With Dad to Santa Cruz, Redwood State Parks, Pebble Beach, Monterey Sea Aquarium + Dinner at Shadowbrook Restaurant

On Monday, March 1 in 1993,  husband Pieter was in Chicago giving a Seminar for Campbell Soup and I would go for one day to their Pescadero Mushroom Farm in Santa Cruz.

Thus, I checked out with Dad, from our San Francisco hotel and started driving South via Highway 101 onto Highway 1 along the coast via the Scenic Half Moon Bay drive.

This is Highway 1, along the coast... Near Half Moon Bay you view the eroded cliff sides.

Pieter and I have also been there at times that the road was covered with eroded rocks and sand and traffic blocked.

As I had to work next day for the Campbell Soup plant in Pescadero, we first went there.

Then I did take Dad back up to the north for driving the scenic Skyline Boulevard, Route 35 to show Dad the natural wonders of this region.

There was no GPS back then, all I had was some magazine info with the most scenic routes...

BUT after a stop and guidance from a guy on a tractor, we ended up in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.

We managed to see the burned out Chimney Tree but could not find the Auto Tree, one of the oldest and where a car can drive through. 

Dad was in awe, and he had me run back to the car, for fetching the camera and capturing at least some images with him!

Dad was eager for consulting his book at home, back in The Netherlands, and checking out the pictures and information...

Now it was on to our final destination for the day, the Holiday Inn at Santa Cruz.

We both did walk briskly towards the Fisherman's Wharf, before dark – showing Dad the seals and where they would jump onto the wooden beams at the board walk for sleeping...

See my previous post about my First Trip to California, Santa Cruz – below this one.

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Next day I started around 7:00 with my consulting job at the Campbell Soup's Pescadero mushroom farm and worked all day.

In return, the manager had one of his staff members, Carmen, tour with us the entire following day for sight seeing the coming day.

Carmen, started out by taking us to another Redwood area, the Pescadero Memorial Park.

Memorial Park (2nd Hike) click link for seeing this exact tree with info as Carmen missed part of it...

It obviously is a kind of cut off tree on the side that is not visible from the top in our photo.

Dad tried to capture me against another redwood or Sequoia sempervirens...

Next, Carmen took my Dad and me to Pebble Beach click for more info.

Dad and Carmen at Pebble Beach...

Sand–polished Gems, you can read more from the above mentioned link.

Giving you a view from Pebble Beach, over the Pacific Ocean

More of the Pacific Ocean with a rather strong surf and lots of shore birds

A better view from Pebble Beach and its many shore birds

Center photo you can see the silhouette of Pescadero's famous Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz along the rugged San Mateo coast line...

It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!

See better photo in my previous post below: My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz

Dad in Monterey, after our very scenic drive down Highway 1; belonging to the most scenic of the world.

Carmen and me on the rocks in Monterey at the Wharf

Dad in Monterey at the Wharf

It sure was a perfect day, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Monterey Sea Aquarium where we found the Sea Otters the most funny! One was allowed to touch the smaller sea creatures; so educative and fun and Dad was very happy.

Near the Sea Aquarium with a happy Dad!

We got treated royally that March 3, with a dinner at the famous Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, where Dad got to ride the Cable Car; one of the most unique restaurants in the West.

Pieter dined here with the Campbell staff on January 27...

Next day, I drove back in our Dollar rental car, my blue Plymouth, to return it at the San Francisco Airport.

Crazy 'triple' photo but you clearly can see the yellow Tidy tips, California's spring wildflower!

Called the Ramada Inn with the courtesy phone, and with their shuttle we arrived for checking in for one night stay at the San Francisco Airport.

On Friday, March 5, we checked out from our hotel at 5:15 and with shuttle to the airport for our early flight from 6:40 to Minneapolis/St.Paul–the first leg of our journey back to the East, to Atlanta, Georgia.

We arrived home by 18:30 due to the 3 hours time difference!

Did sleep in on Saturday, March 6, for nursing my Bronchitis and Sciatica...

Pieter got home at 14:30 from his Campbell Soup Seminar in Chicago and he took Dad for singing practice by 16:00 together with the organist at the First Baptist Church. 

Dad's solos were the Negro Spirituals: Thank You Lord and Steal Away, which he also repeated on the 14th of March at yet another Church in town.

Both the organist and my Dad sounded perfect, and it got rounded off with a standing reception and refreshments in their social hall.

Dad flew back home on March 20, together with his Presidential gift from Uncle Bo Whaley; a specially handmade Irish shillelagh cane.

Skillfully crafted by our local Easter Seal workers. The day before, the Georgia Governor got presented with one by our local officials during the annual St. Patrick's Joint Civic Luncheon, organized by Pieter's Rotary Club.

Even President Carter received one in August of 1980...

~

So much for one week in California and three weeks in Georgia, all the way from The Netherlands...

Related links:

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise | previous post

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz | previous post by me with Shadowbrook Restaurant where Dad now dined with me...

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise

On February 20 of 1993, we went to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Dad... He had flown solo, without my Mom, from Amsterdam/The Netherlands.

On Sunday, right after Mass, when serving a cup of coffee in our veranda, I sat on Dad's lap...

Handing him a belated Birthday Gift (for January 4th) + Father's Day gift in the form of a ticket to fly with me on February 27, via Detroit to San Francisco, as I had to do some training for Campbell Soup at the Pescadero farm in Santa Cruz. 

Dad cried, and that's something; considering that he never has been a person, able to show his emotions!

Only at our final visit he showed TRUE JOY when we walked into the door!

