane towards Pa'ia.  Pa'ia is a surfing town.  A few shops, a quick visit.  Checked out the beach.

Home for a quick nap.

Dinner at Aroma dItalia Risorante.  OK food.  Great Service from our waiter. 
Driver Intoxciation Check on the way home.  (They were there on the way TO the restaurant so I had a ginger ale.  On the way back, The police were still there.  I happily reported that I had not had anything to drink.  (NO free snow scrapers in Maui!)

Foodland for a few items.

Nov. 13, 2011 Maui, HI

got up EARLY for a boat cruise for Maalaena to La Perouse Bay, Molokini Crater and The Coral Gardens (up near the Tunnel) on the Maui Magic

Breakfast on the boat.  YUM

Dolphin Watching:  No Luck

Snorkelling at Molokini Crater:  Good

Snorkelling at Coral Gardens:  Amazing!

rented our own snorkel gear for the week ($10 for the week!)

Sharon buys a prescription mask

Afternoon nap before the sunset.

Dinner in the room

Nov. 12, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfast in the room

Walk south along the beach.

Met Charles (from Kelowna) again.  He suggested we try walking on the lava trail at the far south of Maui (As far as the road will take you, park, and then follow the trail)

Morning swim in the pool (12 LONG lengths - Front Crawl)

Lunch in the room

Drove down to Big Beach at Makena

Drove on to the end of the road south to Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Underwater Preserve

Walked the black lava rock trails to look over La Perouse Bay

SADNESS.  No resting dolphins.

Drove back up to swim in Wailea Beach.  A GREAT swimming spot.  Amazing waves and water colour.

Drove to ABC to get some groceries

Dinner in the room:  Chicken Fajitas  YUM!

Boring Sunset but I caught another Full Moon!

Nov. 11, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfast in the room

Coffee and Donuts "Meet & Greet"

Drove up to Kaanapali.

Parked at Hanakaoo Beach Park at 10:30 am

Walked up the beach to Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock)

Saw wind, waves, weddings, Whalers Village (Shopping center) and returned.

Toured Front Street in Lahaina  (LOTS of jewellery stores!)

Lunch at Hard Rock Cafe

Gelato at Tom's  (A shoe store AND Gelato store)  YUMMY!

Drove south to Papalua Beach to get wet.

FIVE messages on our machine about a helicopter crash.

Called all significant people to tell them we were safe.  (Scary though!)

Sunset pictures.

Dinner in room

Caught a full moon!

Nov. 10, 2011 Maui, HI

Breakfask in the room

A hour walk south along the beach

Our 9:30 am car rental pick-up to Avis was a little late.

Got a 4 door Chev Aveo (White!) for the week.

Drove south along South Kihei Road to "The Shops at Wailea"

Lunch at Cheeseburgers (?)

Drove North along Kihei Road to Foodland

Search for a Laird Hamilton shirt.  (Word is they have some at O'Brien Pride and Hi Tech up by the airport)

Shop at Foodland.

Back to hotel.

Nov. 9, 2011 Maui, HI

breakfast in the room

Walk north along the beach to Maalaena (1 hour one way)

Saw the outside of the Aquarium (ie we did not go in)

Shopped for beach sandals.  NO luck.

Drinks at Beach Bum's  (Sharon had coffee and Tom had an orange juice, much more expensive than the early bird special for Screwdriver's:  $3.00 - Note: we were there at 11:00 am.)  We shared a red velvet piece of chocolate cake.  So-So.

Caught the bus back to our hotel.  Bought Sandals at our ABC.

Talked to Brett in Haliburton.

Dinner in our room (Steak, rice, carrots and salad)

Nov. 8, 2011 Maui, HI

breakfast in the room

Long walk on the beach (south 30 minutes and return north 30 minutes)

Sat by the beach until lunch

Leftover pasta/chicken for lunch

Nov. 7, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in room

Clean up and move out

Caught a 7:15 am taxi to Lihue Airport

Checked in and passed through security to our Gate 6 by 8 am

Flight leaves at 9:11 am

Coffee at the airport (YUK!)

