Began the Xmas holiday trip in Napa, California area visiting wineries and tasty eating establishments.

Great wine and location.

Grape vines.

Wine tour.

I’ll have some of that!

Our own private tasting at the Grgich Hills Winery with Marketing Manager Ken Morris.

Here comes the wine train. What a concept.

Couldn’t resist these photos using different exposures.

Across the Napa valley.

Painful ride.

Love a good train wreck involving wine.

Visited the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) school in St. Helena, CA for a little snack and a look around. It’s an old castle that had it’s hey day and then went into disrepair and was purchased for a song by the school and refurbished into a state-of-the-art cooking school.

Fancy drinks here – include flower petals.

Collection of wine openers

The waves of these expensive kitchen knives are from hand folding of the metal many times by a blacksmith in the forging process. Notice the ones on the right don’t have the waves. You can purchase these at Costco. Ninja swords have these waves in the metal.

Spent the Xmas holidays in Hawaii where we began the trip on Oahu Here are various shots while touring around the island.

Out from the hotel on Waikiki.

Over the top Xmas decorations.

Hotel hula lessons. OMG!!!

Pali Lookout.

This is the story of shoving people off this cliff.

Buddhist temple in the Valley of Temples.

Red piranha.

My own priestess

Ready to whack the big dong.

Big Buddah.

This is how tourists get killed at the blow hole.

Hanauma Bay.

Here are some miscellaneous shots around Maui.

Traditional Maui fence.

Happens every day.

Stick sculpture at Maui art museum.

Great baobab tree.

On the drive to Hana.

Don’t let him peck your eye out.

Lahaina cemetary.

View from hotel in Lahaina.

I wanted to dive out of the room.

Looking out the other way.

Visited a friend’s house on Maui and thought the world needed to see where the other half lives. In your own private grotto with water fall and pond.

This are some miscellaneous shots taken on Maui.

Yes, the pedestrian signs all indicate a walking weed-head crossing the road.

Hypnotic store sign.

I thought the tax guys standing in a Statue of Liberty suit on the street corner had the worst job in the world until I saw this guy. He’s standing in a mattress.

Maui has a very diverse set of cultures. From the rich, to the local Hawaiians, to the regular folk,to the hippies from the 1960’s who have never left that time or lifestyle. We went to a New Year’s Hippie jam fest at a local musician’s barn studio up the mountain. As we entered the door we went back fifty years to another time. It was delightful floating back. As Robbin Williams once said, “‘f you remember the 60’s you weren’t there.”

The first party was a “wigged out” party so we had to play the part.

Yes tie-dyed wall covering along with black-light posters, light show and all of the best stoner gear.

Thought I was at a Grateful Dead reunion.

Peace, love, brother, and good music.

This shocked them when I took a flash photo.

Yes, weed is the cash crop on Maui. Everyone grows it and sells it trying to stay one step ahead of the helicopter hypocrites who swoop in like a Navy Seals getting Bin Laden and destroy their potted pot. I wouldn’t know anything about this stuff. I only inhaled once in my life and that was between 1968 and 1995.

Looks like a weed to me.

This bud’s for you.

Into the sunlight.

Potted pot.

Are you sure those aren’t poinsettias?

This is a secret cove on the island of Maui that few know about. It is a sacred burial site for Hawaiian royalty who were buried standing up so they would be ready to fight in the afterlife. It is a magical place with a point overlooking the ocean waves where a picnic is perfect. We hiked down to the shore and into the jungle. It’s wonderfully peaceful being on your on private cove with no one anywhere near. It’s just you and the ocean and jungle.

Other side of the cove from the point.

From the point on top of the cove.

Heading into the jungle

Towards the left of the cove.

Straight out to sea looking North.

img id=”image13″ src=”http://ScottFredrickson.com/wp-content/uploads/821_cove/cove07.jpg”/>
Jungle.

Stream feeding the cove shore.

Cove beach.

Gorillas in the mist.

Elephant ear plants

On a recent return trip to Alaska the weather was very clear so the pilot took us low over the mountains.

These are just some miscellaneous shots of things I’ve seen.

Are you shittin’ me?

Great sunset shot looking West from Janine’s Anchorage deck.

Someone put this machine outside my office door.

I added the sign.

I just don’t get it.

This is what air travel has become.

Two of my boys are electrical lineman on the East coast. They often send me photos of where they are working, but never include photos such as the second one when they send photos to their mom.

