Sailing, sailing over the bounding bay!

We were successful at staying at the Half Moon Bay State Park for 5 nights without a reservation; truly a miracle of bureaucratic karma.  Our view, featured in the previous chapter, was spectacular.  As were the walks along the Coastal trail which was in full ice plant bloom.  But the family time, chaotic as it was, was precious.  We decided to host the newest member and his family to a motorhome experience and all packed in for a fun evening and barbecue.

Liliana in a haze of bubbles!

Damien asleep in his basket!

Terri holds Damien at the MH

Daddy Clint

 On Saturday we were politely asked to leave, sadly before Marty's graduation party but luckily after a wonderful surprise visit from long-time friend Kay from real estate days of old.  So back to Petaluma and our familiar home at the Elk's Lodge just in time for an invitation from Rusty's brother, Steve, to go sailing on Sunday (last).  I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to go sailing and take some fun photos!

We sailed out of the Richmond (east Bay) Marina in near perfect conditions on Steve's Catalina 30, a terrific and easy to handle little sailboat with all the comforts and space down below of a much larger model.  The engine was immediately turned off as the main and jib sheets filled nicely and off we went for a few hours of cruising the Bay.  We were blessed with sun but San Francisco, off the in the distance, was viewed through a dreary fog...typical.

Our day on the bay!

San Francisco thru the fog!

A man in his element!

Steve, our capt. & host!

San Francisco will host the 2013 America's Cup.  "With its natural stadium at the footsteps of the City and consistent, heavy winds, San Francisco Bay will be an arena for some of the most spectacular racing the world has ever seen", says the Mayor.  Steve has promised us a seat aboard his Catalina as the trials and pre-race spectacles begin next summer 2012!

Off to meet our new grandson!

Damien Kevin Bello was born at 4:51 this morning, May 16th, 9 days before his due date.  We were in Petaluma,  but now are on the road in our "mobile" home heading to Half Moon Bay, about 60 miles south but entailing a slow drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and through San Francisco, then along the twisty, narrow, steep section of Highway 1 known as Devil's Slide.  Once there we hope to park at the State Beach, then drive over to the hospital in Burlingame for the official meeting with lots of hugs and tears and pictures, of course!

Our home has a view in HMB!

Terri had called me at 11:30 last night to say they were on their way to the hospital, then again at 12:30 to say they were sending her home.  Well, she made it to the parking lot!!  I awoke this morning to beautiful baby boy videos!  Needless to say, it went very quick and easy and we got a good night's sleep!

Sausalito

Our 2 1/2 weeks in Petaluma have been terrific and we will be back.  We had a day in Sausalito to try out my new polarizing lens which generated lots of SF Bay pics.  Howard had a great day sailing with Rusty's brother Steve on his Catalina 30.  He opted out of running his annual Bay to Breakers 12 K in SF yesterday.  I think the rain and hail may have been a deterrent!  We have completed most of our medical stuff and my chiropractor visits go as well as 
can be expected.

Hiking the Sonoma County hillside!

So there's the quick update written on the run but with blazing 4 G speeds as we navigate the streets of San Francisco!!  Pics to follow.....

That's a bunch of kids!

Grand Times & Medical Stuff!

Annie at Dillon Beach

Entertaining Annie, the grandlab, is easy.  A trip to Dillon Beach for a few hours of chasing a ball and a sea gull or two, swimming in the surf and having her people nearby makes for a happy puppy.  The scenery is spectacular and the day is perfect and the camera is in hand, batteries charged, card inserted!

Entertaining Christina, the 4 1/2 year old granddaughter takes a bit more imagination.  On a walk through downtown one day Howard and I spotted A Likely Story, a children's bookstore offering Sunday story-telling with music and puppets performed by Scott the Storyteller.  The bookstore and Scott lived up to our expectations.  Christina spent an hour mesmerized, with bursts of laughter, and enthusiastic participation.  The grandparents were happy, so happy that we purchased a fairy-tale book, a CD of Scott's stories, a cheese burrito for her lunch, and topped off with an ice cream at Powell's.  It doesn't get much better than this!

Around Petaluma

Storytelling with Christina

We are settling in to our Petaluma routine, seeing local friends and fellow travelers who stop here en route, and doing our routine Kaiser stuff.  The referral came through for my chiropractor of choice, the consultation and x-rays completed, now the adjustments along with physical therapy has begun.  We won't get into the amount of degeneration, bone spurs and fusing, or dwell on the impressive 90 degree curve in my spine; obviously it can't be fixed, but hopefully with more muscle strengthening and some manipulation, I'll be able to maintain the active lifestyle I've grown accustom to!