30 minute flight to Maui

Taxi to Sugar Beach Resort (towards Kihei)

Checked in at 10:30 but of course our room is not ready until 3:00 pm

Checked out the visitor/tourist info in the lobby.  Booked a trip to Hana (and around the rest of the island) for Friday Nov ??.   Booked a car rental from Thursday to Thursday

Got into our room by 11:00 am !!!!  Happiness

Unpacked and settled in.

Went to Dina's Sand Witch for lunch.  Split an amazing Turkey, bacon and avocado on a sourdough sandwich.  Also had their drink special ... A  Bay Breeze  (Vodka, pineapple and cranberry juice)  YUM.  The restaurant has american one dollar bills all over the walls.  The bartender estimated at least $30000 plastered the walls (in many layers)

Checked out the beach !  Beautiful, walkable, swimable beach.

Took the bus to Safeway to stock up our fridge.

Taxi back with our groceries.

Sat by the pool for the rest of the afternoon.  Caught a beautiful sunset.  We can even see it from our lanai!

Pasta, Chicken dinner in our room

A nice place!

Nov. 6, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in room

Swim (12 Lengths - Front Crawl)

Dinner in Room (BBQ steak and Sweet Potato)

After dinner walk on the beach

Order a taxi for 7:15 am pick up

Pack

Nov. 5, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast at Eggberts  (Banana Pancakes!)

A cloudy, overcast morning, yet dry.  Flash Flood advisory.

Listen to the Queen's vs Mac semi-final OUA football game on a Hamilton radio station over the internet (Mac wins 40 to 13)

Tom buys a T-shirt and a Hawaiian mixed CD

Walk to downtown Kapa'a to the Bank of Hawaii

Safeway for groceries

Afternoon swim (12 Lengths - Front Crawl)

Dinner in room (Spaghetti and Meat Sauce)

Quick lunch at Burger King (A Whopper Jr and a soft ice cream cone)

Shop for dinner at ABC and Safeway

Swim in the pool (12 lengths: Front Crawl)

Dinner in the room:  Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Watch University of Hawaii women's volleyball (on TV)

Flash flooding advisory turns to Flash flood warning from 7 pm to 10 pm.  The single lane bridge up north is flooded over.

Nov. 4, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in the room

Dark clouds and thunder in the distance

7:15 am to our Wailua River Guides guide booth (across from Foodland)

The kayak/hike is on.

Our guide Annie drives us to the Wailua River.  We kayak (in a two person ocean kayak) for about 40 minutes.  Park the boats, ditch the footwear and hike about 2 miles through amazing rainforest, muddy trails, a rope crossing walk through a mildly raging river (up to my thighs), more muddy trails, a peaceful man-made waterfall, root ladders to our ultimate destination, Secret Falls (Ulehehi Falls).  Just beautiful.  We got to swim at the bottom of the falls, pose for pictures (Annie LIKES taking pictures), had lunch at around 10:30 with a pineapple shot.  Our group of seven people had the falls to ourselves.  Amazing!  Did the reverse hike back to our kayaks.  Back to our room by 1:00 pm.  A good trip!

Afternoon swim (16 lengths: Front Crawl)

Dinner at Hukilau Lanai:  Vegetarian Lasagna and a Wally Salad

Nov. 3, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Up at 6:15 am to catch the sunrise.

Breakfast in the room: Peanut Butter on toast  YUM

Supposedly rainy day was dry and sunny all day.

Morning Walk

Laundry

Morning Swim (16 lengths ... front crawl)

Tanning action by the pool

Lunch in the room: Cracker, Cheese, Apple

uploaded Kauai pics   AND  Helicopter Ride pics to facebook

Dinner at  The Brick Oven   (Pepperoni Pizza)

Nov. 2, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in the room

A rainy morning

7:25 am pick up at our front desk to Lihue and Sunshine Helicopters

Had ABC coffee with the other 4 passengers.  One couple (Alyssa and Jason) were honeymooners who just had their wedding in Connecticut (with over 2 feet of snow, road closures and power outages).  Luckily for them their wedding reception venue had backup generators.  Too funny.  They were fun.

Our 8:30 am tour was cancelled due to cloud and rain all over the island.  SADNESS!

We rebooked the 1:30 pm tour (crossing our fingers that the rain would stop).  The honeymooners re-booked for 1:30 pm as well (and we found out later they "whipped" up to the North Coast and back.  They had limited time on Kauai.  They were off to Maui on Saturday.