This is them installing a main service.

This the one they don’t send to their mom.

Got to fly very close to Mt. Rainier on a recent flight out of Seattle. Janine climbed this several years ago so it was interesting for her to show me her path from these photos.

A year ago Janine went on a mult-week voyage on the research ship Kaisai to study the North Pacific Gyre. During our recent trip to the San Francisco area we had the opportunity to go for a day sail around the San Francisco harbor and under the Golden Gate Bridge. The Kaisai is a thirteen sail Brigantine that originally trained Japanese sailers. Click below to see other posts on the Kaisai Project.

Click here to see other Kaisai posts.

Under full sail.

Yes I’m driving the boat.

Captain Bligh at your service.

Janine being a “rope monkey” climbing the rigging under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Heading back towards Alcatraz.

San Francisco Bay.

6 – 8 foot seas outside the harbor.

Not too many people get to take this shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Heading out to sea.

Janine up in the rigging

Climbing higher.

Oil spill containment ships.

Battle ship USS Iowa waiting for refurbishment to be sent to a museum.

Scrap metal container ship.

WWII tug.

Kaisai on another recent trip in the Pacific. I took this photo when they were about 3 miles off the coast of San Francisco.

This is the original shot. Oh the wonders of Photoshop and a good lens.

Still cruising.

One last wonderful visit to the Muir Woods. Can’t get enough of these giant trees and to feel the energy and majesty of this place. Enjoy along with me.

Finally got the opportunity to visit Alcatraz Island in San Francisco bay. It was one of the most depressing spaces I have ever visited. To live for years in a small cell while constantly seeing one the most exciting cities in the world only a short distance away was the real punishment for these bad guys. It you ended up in Alcatraz, you had to have done bad things. Got a lot of photos on this post, but they are all worth it.

Great sign.

Pulling up.

Remember when Native Americans occupied Alcatraz for many months?

Guard gear.

Recreation yard.

From the recreation yard looking back.

Looking up at the recreation yard from the beach.

Recreation yard from another angle.

From the top of the recreation yard.

The day the prison closed.

View from the main cell block.

Kitchen. Notice knives have an outline to see if they are missing.

Main cell block.

This is the cell block utilities hallway where the big escape happened.

Cell with hole clawed through concrete wall.

Another escape view.

Main cell block.

Guard control room.

Main cell block.

Prisoner visitor viewing window.

View out cell block window.

Cell decoration.

Gun gallery overlooking main cell block.

Solitary confinement cell.

Solitary cell.

Main shower room.

Stores.

Tower whereby a guard would spend an eight-hour shift waiting to shoot prinsoners.

Main dock.

Last view.

I have always wanted to visit the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park. Finally got my chance so here is a photo collection of the beautiful grounds.

Since Janine is into Ikebana flower arranging, we stopped by the world headquarters of the art in San Francisco to visit their showroom and see examples from the masters.

The de Young museum of fine art in Golden Gate Park is a must see if you are in to art. Taking photos was rare since they had a busy set of photo guards. But I snapped this one of a sculpture of a cathedral made entirely of gun parts and bullets.

Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco is one of the classic church buildings in America. It services a very broad and open community of followers in the area. It was quite stunning in it’s massiveness. Also, listen to the organ sample.

Click here to listen to the organ

Photo stolen from the web.

Main view up the steps/

Contemporary art.

Great metal door.

Stained glass windows.

Rear organ pipes.

Looking towards the front.

Went to Baker Beach on the South side of the Golden Gate Bridge to photo another angle.

All lined up.

Like something from War of the Worlds.

From Baker Beach.

Turns out Baker Beach is a gay old-guy naked beach. Didn’t expect to see it draggin’ in the sand.

Definitely not gay.

Stopped by the Sausalito area and stayed at a friend’s house with a wonderful natural California garden. Here is some of the fauna.

Cool shot across the bay looking West.

All indigenous plants.

Great glass wind sculpture.

Keep this guy outside.

Across the bay.

This street musician was jammin’ on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and was worthy of stopping and listening and giving him some money. Check out the video and his great sound.

Visited the Musee Mechanique on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. It’s filled with antique mechanical music boxes, games, and attractions from the early 1900’s to an old PacMan video game. It’s a hoot. We spent many a quarter traveling back in time to earlier vintage amusement.

