Desperate Shopping Expedition

Friday 14th August. We awake to another stunning day in Berkeley. Every morning has been practically the same - it's either overcast with warm blue skies by lunchtime, or like today, clear blue skies and temperatures rising into the 80's. A relaxed start sees us updating the blog and photos and some serious shopping planning by Lady P. She departs for SF and Flashman sits around, does a bit of ironing and shuffles the maps and brochures, before deciding on a late BART to SF and the Wells Fargo Museum, before meeting Lady P at the Hilton.
Lady's P's expedition, 'sans shadow' (read Flashman) is extremely successful. As she walks to the BART station, she hears loud music approaching and notices a group of children, about 6 years of age, all dressed in matching green YMCA. The leader obviously had a booster speaker in her back pack and it is pumping out 'The Eye of the Tiger' and yes, you guessed it, all the children following are singing at the top of their lungs. They are obviously heading for the local Aquatic centre which we are passing - a somewhat 21st century version of Mother Goose and an omen for the day ahead. Desigual, one of Lady P's passions just happens to be on the first street corner so she disappears and doesn't surface for at least 30 mins, only to be followed by a visit to H & M and then of course there was Macey's. It was their One Day Sale so the opportunities just jumped out and she got two pairs of shoes (already reduced by 50%) for the price of one!! Yes the full price was $140 and they only cost $35 !! Win win!! The back pack loaded, and the Desigual wheely carry on luggage bag under one arm she headed off to meet Flashy at the Hilton for a much needed cooling G & T. 

The efficient tour guide, Lady P, then escorted Flashy through China Town to catch the No 30 trolley bus down to the foreshore of the Bay and Fort Mason. This is about when he declares he is 'over Public Transport' - more in tomorrow's blog.This seemingly non descript collection of wharfs and buildings is humming and alive with the establishment of the 'temporary pop up food truck'  "Off the Grid" food scene. Every Friday they gather and the locals come out to wine, dine and seemingly celebrate life and the end of the working week. There are families with children darting in and out of the crowd, Gen Y'ers meeting their friends after numerous texting 'likes' and putting out their BYO picnic rugs on the pavement as the chairs run out. They even bring their own food in Safeway bags but no one seems to mind. Beer, wine, cocktails you name it, nothing is missing, so we have home brewed beer, followed by Sangria - Lady P, and then a couple of good Californian wines with our dinner.




Too many choices for the later but Lady P watched the Boneyard food truck with an evil eye as she fancied the 'Burnt Ends special'. And Flashy helped her consume that whilst watching the line up move ever so slowly at 'Rocko's Ice cream Tacos' . The music played, the people danced and the crowd grew until it was almost standing room only. As the sun set, we departed up the nearby stairs for some sunset photos before a cab ride to the Embarcadero station for Flashy's favourite ride home on the train.What a great, truly San Francisco experience !!