We browsed around the Lihue shops.

Investigated the Golden Princess Cruise ship that had just landed  (town was about to get really busy)

We walked the supposed 15 minute journey to "The Mall".  30 minutes later (with a few rain drops included for free) we got to K-mart.  Shopped around there for quite a bit (we had dry time to kill).

Caught the free K-Mart shuttle back to "our" cruise ship.

Checked in with Sunshine Helicopters and they had cancelled the 11:30 am flight.  Still hoping the 1:30 pm tour was a go.

Checked out the Kalapaki Beach (In nice dry sunny weather)

Had lunch at Duke's Barefoot Bar  (Still sunny!)

Shopped (while it poured).  Tom gets an Aloha Shirt and Sharon gets a sun dress

Returned to Sunshine Helicopters (in sunny, dry weather).  The Helicopter ride is a go!

AMAZING, SPECTACULAR trip over the island.  Mountains, Beaches, Waterfalls, Canyons, Craters, Rainbows.  WOW, WOW, WOW.

They shuttled us back to our lodging.

Caught the tail end of a free hula show at The Coconut Marketplace just across from our lodging.

Dinner at the Kauai Coast Resort  (the Hukilau Lanai Restaurant) 
Prime Rib     YUM         Wally's Salad  YUM

Nov. 1, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in the room.

A littly cloudy, dark and rainy.

Morning Shell Vacation Club timeshare solicitation at the Kauai Coast Resort.  "No! from the diaphram" kept us in there for over 2 hours.  Eventually we got out of there unscathed and no commitment to anything.  Intriguing but an expensive proposition

Afternoon swim (14 Lengths Front Crawl)

Oct. 31, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in the room

Morning coffee on the beach

Morning walk for Tom along the beach, south to public access, to The Brick Oven and a secluded road towards the Wailua River

Swim (12 Lengths Front Crawl)

Lunch at Kauai Pasta

Pose for Halloween pictures on the beach

Oct. 30, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in room

Morning walk north along the beach.  Ended up at ABC

Morning Swim (10 lengths Front Crawl)

Shopped at Safeway (Very busy for a Sunday night!)

Dinner in room:  BBQ Chicken, pasta and sauce

Oct. 29, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Breakfast in room

Morning walk for Tom along beach (south to a sacred burial ground)

Morning coffee on the beach

Morning swim (8 Lengths Front Crawl)

Dinner:  TC's Island Grill

Oct. 28, 2011 Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Morning Swim (6 lengths Front Crawl)

Dinner in suite: BBQ steak, baked potato and carrots

Oct. 27, 2011 Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI

Breakfast at starbucks (and left over dessert!)

took 8:45 am shuttle to the airport

Caught the 11:04 am flight to Kauai

Landed in Kauai at 11:40 am

Taxi to our hotel  Plantation Hale Suites   in the Royal Coconut Coast in Kapaa.

Checked in to our room at 12:00 noon

Unpacked

Took a tour of the grounds.

Met some "local" condo-owners who told us all the good spots to go to.  They also suggested we get club cards at the local Foodland and Safeway.

Lunch at The Courtyard Marriott (just next door to our complex)  We had chicken pesto flat bread and a mixed green salad (with mango poppyseed ranch dressing?)

Walked the beach. 

Toured The Coconut Marketplace

Walked to downtown Kapaa (7 minutes)

Shopped at Safeway

Got some groceries (for Breakfast, Lunch and dinner)  Got a steak to BBQ by the pool.

Dark at 5:45 pm.  Too dark to BBQ so we had Peanut Butter toast for supper.  YUM

Oct. 26, 2011 Waikiki Beach, HI

A cloudy morning (but still warm)

Starbucks for breakfast (on our deck)

A walk downtown

Poolside

Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  We shared a caesar salad AND spaghetti and meat sauce.  We were still full.  Still ordered dessert:  Sharon had the Pumpkin Cheesecake and Tom had the 30th Anniversary chocolate cheesecake

Oct. 25, 2011 Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI

A bright, sunny, warm morning

Starbucks for breakfast (on our deck)

Bus tour (2B) to Pearl Harbour, Punchbowl Crater and downtown Honolulu

Swim by the pool

Sunset shots at the pier.