Stumbled into a fun sushi bar in Little Japan in San Francisco. This was my first experience with the floating sushi concept. You sit at the bar and the food floats by you and you snatch what you want. I wanted piranhas in the water to make it a little more spicy.

Konichiwa baby.

That’s wasabi on that trawler.

Visited Maine to visit a good friend I had not seen in a long time. Maine in August is the perfect time. Temperature was wonderful and everything was still in bloom and green.

Janine had a friend who is the Captain on this boat. She got to sail with him when they moved this boat to the show. It’s a former private taxi for a rich person who lived on Long Island during the 1920’s. Each morning this boat would pick them up and transport them to Wall Street at the end of Manhattan. During the trip a chef would prepare breakfast and on the return appetizers. The boat is worth millions with an equal yearly maintenance budget. It was truly a floating piece of art.

Captain Bligh ready for your service.

Janine on the Ragtime.

Stopped by a boat show in Rockland, ME. Check out some of the boats and gear.

This is an iceboat for winter cruising.

Beautiful wood work.

Small show.

Few of the boats.

More boats.

Dingy patrol.

More beautiful wood work.

Even more.

Small beauty.

Had to stop by LL Bean in Freeport, ME to pick up a gift for a friend – maple candy. Saw this trout aquarium and couldn’t resist a photo or two.

Stopped by this airport on our way back from Maine to check out a private WWII air force. All of these aircraft have been totally refurbished and frequently fly at air shows.

P-51.

Japanese Zero.

I think this is a British plane.

Corsair.

Another P-51.

B-17. Child pools are for leaking engines.

Bomber.

P-17 front.

Bomber again.

An Alaskan pontoon plane.

While traveling through New Hampshire returning from Maine caught the Air Force Thunderbirds practicing for their show the next day.

Stopped in Portsmouth, NH on our way back from Maine.

Classic 1776 style cathedral.

And there’s nothing wrong with this.

Great looking tugs.

Great looking gardens.

Great looking windows.

Sunset on the harbor.

I have wanted to visit Venice Beach, CA for as long as I have lived in California. Finally visited Santa Monica and trekked up the beach to the freak show. Here are some great shot along the beach front.

This guy is outside the “freak show” and is in an nine foot high tree suit.

Love a good freak show.

Starry starry night.

Good graffiti.

Dude.

I’m a doctor???

Can I give myself a prescription?

Recently visited his doctor.

This guy eventually jumped on the glass with bare feet.

Cool building art.

Ready for the anal probe???

Ono the beach.

I think I have a headache and need some medication.

Sand boys.

More freak show.

General freaks on the boardwalk.

Saw his doctor too many times.

Played a good Dick Dale guitar.

More freaks.

Some general photos from New Orleans during my last trip and a blast from live music.

Recent rains in the MidWest generated near flood conditions down stream. This is the Mississippi River in Audubon Park almost topping the levee.

Checkin’ out Tower of Power at the House of Blues.

More TOP at HOB.

More flooding.

Even more flooding.

Classic NOLA scooter.

Flooding downtown.

Towards the bridge.

Happened to be in New Orleans over July 4th. Here is the fireworks display which came from two dueling barges in the river shooting parallel fireworks near the New Orleans bridge.

Janine and I attended the 2011 New Orleans Jazz Fest. Here are some general photos and a great musical collage.

Here we go.

You can take this pedicab if you are too lazy to walk into the Fest.

Main stage screens.

Main stage.

Mardi Gras Indians performing a traditional dance.

Closer look at the Indian outfits.

Thousands of people at main stage.

Take me to Haiti.

Doing Cajun at the Fais Do Do stage.

All sorts of people attend Jazz Fest. Here are a few of the most interesting ones.

I want to leave the Fest this way.

One of the cultural events at Jazz Fest are the Haitian voodoo drummers and priests. Voodoo is not what you think. It is a cultural tradition and Christian religion for persons from Haiti. The drummers beat out great captivating beats while the priestesses dance. They then present a short workshop ceremony for the tourists.

Religious symbols. Notice the Christian artifacts.

Drummers drumming and locals workin’ it out.

Priestesses working it out.

Ceremony at the alter.

Native Americans have their own performance area. Here are three of my favorite dancers who dance to the drummers in the rear.

The Indians of Mardi Gras are one of the famous cultural aspects of Carnival and of Jazz Fest. The Mardi Gras Indians March and strut all through Carnival and appear at the Fest to honor that tradition.

