Two weeks ago we took a much-needed weekend vacation to San Francisco. Below are some photos from our stay in ol' Frisco (Anna hates when I call it that).
On Friday night we had dinner with Liam Humble, a good friend and old co-worker. He gave us a very detailed tour of Emeryville, Oakland and a long walk along the bay to see the lights of San Francisco at night. Here is Anna interacting with some local art in Oakland.
The next morning we had breakfast and mapped out our day. Anna asked what I would like to do with our free Saturday in San Francisco and boy did she regret it. Of course I wanted to go to the San Francisco Maritime Museum and National Park. Who wouldn't?
Apparently Anna wouldn't. But after some begging, pleading and bargaining I was able to convince her to go. In the end she was a good sport about the whole thing and I believe she might have even enjoyed herself...
I think the Art of Maritime Photography exhibit won her over. We were both mesmerized by how clear and detailed the photographs were after all these years. The crappy photos I took with my iPhone certainly do not do them justice.
The photograph below was one of my favorites
I assume this photograph is titled, "Oh Shit!"
Tide measuring device
The picture below originated as a photo exchange with a young tourist. All three of us - Anna, me and the tourist - walked upon the boat at the same time. He looked at the boat. Then he looked at us. Then he looked back at the boat and then back at us. Anna finally asked if he would like his picture taken in the little marooned row boat. He wouldn't have been more excited if it were actually in water. And as a gesture of thanks, he took our picture too.
Anna did knot tie it correctly
This is my favorite picture from our trip
Old ferry boat
The Balclutha
According to Wikipedia the Balclutha "is a steel-hulled full rigged ship that was built in 1886. She is the only square rigged ship left in the San Francisco Bay area and is representative of several different commercial ventures including lumber, salmon, and grain." Find more here.
Sleeping quarters
Surprisingly the foam mats underneath the bunk were not used by sailors. Rather the museum hosts sleepovers for kids who probably wouldn't appreciate the metal berths.
Anna steering the wrong way
After the museum we grabbed lunched at a local fish and chips restaurant called "The Codmother." Here is a random photo on our way to the restaurant.
Mollusk Surf Shop
Our first night in San Francisco we stayed in the Financial District. The second night we rented an Airbnb in the Outer Sunset district, which is a more residential and secluded neighborhood near the Pacific ocean. I will let you guess which location we enjoyed more.
Ocean Beach below
Sunday morning we had coffee and cinnamon toast at Trouble Coffee. I guess the buttery cinnamon toast stops your heart and the strong coffee gets it going again.
Ocean Beach on Sunday morning
San Francisco was a bit blustery on Sunday as you can tell from the sea foam in the picture above. And right before taking off the pilot got on the intercom and said, "I am not going to lie to you folks. It is going to be a bumpy ride." Anna wasn't fast enough to get a photo of the blood leaving my face. So you will have to enjoy this photo instead.
If you are in my immediate family or circle of friends, then you've heard about - and possibly already have seen - our trip to Joshua Tree. This is because I can hardly stop talking about it. The three days in the desert was the most relaxing vacation both Anna and I have had in quite some time, and I am already scheming to return as soon as possible. The natural beauty, the quirky shops, the local watering holes with good food and beer, and our quaint cabin all contributed to a much-needed getaway from the urban detritus of Los Angeles, my beloved city.
The catalyst for the trip was Anna's birthday. She was turning thirty-sikjohrrenbeeee years old and wanted to take a trip somewhere we have never been before, like Joshua Tree, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. She has always wanted to wander out to Joshua Tree so I was fairly certain she wasn't upset about her age and didn't want to take out her aggression by burying her sweet, loving, kind, gentle, thoughtful husband in a well-dug grave in the desert (I was going to write "shallow grave" but for anyone who knows Anna also knows she is meticulous and, therefore, would dig the perfect grave and no one would ever find my body. Ever.)
Once we decided on the desert we needed a place to stay and, since we are not really camping folk, we cruised Airbnb for a place to crash. On a Saturday evening, and after a few strong American cocktails, we clicked on a listing that was located on three acres of land, had a Tiki-themed vintage trailer, a brick-and-mortar living space with a kitchen and living area, and was a few miles from Joshua Tree National Park. On the land was also a horse trough that had been converted into a hot tub, a shipping container with a doorway welded away and a ping pong table inside, and a fire pit surrounded by backyard activities like horseshoes. It was exactly what we were looking for.
Sip. Booked. Paid. And three weeks later we were blazing down I-60 towards the desert.
Coachella, a music festival of annoying proportions, was taking place about an hour south of Joshua Tree that very weekend. So we were a tad apprehensive about getting caught in traffic with carloads of Coachella-goers with their daisy chain crowns and comically large sunglasses. But we didn't. Thank God. We arrived in the desert about noon, making our door-to-door trip about two and a half hours.