Surfing Dog (Bongo) at the beach

Dinner at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville

Shopping for Terrance Gavin's Laird Hamilton Shirt

Oct. 24, 2011 Los Angeles, CA

up at 5:45 am to catch the 6:30 airport shuttle

Caught the 8:52 am from LAX to Honolulu

Took a taxi to our hotel  (Park Shore Waikiki)

Walked the beach

Mai Tai's at the Amoana Surfrider

checked in

Caught sunset

Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen

Window shopped "The Strip" and caught a Hawaiian dance show at the ???? center

Oct. 23, 2011 Newport Beach, CA

Woke up to a cold morning (64 degrees)

Had a coffee and a walk through Jo-Anne & Craig's neighbourhood.

Jo-Anne showed us pictures of her travels.

We shared our pictures with Jo-Anne.

Went out for Brunch at R&D's in the Fashion Island Shopping Center

Toured the plaza.

Jo-Anne and Sharon go Shopping while Craig and Tom hang-out at Peet's Coffee Shop

Sharon and Tom pack our things and drive 1 hour north on the 405 to our Holiday Inn Express.

Check in to the hotel.

Return our car.

Return to our hotel.

Make arrangements for a 6:30 am shuttle to the airport.

Dinner at McDonald's !!!! ($7.00)  YUM

Oct. 22, 2011 Simi Valley, CA

Woke up to a beautiful, warm morning.

Had breakfast with Jean and Roger.

Made our way along 118 East to 405 South towards Newport Beach.  Foggy and colder and lots of traffic (for a Saturday).  Traffice jam while an accident was tended to.

Met up with Jo-Anne and she escorted us to her house. 

Jo-Anne and Craig took us to Huntington Beach to see the AVP Beach Volleyball tournament.  Went up the main street.  Did the Huntington Beach Pier.  Watched the surfers.  Made it back to see the last game of the girls semi-finals.  Watched a bit of the first game of the boys semi-finals.  A $30000 prize to the winners !

Drove to Newport Beach and had lunch at El Tarantion ???  Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach.  The sun tried to come out.  Walked the main drag, saw a wedding, saw the beach, saw amazing homes.

Back to Jo-Anne's for dinner YUM!  (and a little "Beverly Hills Housewives)  YUK!

Oct. 21, 2011 Santa Barbara, CA

Had a good continental breakfast at Al's Diner

Shopped at Macy's for some cheap shirts (both of us)

Shannon, the sales girl was an ex-B&B host so she gave us some amazing tips on where to go (and how to get there)

We made it to Cliff Road and Hendry's Beach.  A nice walk east on a "prit-near" empty beach.  A local told us the tide was low enough for us to walk to the concrete steps and then retrun to our car along cliff above the beach.  This cliff turned out to be the Douglas Family Preserve with great views of the beach.

Shannon told us how to get the the main pier of Santa Barbara.  We quickly checked that out on our not-so-sunny-but-at-least-dry day.

We continued on to Stella Mares for what we thought would be q quick dessert.  We ended up having corn chowder soup AND dessert.

Made our way to Jean's in Simi Valley.

Jean and Roger had David and Fran over for appetizers and dinner.  Josh, Beth and Boston came over after dinner

Fun times !

Oct. 20, 2011 Carmel, CA

Had a nice continental breakfast at Mission Ranch

A Foggy and cool morning in Carmel.

We got gas ($20.00) and headed to the Garland Ranch Regional Park

Did the Lupine and Buckeye Trails.  Very sunny and much warmer.  Learned alot about the local vegetation and trees.

Took Carmel Valley Road to the G20 (found that with some help) at 2:00 pm and took the 68 to the 101S

Drove south to A pit stop at King City

Stopped at the Gaviota rest stop.  Sunny!

Took the turn to Santa Barbara |and lost the sun.

Got gas at  Goletta ???  ($25.00) and used GPS Serena to find the Sandman Hotel.

Checked in around 6:00pm

Went for dinner at Chuck's Hawaiian Steak house

Made it back to our hotel to Skype with Jenna.

Oct. 19, 2011 Monterey, CA

Had breakfast at Alisomar at a table with 3 other couples.

Did the 17 mile Drive.  The sun came out !  We saw a harbour seal.