Janine and Red Hawk.

Here are a few of the types of music at the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Old school Dixieland.

Zydeco.

Cajun.

More traditional jazz,

More Zydeco.

Looking toward the main stage.

Nawlin’s Blues.

New Orleans Brass Band.

Walter Wolfman Washington funkin’ it up.

Blues stage.

Jazz Fest is all about the music and the food. These photos are all about the food.

Janine getting her soft shell crab po-boy.

More vendors.

Gots to have some crawfish.

Two of my boys. At Jazz Fest New Orleans.

Justin and Christopher.

Popped across the pond to visit friends of Janine’s in Amsterdam. They are jazz musicians and well connected in the city. We walked all over the city. Here are some of the sights.

Their yellow cab.

It should have been 44D.

Neptune – one of those stand-still guys.

Neptune and mermaid.

Yes there are windmills here.

Cool metal door.

Downtown Amsterdam

On a canal.

Old school pharmacy.

More old school.

We’ll never see this ad in America

More shots around Amsterdam.

Yes, many of the building are crooked here because of the reclaimed land for all of Amsterdam plus, in the 1500’s people puffed out the front of their buildings toward the street to enhance their grandeur.

Janine with street art.

Out the window of our condo.

Riders on the storm.

I couldn’t get my leg into this car.

Various sights around Amsterdam.

You won’t see this porn movie in the states.

Sign on a truck. Love the latex connection.

One of the great jazz clubs in the world is in Amsterdam. This unique jazz band from Germany featured a tuba, bass clarinet and bass sax, cello, two drummers, alto and bass flutes, and had a unique sound never to be heard by American ears. They played all styles of jazz influenced music and were amazing.

They don’t mess around with smoking here.

Babies and skulls. Love it.

Living in New Orleans I thought I’d seen enough “fabulous” clothes. This suit caught my eye.

Fabulous!!!

More shots of picturesque Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside.

Is this the hub for travel for Europe?

Amsterdam is the weed capital of Europe. There are small “coffee shops” all over the city. And you cannot get a cup of coffee in a “coffee shop.” You have to go to a cafe. Most “coffee shops” have a counter with a large coffee table book filled with photos of all of the various products they sell. Behind the counter is a rack of containers filled with every type of weed you could want. When you ask counter guy what he recommends he will ask you, “What do you want to do, eat, take a walk, listen to music, have sex, go shopping, go to the gym?” You tell him and he fixes you up with something special. And as people have told me, it’s really special.

I really don’t think I need a history of weed.

Accessory shop

The original “coffee shop.”

Behind the counter at a “coffee shop.”

Yes, that’s a gas mask bong.

What’s growing in that window?

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. In the “red light” there are women in small cubicles standing right next to you on the street behind glass. It’s quite disconcerting to walk around a corner and standing less than two feet from you behind a window is a naked woman pressing her tits against the window at you. Accessory shops are everywhere. Amsterdam is quite the lively city with a lot of unique sights.

Yup, that’s the Travelocity gnome with a giant woodie.

Sex shops everywhere.

Looking up the canal in the “red light” district.

One of the window girls in the “red light” district.

Another sex shop.

Love the term “sex palace.”

That’s a drill powered dildo.

Amsterdam is bicycle city. Everyone rides a bike. Cars are expensive and very difficult to find parking. Public transportation is everywhere. People take trains into the city and grad their locked bike at the train station and ride to work.

In this lot at the train station are over 30,000 bikes.

Classic Amsterdam cruiser.

Parking lot just for bikes.

More bikes

Stacked like cord wood.

Another lot.

More bikes.

Another lot.

It doesn’t end.

Haarlem is a quaint city about thirty minutes by train from Amsterdam. Cars are not allowed in the city so it is all walking and biking.

These old school music machines are towed throughout the city and play for donations.

Behind one of the machines.

These are the wooden program reels for the machines.

Walking only.

These are indicators in the doorway of a shop telling those who couldn’t read in 1500 what the shop sold. This one happened to be a pharmacy.

I think this one sold anchors. Ha.

This one sold window shades. I don’t know. What do you want from me. This web site is free.

Cathedral in Haarlem.

Amazing organ in the cathedral that Mozart and Haydn played this organ.

In the cathedral.

Fresh flowers everywhere.

More walking.

Train station.

Wonderful public transportation.

While in New York City we visited Ground Zero. Major construction is proceeding on new buildings and the memorial.