That did both of us so good and with his passing shortly afterward, we had peace of mind.

There are 3 hours in time difference and with our stop-over in Detroit, we had to get up at 5:00 AM for driving to the Atlanta Airport, park the car and then check in for our 9:50 flight to Detroit.

Arriving finally in San Francisco around 14:00.

Here I stopped with my Dollar rental car from the San Francisco Airport, driving to our Holiday Inn, North Point.

Dad was so in awe with this masterpiece of the Golden Gate Bridge!

The weather was pleasant and Dad even needed his sunglasses...

One has to be in awe by the view of those HUMONGOUS cables!

It as so worth it for driving the 101 north and then turning back, so Dad could SEE all this...

Next day, on February 28, I got us a ticket for the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISE. 

For Dad, I got the German language narration, that made him very happy!

Now we're going under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge by boat...

Looking at the Golden Gate Bridge from below...

Dad loved listening to all the German spoken information!

What a sight that bridge as we leave it behind...

California is a rugged State and has lots of interesting views.

Alcatraz Island is coming in sight... with the famous Alcatraz prison.

Nearing Alcatraz Island

That Alcatraz prison is quite a dreary sight...

The Alcatraz Island is 22 acres or 9 hectare and is 1.5 mile or 2.01 km offshore.

Dad at the San Francisco Wharf, he was so grateful as he hugged my shoulders as he cried again...

Letting me know that this gift was well received!

Once more, Dad had gotten emotional when I told him that this would be as close as he could possibly get to his younger brother in Broken Hill, NSW-Australia... a brother who's Birthday it was that day!

Dad never dared to go visit him, flying from The Netherlands.

Sure, if I had gone with him; he would have!

We walked to Saints Peter and Paul Church and attended 'half' a Mass, in Italian, since we had no time schedule...

Post card photograph above by Willow Schneider and Carl Bondinell

Then we walked through the city of San Francisco to Union Square and Powell Street and back by Cable Car to the Fisherman's Wharf.

That was a special experience for my Dad, to ride the real San Francisco Cable Car...

View from our Holiday Inn over the Fisherman's Wharf with the Marriott hotel across from us...

Stay tuned for next section.

Related link:

Pieter J.C. Vedder was the BEST TEACHER in Bridging the Gap between Research and Grower | Pieter's photo from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge...

From Santa Cruz to San Francisco for the Weekend | previous post by me with cable car picture and about our trip to Alcatraz Island

From Santa Cruz to San Francisco for the Weekend

This was our PLAN to begin with, a weekend together in San Francisco...

With my Mauzie girl at the San Francisco Fisherman's wharf...

We did make a Golden Gate Bridge cruise and San Francisco Bay and saw Alcatraz Island.

We had checked in at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square at 333 O'Farrell St.
Staying at the 25th floor.
And, my Mauzie girl who was super smart, sat in her sports bag with zipper over her back. I held it with my Burberry trenchcoat concealing her - she never said a word!
It was just for a brief moment a bit tense, when the bell boy tried to relieve me from my bag... he was tugging it but I firmly said; no Sir, I can handle that myself!
Mauzie had a pep talk in the room where I told her that we have now neighbors above, below and on both sides - don't 'speak'.
No wonder Mauzie's Daddy was then Champion in The Netherlands!
We woke up in the morning to the Carillon playing 'Dancing Mathilde'... oh the atmosphere of Union Square!

The view from our 25th floor was absolutely stunning!
It was a pricy hotel for both of us at the time, $ 123.00 per night as Pieter was not yet on the payroll, due to both of us waiting for the green card...
To the right you can see San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge

Here an even better view of San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge
Macy's was right in front as of course were all major stores around Union Square!

That's where I found two wool skirt suits, one I wore on my Civil Wedding day in November...
We did waste so much of our precious time that Friday at a travel service for changing our flight back to Atlanta, into a flight to Philadelphia as Pieter was requested by the CEO of Campbell Soup, to give a presentation...

But we managed to go by taxi to the Fishermans wharf and view an old submarine and a sail ship.
That is me standing in front of said sail ship, with my Mauzie girl.
Top photo also got taken at the Fistherman's wharf.

We did walk back to the hotel and it was rather steep.

Cable cars were OUT - due to repair!
Not today... but Mauzie got carried for some segments.

This is from a postcard... We had to do this on foot; both ways.

Yes, San Francisco fog is famous and it can be rather chilly there in the evenings!
On Saturday, October 22, we had to stay in our room merely because Pieter was writing his presentation for the CEO but we managed to walk in 45 minutes to the Fisherman's wharf again and made a 2 hour trip by boat; via the Bay Bridge to Alcatraz Island.

Google.com/maps

Red dot is where Hilton Hilton San Francisco Union Square is. To the left you can see Alcatraz Island.
We walked back to our hotel, via China Town, the oldest in North America and largest Chinese enclave outside of Asia.
No photos from that trip... later I would take my Dad by boat to Alcatraz Island and got some photos.
Will show that in a future post...

On Monday, October 23, we all flew in seven hours from San Francisco via St. Louis, Missouri to Philadelphia and with a taxi went to the Hyatt Regency hotel in Cherry Hills, New Jersey.
On Tuesday morning Pieter got picked up by a colleague and had his meeting and presentation with the CEO at the Campbell Soup Headquarters, 1 Campbell Place in Camden, New Jersey.
I read while the men met and by 16:00 we went by taxi to the airport for take off to Atlanta and home by 23:00

Yes, our Mauzie girl has been to several States and Countries!

Related link:

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz | Previous post by me