Checked out of Alisomar.  Took some sunny pictures (to make up for yesterdays)

Drove down to Big Sur taking some coastal pictures along the way

Did the Valley View Trail with a vist to the waterfall  (3 miles return)

Checked in to our hotel, The Mission Ranch (owned by Clint Eastwood ??)

Toured the property and then tourend downtown Carmel.

Checked out the Carmel Beach.

Back to the hotel for a shower and dinner.  Tom had ribs (Yummmy) and Sharon had a Chicken Breast.

Not a spectacular sunset.  Very cloudy.

Oct. 18, 2011, Santa Cruz, CA

Had leftover lasagna for breakfast!  A Sincere YUM!

Walked to downtown Santa Cruz for  a coffee.

Found a bank, got $$$$ and then found a Starbucks.  (We like the Pike's Place coffee)

Checked out of the hotel and made the foggy trek down Hwy 1 towards Monterey.

Saw all sorts of strawberry fields and some Brussel Sprouts (?)

Very fertile land between the highway and the dunes to the Pacific Ocean.

Made our way to The Monteray Bay Aquarium  from 11:00 am - 1:15 pm

Very cool place.  I loved the Jelly Fish !  A hmely Great Sea Bass was also quite the model.

Had lunch at Paradiso Trattoria Restaurant  (I liked the pesto!)

Made our way to our hotel  Asilomar Conference Grounds  A very cool place.  An old YWCA camp from 1913 that has been majorly restored.

We hiked down to the still foggy beach and hike down to Rocky Point, thru a golf course, along part of the 17 Mile Drive and eventually back to our unit at Asilomar.  Our unit is call The Stuck Up Inn. 

Too full so we skipped dinner.

No sunset  :(

Oct. 17, 2011 Highway One South, CA

Quick Snack Breakie at Hotel

Quick Shop in plaza

Lunch.

Gas fill-up in Petaluma

Drive down Highway 101 South to California

Over the Golden Gate Bridge ($6.00 toll)

Missed the turn to Hwy 1 so we had a familiar tour through San Francisco (???, Pacific, Presidio, California) to Hwy 1

Stopped at the first beach we saw (Pacifica State Park Beach).  Toured the beach, got our toes wet.  Continued down Hwy 1 thru Half Moon Bay, Davenport and ended up at Santa Cruz.  Many amazing views along the way.  Stopped for pictures every now and then.  Fog rolled in after Half Moon Bay.
Beaches we we like were Big Basin, Scott Creek Beach, Coast Dairies (just across from the town of Davenport.
We lost the fog before Davenport.

Checked in to the Ocean Gate Inn in Santa Cruz.

Had dinner at Ristorante Italiano  (very good ceasar salad and lasagna)

Made arrangements for our next two nights

Talked to Joanne about a visit to her place

Oct. 16, 2011 The Sonoma Valley, CA

Had continental breakfast

Checked out the Lagoon Valley Regional Park

Drove to The Sonoma Valley

Walked the plaza and main street

Had lunch at The Girl and the Fig

Walked to the Home of General Vallejo        (  Check Wikipedia for his blurb   )

Checked out the Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma

Drove up Highway 12 through all the vineyards.

Went through Santa Rosa to a hotel  Good Night Inn  in Rohnert Park

Read by the pool.

Skyped with Shane and Jenna

Dinner at Chili's Grill & Bar Restaurant

Oct. 15, 2011 The Napa Valley, CA

Continental breakfast in the Fairfield Inn Marriot: Vacaville.

Drove to The NAPA Valley.

Went to the Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga for a 10:30 am $25.00 self-guided tour, took an aerial tram to the winery.  We totally beat the crowd.  Had a taste of 5 different wines:

• 2010 Cellar Club Pinot Gris
• 2009 Cellar Club Carneros Chardonnay
• 2008 Cellar Club Petite Sirah
• 2007 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2010 Cellar Club Malvasia Bianca

The winner was the Pinot Gris.

Amazing vineyard, facilility and staff.  We got to keep our "Sterling-Engraved" wine glasses.  We loved seeing the HUGE line-up for the tram on our way out.