View from across the street in the visitors building.

Visitors building foyer.

More building.

From the other side.

Visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Suits of armor, ancient temples, and guitars from some of the finest craftspeople in the world.

Temple of Dendur.

Went to New York City to attend the Colbert Report television show. I produced a custom jigsaw puzzle for them. Here are a few shots of the city.

On our way back from Amsterdam we wanted to break up the trip by stopping overnight in Chicago. Amsterdam to Anchorage, AK is a long way and our butts were tired. It doesn’t take long to find interesting sights in Chicago.

Chrome donut on the waterfront.

Million pixels that constantly change to another face.

Amphitheater.

We were there the day after St. Patrick’s day and the river was still green. They dye t green for the parade.

Old Sears Tower. Who knows what it’s named now.

Which one has the weird hair?

Rush St.

Made a stop in Hawaii last December visiting friends and relaxing. Here are some of the cool things that make Hawaii a wonderful place.

Classic restored 50’s woody surf wagon.

Sunset from the hotel.

Always a rainbow happening.

Yup it was Xmas and this is how Santa appears on the island. Santa’s the one in front with the hat.

They have gold plated Uggs.

And the cops have cool cars. Tricked-out code 3 Mustang.

Waikiki beach. Is there any wonder I hate this part of Hawaii. So much sun-burned fat.

This is my Santa. Shaka baby.

Duke Kahanamoku

Another view of Waikiki beach.

They only sold clothes – dammit.

I love Maui.

The jungle is fruitful.

This web was bout five feet across. The spider was a serious contender.

These are some of the beautiful trees that grow in the islands.

Stopped off at the aquarium on Maui.

The Seven Sacred Pools near Hana on Maui are worth the drive. It is deep into the jungle on a narrow road eventually ending with a short hike down to the breakers. These pools begin in the mountains and work their way down through water falls and swimming pools.

River feeding the pools.

Bridge over the gorge formed by the river.

Don’t jump.

Looking towards the sea from the bridge.

Upstream from the bridge.

The seventh pool.

Three or four of the pools.

This is how fat people die.

That cliff was about thirty feet down to jagged rocks.

Beautiful foliage across Hawaii.

The Ioa Needle onMaui is a result of volcanic eruptions. It’s wonderful park and temples make for a great day hike.

Beautifully painted temple on the grounds.

More gardens.

Two big local boys and a skinny-assed Haole.

More gardens.

On the way up to the needle.

Serious hike.

Flowing from the needle valley.

Flowers along the way.

And finally the Ioa Needle.

Had some friends who were connected with Maui politics. This was the inauguration of the Governor of Maui.

These guys are the old guard Hawaiians and belong to a special historical organization that seeks to protect the culture. Their robes were originally have from bird feathers. They are the ones who march in first in any official Hawaiian function. They are stately and proud and quite impressive.

These locals blow the conch shell to signal the start of festivities.

It was pretty cool sitting in the up-front locals seats.

All dressed up in Hawaiian regalia. The fresh leis made the room smell great.

These are the stained glass windows in a little church on the coast of Maui.

Went kayaking off Lahaina, Maui

Towards the island.

Janine and me with guest.

On my way to Australia – the hard way.

Oh to be raised as a kid on Maui and have the sea be your playground.

Yes, girls have girly surfboards.

And young boys have sharp things.

Local mom with infant at a play-date at the sea.

Lahaina, Maui is a gorgeous city perched on the edge of the ocean. The hotel was beautiful with sea views from every window.

From the hotel.

Another view from the hotel.

Yup, that’s a whale jumping out there.

Close up view.

The hotel had a squadron of flamingos in the interior lake.

Well yes it was Xmas and these were made from sand.

Cygnus atratus – Okay black swan.

Outrigger boats ready to go.

Downtown Lahaina.

The Haleakala on Maui is one of the only volcano craters that is bipolar. The rim of the crater splits the island into two sections – dry and wet. The dry side of the island receives little rain while the wet side is lush and green.

At the time of my visit, the temperature on the beach was 85 – 90. At the top of the mountain is was 40 degrees with fifty mile an hour winds bring the wind chill to about 25 degrees. Nipple cold when you are in shorts a tee shirt and flip flops.

At the top.

Very top with the telescopes.

Elevation 10,023 feet.

Moonscape.

Wet side of the crater.

Looking towards the beach where I took the wind surfing photos.