Before pulling into Joshua Tree, we stopped in Pioneertown. The owner of the cabin where we stayed was kind enough to email us a long and detailed list of cool, local stop-offs and interesting sites. Pioneertown was the first on the list.
The town, about 10 miles from Yucca, CA, originated as a movie set for western films such as The Cisco Kid and other Roy Rogers-type films. It is also home to a famous music venue called Pappy & Harriet's where many well-known bands have played, including Neko Case (a favorite of Anna's) and Spiritualized (a favorite of mine). Maybe it is my Texas roots or because I am naturally drawn to weird shit such as old western re-enactments (which the town hosts most weekends), stopping in Pioneertown was a necessity. See some photos below.
As described above, our Airbnb rental consisted of a trailer and a bunker-type living area. The living space was great. It was modern in style and housed an old fireplace that worked well for roasting marshmallows and was more than perfect to sit by with a glass of bourbon and pass time. Here are some photos of the living space and trailer...
The pictures below are from the inside of the shipping container and were drawn by previous renters. A thatched box filled with markers sat on a wooden stand so we assumed the owner encouraged the artwork. Sadly, we didn't contribute. Maybe next time.
The first night in Joshua Tree was windy and cold. Whipping close to 35 mph and spitting sand as if from a pressure gun, the wind drove us inside away from the outside fire pit. So we built a fire in the Jetsons stove, drank bourbon over ice and roasted marshmallows while listening to old country music. I'll include a track here...
By the way, if you ever need firewood in Joshua Tree I recommend a place right off the freeway. I forgot the name of the place but it looks like an abandoned junk yard with hundreds of old washing machines, and you can buy half the Redwood National Forest for $20.
On Saturday we woke up and prepared ourselves for a long day of exploration around Joshua Tree. For breakfast we ate at The Natural Sisters Café and had some good, clean food and amazing coffee. Joshua Tree Coffee Company was the name of the roaster and can be found at most coffee shops in town. We also stopped off at the local farmers' market and picked up a jar of delicious raw honey and local oranges. Also saw these beauties...
After breakfast we visited the Noah Purifoy Art Foundation's outside museum. The museum is a collection by desert artist Noah Purifoy and is located outdoors on a couple of acres of sprawling land. On the day we visited, the museum was abandoned. There wasn't even an attendant or groundskeeper. After we gave our optional donation to "enter" the museum, we walked through lanes and lanes of desert art sculpture that included unique pieces built from discarded junk like old bicycle rims and broken vacuums.
Anna wouldn't stand on the stage...
Below was my favorite piece...
Nature's artwork...
Following the art museum, we ate lunch - yet again - at the Natural Sisters Café. The frequency with which we ate at the café should give you an idea of how tasty the food was.
And now for the big finale: Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park was The Keenans' first national park as a family. Both Anna and I went to Yellowstone National Park on family vacations as kids but Joshua Tree is the first park we have enjoyed as a couple and as adults. I cannot stress the word enjoyed enough. The park was incredible.
Firstly, looking like two obvious tourists, we stopped in at the ranger station to ask a few questions. We wanted to know more specifically about sites, payment to enter the park and directions. One of us was quite apprehensive about driving through the park and wanted to be certain we wouldn't get lost.
You know how I mentioned how we looked like two tourists? Well, a ranger station at a national park is like a tourist haven. An army of sunscreen-smeared families. An armada of minivans. We fit in perfectly. Inside the station was a booth where the rangers answered questions and a gift shop where we perused all the Joshua Tree shirts, the Joshua Tree postcards, the Joshua Tree posters, the Joshua Tree mugs, the Joshua Tree backscratchers and the Joshua Tree stuffed animals. I bought a commemorative sticker and Anna bought a magnet. I had my eye on some really amazing Audubon Field Guides for wildflowers, birds and the night sky but it is with much displeasure to say I didn't buy any...possibly someone like a wife, family member or friend will purchase a few for me as a birthday or Christmas present...a-hem, a-hem...
The park rangers were very helpful and friendly, answering all of our questions and even supplying us with a free map of where to drive and a few sites to see. Anna was ecstatic about the map. And, lucky for us, the national park program turned 100 years old that weekend so entrance was free!
The Joshua Tree
Me trying my hand at rock climbing. Although it looks like I am three feet off the ground, don't worry, I am actually only two feet off the ground.
Spot the iguana below?
This is Anna's "high school pose"
Keys View
Skull Rock
The dry desert air is harsh on the nasal passage. Here is Anna helping Skull Rock clear out some desert boogers...
That night we were absolutely spent. We ate dinner at a local saloon among some karaoke-ing bikers and then drove back to our Airbnb for a dip in the hot tub and, you guessed it, a strong cocktail.
Cut to two drinks later...
The Gambler
The Kid
The Soundtrack
Although we hated to leave, we are sure to be back soon.
Here is a picture of Anna looking like she owns the fucking place. It is my favorite picture from the trip.