Went to the Castello di Armorosa Castle and Winery.  Caught a 12:20 pm tour of the the castle (and Winery) with our our guide "Joe". We met Joe at the Visitor Center in the town of Napa yesterday. Two other couples were with us for the 2 hour tour and tasting (for $32.00).
Amazing castle and tour.  The wines we both tried are:

• Pinot Grigio (T & S)  white
• Chardonnay (T)   white
• Gewurtzraminer (S)   white
• Gioia (S)   white
• Pinot Nero (T)   red
• Cabernet Sauvignon (T)    red
• Simpatica (S)    sweet
• Gewurtztraminer (S)    sweet

Apparently their best seller is something called  La Fantasia  (SWEET in a sugary way!)

We were going to do a quick taste at Beringer's and Robert Mondavi but both were too busy.  NO parking spots availalble.  Beringer's is a beautiful facility.

LOVED watching the horrendous line of traffic going North on Highway 29 for their late afternoon tours of the wineries as we drove south on 29 pleasantly "toured" out.

Picked up picnic lunch/dinner items AND got a AT&T Go Phone for $15.00.  Now we have unlimited texting to Canada for only $2.00 for every day that we use it.

A nap and then a picnic dinner.

Texted both kids successfully but of course it is Saturday night in Kingston and they have lives.  Will set up a skype/facebook chat session for a later date.

Oct. 14, 2011 San Francisco, CA

Awoke to noise (all thru the night) and the smell of cigarette smoke wafting into to our 4th floor hotel room.  Not a good sleep had by Sharon or I.

Continental breakfast at the Nob Hill Hotel.

Blindly booked a place "close to" the Napa Valley (we didn't have a map of the area yet)

Walked to the Visitor Center at Union Square.

Got lots of good advice from Volunteer Dave (an advocate of the Home Exchange Program)

Looking for an AT&T Go-Phone so we can text Canada but got way-laid BIG TIME by a Dead Sea Cosmetics saleswoman.  No AT&T booth in the downtown mall anymore.

No luck on the phone but Sharon got a nice shiny finger nail.

Made it back to the hotel in time to check out by noon.

Took a taxi to get the Car rental   (A Nissan VERSA with 21310 miles on it)

Left San Francisco on a sunny Friday afternoon.  (foreshadowing ...)

Decided to visit The Muir Woods.  Took Hwy 1 (with all its switchbacks) only to discover all the parking spots for The Muir Woods were full (and then some) because it was sunny and FRIDAY.  We decided to avoid all the tourists and get out of there. 

We made our way to the city of Napa and found the Visitor Center.  We booked a tour at the Castillo di Amorosa Castle & Winery for tomorrow at 12:20 pm.  We had lunch at Downtown Joe's Brewery and Restaurant.  I think a few of you will see the humour in Tom gettng his beer in wine country.  The "Lazy Summer American Wheat" was the best American beer I have ever had.  I was unable to purchase a 6 pack (for our travels)  SADNESS!

Just to let all you Foodies out there know, the food sucked at this restaurant.

Did the town thing and then made it to our hotel.  Yes, there were many traffic tie-ups and slow-downs because it is FRIDAY.  OOPS, we hope we never make that mistake again.  But in fairness to us practicing retirees, we never know what day it is!  BIG SMILE!

Checked in to our luxurious (by comparison) room at the Fairfield Inn Marriott: Vacaville.  King sized bed, A/C and lots of floor space.  Oh, and quiet too !   NO sirens, buzzers, traffic.  NO smell of smoke.  HAPPINESS!

Had NO luck find a parking space at all the "good" restaurants ... because it is still FRIDAY  but we had an amazing all-you-can-eat buffet at a place called  "Fresh Choice"  Decent meal at a good price.  Foodies would approve of the nutritional content.

Loaded some pics to Facebook.

Updated Blog

SLEPT!

Oct. 13, 2011 San Francisco, CA

Continental Breakfast at the hotel
Coffee on the roof garden of the hotel.  (A beautiful sunny day!)

Cable car along Hyde Line to Lombard Street.  Amazing Switchback down.  Beautiful gardens and houses.  I would not drive down this road.

Walked to Fisherman's Wharf.

Cruised the Bay with the   Red and White (Fleet  Prince ???)  The ticket lady says we are very lucky with the weather, usually it is very foggy!  The cruise had headphones that gave us blurbs about what we were seeing (with a little time delay).  Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, a dolphin or three, and sea lions lounging around Pier 39.