Crater edge is quite steep on each side.

Looking at the crater edge.

On the edge – in more ways than one.

Photographer to Scott, “Backup just a little.”

This is how the wet side works. Clouds can’t make it over the crater.

Pheasant on the trail.

Visited the historical museum on Ohau. It’s a small but potent collection of Hawaiian history.

Main room.

Mae from the feathers of thousands of jungle birds.

Mural depicting historical events in Hawaiian history.

Hookipa beach on Maui is a world-class wind surfing location. When I was there the winds and waves were perfect for the pros to go out and I caught these shots.

This is a mystical point where many of bottle of champaign has been consumed as well as ashes of past friends spread. It is not on any tourist maps and only locals know about it. It is a sacred Hawaiian cove where ancient royalty were buried standing up so they were prepared for battle on the other side.

Obviously too much champaign.

The crashing waves are amazing.

Huge waves pound this point.

Sacred cove that can only be reached on a dangerous narrow dirt trail that has a rope as a handrail.

Some of the vegetation that can be found on Maui.

This is a creepy little cemetery on a beautiful bluff over looking the sea on Maui. The reason it’s creepy is each grave has a solar-powered flower vase that when you drive by it at night looks like a field a fire flies.

Keeps the vampires away.

Maui has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Many of these photos were on beaches where Janine and I were the only visitors. Peaceful and majestic.

Here is a potpourri of shots on Maui.

Little village on the way to Hana.

Somewhere.

Waiting for the Borg.

Love a great blue and red tree.

Its me.

Found a naked girl in a tree on a beach.

Somewhere.

It’s illegal to vandalize public signs.

Chicken fighting is not a crime.

Another point.

One of the few times that a landing in Anchorage was during the day. And it just happened to be a beautiful day and I was on the right side of the plane. This is looking down on Southeastern Alaska before crossing the Prince William Sound. The rugged mountains and coast line.

Another beautiful sunset from Janine’s deck. Looking at Sleeping Lady in the far right of the photo.

This is true for too many people up here in Alaska.

If you ever wonder where all the hippies went, well, they kept moving north. They have no where else to go now that they are in Alaska.

I heard this drummer across Market St. in San Francisco working it out so I crossed to hear him. Suddenly a crazy guy appears and begins to dance. It was quite the scene and I got it on video.

From across the street.

Here comes the crazy guy.

Riders on the storm baby.

These are some of the crazy things that could only be in San Francisco.

You’re going to poke me first and then rub me???

Powell St. turn-a-round.

Segway tours for white people only.

Happy sailors during Fleet Week.

Okay.

Out in the open.

Chinese chess world championship.

I just missed her looking out the window.

I bet if I just knock her cane she’ll go down in a second.

Marilyn Monroe and Clint Eastwood in “The Good, the Bad, and the Horny”

You’re gonna make me jump for it aren’t you.

Peeking Duck – get it?

Fell into the Condor Club in North Beach section of San Francisco. As the Latin band played, the complex rhythms and sounds fell out onto the street through the opened windows. I strolled in, caught a drink and a stool, and grooved through the tour of Latin music styles. This club is the first topless bar in San Francisco and featured the famous Carol Doda when it opened in 1964.

Straight from Cuba – or as they said.

Carol Doda – Queen of the titty bars.

Condor Cash.

More Cash.

What a way to go.

Great views walking down the wharf in San Francisco.

Hornblower.

Tug heading out to see the air show over the water.

Ghirardeelli Square.

Eat at Joes.

Fisherman’s Wharf.

Gater bread.

One of the brand new tugs.

Caught the tail end of the Italian Day parade through the Tenderloin District in San Francisco. Those Italians know how to throw a street party. Here’s the end of a wild day.

Looks like a professional wrestling match is going to break out.

Lady of Spain I adore you.

Wild Bill Cody with a bad shadow photographer.

Pistol Pete from the boot of Italy.

Looks like cowboys to me – not Italians.

This isn’t Mardi Gras.

I love hangin’ out in the seedy sections of town. I loved the old 42nd St. in New York City before it was Disneyized. These are funky places but safe if you keep your wits – especially at night. There is great people watching in these areas of cities. There’s always something interesting going down and I love to catch the vide and be a lurker. I’ve only been in a titty bar one time in my life and find I don’t need to go again. I would rather people watch outside for my kicks.

Walkin’ the line.

