“San Francisco has
only one drawback —
’tis hard to leave.” 
Rudyard Kipling

Those who know me are well aware that I enjoy spending days in San Francisco. I was born and raised there. The City will always be “home” to me. 

I’ve lived in the South Bay since 1972 — for five years in San José (just off The Alameda and Highway 17), seven years in Santa Clara (near Santa Clara University), and in West San José since 1986. While I’ve spent most of my life here in the Santa Clara Valley, I will always consider myself to be a City kid.

In my retirement, I enjoy taking CalTrain from Santa Clara to San Francisco. I get around to different parts of The City by walking or using public transportation, normally logging between 15,000 to 20,000 steps in a day. Most often, I take these day-trips alone. 

Yesterday, I met up with my long-time friend, Dan Pasini, for a trip to The City and a ferry boat ride to the charming little town of Sausalito. Dan lives in San Carlos, so I texted him to let him know which train I was on. He boarded the same train when it arrived in San Carlos. We stopped in Burlingame for breakfast at Copenhagen Bakery & Café before continuing our journey to San Francisco. We boarded the Golden Gate Ferry at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at Market Street and arrived in Sausalito around 1:00.

We enjoyed lunch at the same restaurant my friend, Pierce Murphy, and I had visited a couple of weeks ago. The Sausalito Bakery & Café serves delicious sandwiches and offers a delectable array of baked goods for dessert. The quaint environment and the outstanding service make it an ideal place for a casual lunch.

After walking around downtown Sausalito for a while, stopping in to various businesses along the way, we boarded the boat for the ride back to San Francisco. As the vessel passed Alcatraz Island and began its approach to The City, I was able to capture the spectacular photo of the San Francisco skyline shown above. I always tell people I’m not a photographer, but the camera in my iPhone often makes the photos I take appear to be professionally done. I’m pretty sure this is the best skyline photo of The City I’ve ever taken.

After disembarking, Dan and I made our way back to the CalTrain station for the ride back to the South Bay. A gorgeous, though somewhat breezy, day in The City with a friend of almost 55 years is a priceless combination. I thoroughly enjoy Dan’s companionship.

It’s been said that friendships are a lot like tending to a garden. Just as plants need to be watered and cared for, friendships need to be maintained and nourished. I am grateful for Dan, for the gift of his time, and for his friendship.