Walked the Fisherman's Wharf.  Found the sea lions up close and personal and they were putting on a show.  They were lounging around big time and some were playing hide and seek among the boats in the marina.  Very entertaining AND free!
Lunch at Players  sports bar.  Tom wins with the  Cadillac Margarita  (on the rocks, with salt in a beautiful glass)  The bonus was the Grand Marnier and fancy umbrella.  Ask Sharon about her Strawberry dacquiri.
Walked along all the piers to the Port of San Francisco (Pier 1)

Took the California Line Cable car back to our hotel.  Met some nice "locals" who gave us insights as to where to go.  I guess we really looked like tourists (the camera's, maps, and knapsacks must have given us away) but we welcomed their advice.  Very nice locals here.

Napped a bit. (but not really)

Tom learned a lesson on chivalry on the way to the bus from a vagrant.  Apparently I missed the lesson on wallking on the sidewalk closet to the road (to protect the lady from the vehicles)  Sharon did thank me for protecting her from the vagrant.  I don't think there is a chivalry course.  I'll look into it.

Took the 38 bus (and 44)  to Golden Gate Park.  Saw the St. Francis washing machine along the way. A beautiful garden, pathway, aquarium and planetarium.  We didn't do much there in the hour that we were there. We really just wanted to read in a smoke free, quiet area.  I'd recommend at least a half day there.

Took the 44 bus (and 1) back to our hotel.  Had a complimentary wine at Happy hour and then decided to catch the moon again at Hyde and Greenwich before dinner.

We missed the moon but caught the sunset over the Golden Gate bridge from the viewing area at Fisherman's Wharf.  Amazing !

Had dinner at  Cioppini's  Bestest spaghetti and meatballs for Tom and Spaghetti bolognese for Sharon.  Tom likes Stella Artois|!
Walked the wharf, found the moon so we took a streetcar (Oh those passes are worth it).  Took the street car along the Embarcadero to the Port of San Francisco.  Caught the moon overlooking the Bay Bridge.  NICE!
Took California Line Cable car up to the Fairmont to see San Francisco from the glass elevator (another suggestion from the locals) but the elevator wasn't operating.  SADNESS.

Walked back to our hotel.  Hoping for a good sleep tonight.

Oct. 12, 2011 San Francisco, CA

I was up at 5:03 am  (before the wake up call AND the alarm)

We caught the 5:30 am shuttle to Terminal 1

Checked in with Air Canada pretty seamlessly.

Entered the line for security at 6:00 am  and boy it was a long line!

Got thru security by 6:50 am.   Sharon had a quick pat down.  I was clean.

Quickly browsed for reading material in between ordering and eating breakfast.

Had breakfast (AND COFFEE) before going to gate 134 for a 7:55 am departure to San Francisco

Five hour flight to San Francisco.

Hot and Sunny  (74 degrees celsius ... you do the conversion to celsius)

Took a taxi to our hotel (The Nob Hill Hotel)

Got there at  11:00 am  (their time)

Our room wasn't ready so we checked our bags, got advice from the front desk clerk and then wandered for lunch (Chicken Pesto Crepes & salad)

Got a Cable Car pass  ($21 for 3 days) otherwise every ride was $6

Took the California Line down the the Port of San Francisco.  They have a clock there with a roman numeral 4 like  IIII   (Just like Grant Hall at Queen's University)  What's with that?

Toured the piers, viewed the bay bridge, birds and walked the Escaradero Avenue.

Bought a single Large Coors Light at the local Cala-Store, checked in and tried to have a nap.  (It's loud in San Francisco ... Hyde street anyway.)

Our Hotel is very rustic (interpret that accordingly) but it does have a very cool elevator that is over 100 years old.  Neat !

Cable car along Hydy Line to Fisherman's Wharf.  We kept walking and happened upon the most beautiful moon from Hyde and Greenwich.  Check out the pic:

Had dinner at   Capurro's San Francisco Fish House.  Tom had Clam Chowder!

Walked the wharf.  (very Touristy, kind of like Niagara Falls and Wonderland)

Cable car back to the hotel.  (saw some furry critters while waiting for the cable car)

Oct. 11, 2011 Toronto, ON

Packed for trip AND emptied the upstairs "basement" in preparation for the new flooring.

Stayed at the Westin-Bristol Place on Airport Road.