Looks like something you’d see in New Orleans.

Titty bar to the left, titty bar to the right, and Big Al in the middle.

The grandmother of them all – the original Condor Club.

Another of the playpens.

World famous “Hungry I.”

And they were.

This is what I mean my people watching in the Tenderloin District. I was in San Francisco during Fleet Week. The Navy was in town, sailors everywhere all looking for a good time. Most sailors were told by their CO to at least stay in two’s and most were in some sort of group. I spotted this lone young sailor standing on the corner of Titty Blvd. and Lap Dance St. twirling the cap on his water bottle and trying to rationalize his manly needs with his Jesus training from back home. He paced around a little bit, got out his wallet and counted his money, took a couple of deep breaths, turned around and walked down the street quietly disappearing into the a crotch bar.

Okay, I put the censor bar on his face to make sure if anyone ever tried recognize him they would have a tough time. He’s just a kid on-shore after his first time away from home. Have a little horny compassion for the kid.

I know I’m going to go straight to Hell.

Just keep walking – you can do it.

Come on in big boy and I’ll help you shiver your timber.

Some cool shots of the GOlden Gate Bridge.

Took a bus tour through several of the areas in San Francisco I had not visited before. Here are a few shots from Haight-Ashbury. It’s no longer a hippie nest but it still looks cool.

A few of the “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco. Reminded me a lot of New Orleans.

San Francisco is a gumbo of building styles and colors. Here are a few of the most interesting buildings as I walked through the city.

Coit Tower is the highest spot in the city. I climbed to the top up the stairs leading from the wharf. Along the staircase are picturesque hidden gardens, statues, flowers, and views. It’s quite the climb even if you stop to enjoy the secret treasures along the way.

Tower at night.

During the day.

From across town.

Secret garden.

Another secret garden.

Plenty of stairs.

Blair Witch Project.

More gardens.

Spectacular views.

So I’m walking at the end of the wharf and stumble on a mini-car show. The local boys pulled out their rides for a little beer and polishing. These spit shinned originals glowed in the artificial lighting of the street begging you to get behind the wheel. I shot some shots until I was accosted by the guy in the red car. When I took his picture I first thought he was flipping me off and then jumped out of his car to kick my ass. Instead I found he was giving the hand sign for the Mission District gang. He showed me how to do it and I asked him if I was seen on the street doing the hand sign would I get killed? He laughed and said No, only if I send him copies of photos of his car. I did. When I get to SF again I think I will look up Danny the Barber..

Coming from New Orleans I love the street cars in San Francisco. They acquired old cars from many cities across the country, refurbished them, and have them dance down the tracks on Market St. and the Wharf.

I was eating at a restaurant in China Town when suddenly out of the corner of my eye a large gray creature runs past my leg and hides under the table next to me. I sat very still and slowly swallowed. Did I just see what I thought I saw? As it turned out it was the local alley cat coming through for a few morsels. The cat was left alone. Had this been a Southeast Asian restaurant, it might have been another story.

Stumbled into a festival in China Town. Booths, food, back massage, and music. The first group on the video was a traditional Chinese orchestra with singers. The second singer is a local Chinese pop singer performing a favorite tune of the two old men dancing in front of the stage.

Traditional Chinese orchestra.

Local crooner.

Work that crowd.

Local artist.

Ivory carvings.

More carving.

Even more carving.

Caught the Blue Angels during Fleet Week in San Francisco. There were several hundred thousand people down at the wharf and I didn’t want to be with them. I out smarted them all by climbing the hill to Coit Tower and watching the show with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Check out this short video of some of their tricks.

Blue Angels in action.

Checkout their rehearsal on Friday from downtown.

Another downtown shot.

Not one of the Blue Angels, but another act in the show.

New United/Continental 747 flying low.

Another solo act.

All six Blue Angels.

Close and loud.

Even louder.

Which way did they go?

They went that-a-way.

Grand finale.

Got up this morning and it was so beautifully pristine and calm I decided to drive to Talkeetna, see Denali and have lunch. As usual, I fell into a deal on a mountain air tour – last seat on the last plane of the day. We flew all around the mountain. It was so calm. Not a single bump on the flight.  Could see for several hundred miles in any direction. We got real close to all of the mountains. You could almost touch some of the peaks we flew by. This was an amazing adventure. This was one of the best days for flying around the mountain in months the pilot told me. I got to ride in the co-pilot seat and get shots out the front window.

