"YOU'RE ONLY PRETTY AS YOU FEEL"

How can I visit San Francisco and not use a line from the Jefferson Airplane as a post title?

"You're only pretty as you feel..."

I had such a great time with my friend Tom in SF. He has been living in the area for decades and can drive a stick shift because I will tell you something, I am not negotiating those hills if I do not have to. Oh my goodness they are steep. I was doing fine (ok I was white knuckled) until two blocks from his apartment when I had to stop at a stop sign and someone drove right up to my tailend. I wish I had a flashing sign that screamed "OUT OF STATE PLATES - STICK SHIFT - BACK OFF!"  It was an ugly squeal. I feared for my sweet little Matilda (the car). The odor of burning terribleness was painful. I prayed and begged her to forgive me. I pulled up to Tom's HILLTOP apartment emanating car fear odor. "Where can I park? I am not driving her again until I am headed down the hill and over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.

San Francisco approaching Halloween... how fun! I get to wear my jester hat in Castro. Many lovely comments were heard complimenting me and Cowboy Tom. Tommy was great showing me all around the town and driving me to places that I had never been before. Matilda liked him too. He was much better on those hills than I. Good. We went to museums and landmarks and parks and ate Shrimp Louie, vietnamese and thai food, took photos and had stupendous weather. I am really grateful for friends.

Saturday I headed up north to Fort Bragg to the inn where I am to exchange 24 hours of work per week for accommodation and food. I started on Route 101 and then in Santa Rosa got off to get some tourist information. The lovely woman there gave me a wealth of good information and suggestions. Although SR it is not in the same county as Fort Bragg I wanted to collect reference materials for a later date. Remember I am on an exploratory mission. As I had extra time she gave me a routing suggestion that I really liked. From Santa Rosa I took 116 along the Russian River driving past vineyards and redwood forests. Beautiful. I then hit Hwy 1 and took the hilly winding roads up to Mendocino. YES - AGAIN WITH THE HILLY WINDING ROADS. My GPS only calculates the roads at 55 miles per hour so I cannot count on time references to the next destination. The roads switch back and forth from 15 miles per hour to 55 mostly at the lower speed limits. When I got to Mendocino (what appeared to me to be a small township) I stopped and called the inn to let them know that I would be there in a half hour.

When I drove into Fort Bragg I was surprised. Many people along my path had spoken of it as a small place but it is not. It has a DOLLARTREE store and a SAFEWAY and an awesome community center with top notch facilities. Today I became a member of the center for the next month. There is a pool, tons of exercise classes and a full gym. After all the driving I have done these last 8 weeks plus my not normal diet I need some structured exercise. This afternoon I began with a low impact Zumba class, earlier I took a beach walk and after I practiced poi and flow wand in the ballroom which is the top floor of this bed and breakfast.

Saturday late afternoon I arrived to a bit of chaos here. Vivien, the inn owner was in full swing setting up for a political fundraising/halloween event. I was put right to work creating a silent auction, plating up food, opening champagne bottles, greeting guests and then clearing empties throughout the night. The ballroom is three flights up so I began my exercising before I joined the gym! After the bulk of the guests left a milonga began. That's right, Argentine tango at my work exchange. I find that quite ironic or perhaps divinely appointed.

Sunday one of the other helpers, Paulina from the French Alps and I did the rest of the clean up. I then drove us to various places in and around town exploring. She leaves Wednesday which is sad because I really like having her smiles around.

This coming weekend I am to be the innkeeper. Is this a quick promotion or what? Actually Vivien is going to SF to dance tango for four days and someone needs to be responsible for things. I guess that would be me. We have three more helpers coming. I have seniority already! Since I am "IT" I have a few days totally off. GOOD. I have a huge list of "TO DO's" now that I will be in one place for awhile. I have even taken my clothes out of all the ziplock bags in my backpack and folded them neatly and placed them on shelves. WOO HOO.

Ok, that's enough for now. This is a little room in the tower next to the main house. I went up to the top of the tower this evening but missed sunset by just a few minutes. It was a busy day. Maybe tomorrow I will get there in time.





Relax and chill with the post title song from 1971 and the Jefferson Airplane...