Went to The Keg for dinner.  Best Caesar ever (the waitress provided me with TWO celery stalks)

Asked for a 5:11 am wake-up call   (YIKES!)

Sept. 26, 2011 Burlington, ON

Visit Mom and Dad in Burlington

Tour of the Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens

GREAT Dinner at  Tucker's Marketplace Restaurant

  

  

  

  

  

  

Sept. 17, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Breakfast at the Condo

Drive to Brian and Beverley's new condo in Toronto

Brunch at   c5 Restaurant Lounge  at the ROM

Home for dinner and a game of Canasta

Sept.16, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Breakfast at The Condo

Walk-about Fort George, bike path and town

Lunch at Benchmark (Niagara College)

Shopping the downtown strip

Dinner  (All the leftovers from the fridge)

8 pm Show  Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Sept. 15, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Breakfast at the Niagara on the Lake Golf Club

Shop for glass pumpkins at The Ciutadella Gallery

Hour long walk along the Niagara Bike Pathway

2:00 pm show My Fair Lady

Dinner at  Bistro Six One

Words of wisdom from Tom to Chuck  "Don't put parmesan cheese in your coffee"
Gift from the waitress to all of us  (She forgot to put the liquor on our bill.  She was very happy with our honesty)
"BESTEST" chocolate cake !

Sept. 14, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Breakfast at the Niagara on the Lake Golf Club

Visited  Stratus Winery

Wine tour at Jackson-Trigg Winery

Visited the Strewn Winery and the Hillebrand Winery

Had dinner at The Old Winery Restaurant

Stratus

Stratus



Jackson Trigg



Jackson Trigg

We're not sure whose favourite restaurant this is ....

Sept. 13, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Breakfast at the Niagara on the Lake Golf Club

2:00 pm show Maria Severa at The Courthouse Theatre

Dinner at The Gate House

 

 

 

 

Sept. 12, 2011 Niagara-on-the- Lake, ON

Travelled from Haliburton to Niagara on the Lake

YUCKY lunch at Husky Truck Stop, Hwy 88 Bradford

YUMMY Dessert at  Willow Cakes and Pastries

Checked out the waterfront, walked down town, picked up our tickets from the box office.

Dinner at   Taste: The Healthy Option

 

 

 

 

Aug. 30, 2011 Shanty Bay, ON

Aug. 29, 2011 Dorset, ON

Aug. 28, 2011 Odessa, ON

Couple Shots

    "If you want to be happy, be."  Leo Tolstoy



July 16, 2011 "Pumley Cove Walking Trail", Goose Cove, NL

            

July 19, 2011 "Gros Morne Summit", Gros Morne National Park, NL

 

July 23, 2011 "Skerwink Trail",  East Trinity, NL

 

July 25, 2011 "Cape Spear Lighthouse", St. John's , NL



July 13, 2011 "More for Less Foods", Corner Brook, NL

July 13, 2011 "Captain James Cook Historical Site", Corner Brook, NL

 

July 14, 2011 "The Glynmill Inn", Corner Brook, NL



July 14, 2011 "The Tablelands Hike", Gros Morne National Park, NL



July 14, 2011 "The Tablelands Hike", Gros Morne National Park, NL

 

July 15, 2011 "The Arches", Parson's Pond, NL



July 15, 2011 "The Arches", Parson's Pond, NL

 

July 16, 2011 "Iceberg Alley at Fishing Point", St. Anthony, NL



July 16, 2011 "Northland Discovery Boat Tour", St. Anthony, NL

 

July 16, 2011 "Pumley Cove Walking Trail", Goose Cove, NL



July 17, 2011 "Western Brook Pond Boat Tour", Gros Morne National Park, NL

  

July 18, 2011 "Baker's Brook Falls", Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, NL



July 18, 2011 "Baker's Brook Falls", Gros Morne National Park, NL

  

July 19, 2011 "Gros Morne Summit", Gros Morne National Park, NL



July 20, 2011 "Lower Head Trail", Crow Head Lighthouse, Twillingate, NL



July 22, 2011 A "Root Cellar" Lookout, Elliston, NL

    

July 23, 2011, "Skerwink Trail", East Trinity, NL

 

July 23, 2011 "Skerwink Trail", East Trinity, NL

 

July 25, 2011, "Cape Spear Lighthouse", St. John's, NL