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This was an amazingly clear day.

Fall colors and the mountain.

Route map of the flight.

That’s where we are going.

That’s Janine standing on top of Denali a few years ago.

Susitna River.

Some of the rugged mountains on the way to Denali.

Peaks that you could almost touch.

More peaks.

One of many glaciers.

Snow pack with solid ice.

Walking on the glacier.

Yes I’m on the glacier at about 10,000 feet.

Cockpit of the de Havilland Otter. I got to ride co-pilot.

That’s shadow on the left is where we landed.

Around the glacier where we landed.

East side of Denali.

Brooks glacier.

Eastern side of Denali.

We got really close to the mountain.

Traleiika glacier.

Eastern side again.

Coming around to the Northern side.

Another nearby peak.

More peaks.

North face of Denali.

North face of Denali.

Top of Denali.

Another top view.

More top. This face wall is 17,000 feet straight down. The tallest face wall in the world. This only shows a small portion of the wall.

More top.

Coming around to the West facing side.

Looking down the Ruth Glacier.

South face of Denali.

More South face.

We got pretty close.

Another nearby peak.

More peaks.

Down through the “tooth” named mountains – Moose’s, Bear’s, etc.

Moose’s Tooth.

Glacier and teeth.

Ruth Glacier.

Getting close to another peak.

Another cool peak.

Getting closer.

Heading home through rugged country.

South face of Denali.

Further out.

Even further out.

Another angle.

Close up shot.

Another angle.

More angles.

Following the glacier home.

That’s where we were.

These are some artsy nature shots taken on the way back from Denali.

Denali from the lookout 130 miles from Anchorage.

More lookout.

Sunset in Willow, AK.

Denali from Willow, AK.

Sunset in Willow, AK.

Saw this in the bathroom in a bar in Talkeetna, AK. How drunk do you have to get out in the middle of nowhere to put this nasty thing on your head. I guess not that drunk. This is Alaska.

I’m glad the other device didn’t have a sticker on it saying something about a toothbrush.

Went to the big fundraiser for the Orange County Democratic Party. My son Chris was one of the main organizers for the event and he and his interns hustled up most of the ticket sales and were the greeters and staff for the event. Barney Frank (Congressman from the Boston area) was the guest speaker. He had great things to say to energize the crowd and drive the followers towards the November election. I met him and had a photo op. Also hung with the Pres, except he didn’t know I was there.

Blond, James Blond with POTUS.

With my son Chris.

Hangin’ with Barney Frank.

With the Andrews Sisters. Work it girls.

Dude, need some berries with that healthcare?

Barney yackin’ away.

Kaisai returned from the voyage via San Diego. These are photos of the boat as the crew raises and lowers the sails. The boat has 15 sails and all were up for the entrance into San Diego Harbor and the Tall Ships Festival that was going on that weekend. I got to cruise with them around the harbor.

The crew was able to locate and document thousands of pieces of sea debris and collect some of it. Here are some shots of the boat and crew.

Janine up in the sails.

Mast over 100 feet tall.

Look at all the rope monkeys.

Janine and the girls on the mast.

Distance shot.

Crew and friends on the bow.

Everyone pulled ropes to get the sails up. I stayed out of the way with the camera.

A real rope monkey.

Hey you, with the camera, get your ass down from there! – I never take orders from Bruce Dern anyway.

Rope grabbers. Shows you what I know about tall ships and sailing.

Pull that rope, hoist that sail.

Sails going up.

From the bow.

Up in the mast with sails this time.

On the bow showing off.

Sails coming down.

Holy shit, how did I get out here!

Rope monkeys up high.

Closer shot. Why isn’t that girl in the middle working?

They do this when the ship needs to back up.

Kaisai with some of the sea crap they collected on the voyage.

Sea shit.

Bow.

Ships bell.

Climb monkeys climb.

Front sails up.

All sails up.

More sails.

Janine all the way up the mast.

Shiver me timbers.

This is some of the junk the Kaisai crew collected on the voyage. The worst are fishing nets. When a fishing boat gets a snag, they usually cut the net free and sail away. Unfortunately, these nets catch other debris that floats and thus keeps the net up and fishing. These “ghost nets” catch turtles, dolphin, and every other sea creature that may unfortunately swim in to it. Since these nets are not emptied by fisherman, they fill up with dead creatures. That end of the boat was pretty when I got on board.