San Francisco Love Song

I was quite certain that I would fall head over heals for San Francisco once we finally had the opportunity to become acquainted. It was a hurried affair, but I can assure you, this is True Love.

After the Sequoias, SF was our next top destination for the Great California Road Trip. We had limited time, but my main wish was to walk a lot and just marvel and photograph all the wonderful buildings. The day we were there it was sunny and absolutely perfect. I tried to throw away all inhibitions over the embarrassment of appearing the Blatant Tourist and managed to only walk into one bike rack while lost in rapture over the architecture.

I am not generally a girl who loves cities, but that must only be because I was waiting for the right city. It felt like home. It was everything I dreamed it would be, but different and even more wonderful.

In the 60′s my mom lived in California for a while. She likes to distinguish the fact that she was flower child vs. a hippie. (Either way I just wish she had had the foresight to hang onto her wardrobe for her future daughter!) She has a picture of herself at the corner of Haight Ashbury so I had to get mine too for side-by-side framing of course!

The Haight District was Hippie Heaven for me and we spent the greater part of they day there vintage shopping, picture taking, eating, and just enjoying the general splendor.

This Victorian vintage shop was so lovely it was almost heartbreaking. I wish I had a better image to show you.

Here is another vintage shop that I almost completely lost my head in. An entire old meat locker filled with old hats and vintage suits. The afternoon ended with my fellow well-hatted and very dashing… (Sorry no pics, he is internet shy.. sigh…)

After returning home I discovered I have a cousin who lives (or used to) within blocks of these stunning stained glass windows.

For the sake of time and other interests we skipped the busy Fisherman’s Wharf and didn’t plan ahead enough for Alcatraz. We did make it to Coit Tower and walked up and down Lombard Street. We managed to fit in quite a bit in 24 hours and I loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to go back and maybe, maybe someday I will even be lucky enough to call it home.

{all images are property of Gypsea Tree}

The Gypsea Among the Trees

I am back from my California Road Trip and oh my it was wonderful! Any journey that involves a pilgrimage to one of the largest trees on the planet has to be amazing don’t you think? Since visiting Sequoia National Park was the original inspiration for this trip I will start with that.

General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume and is about 2,700 years old. It is truly a tree of wonder. Originally I was diappointed that I could touch it, but we took many hikes through equally impressive groves of these ancient giants and I was able to touch and marvel to my hearts content.

No picture can quite do them justice. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit, I highly recommend planning to do so. It is so incredible that after the first few hours I literally ran out of adjectives. It is pure magic to walk in these ancient places.

We covered a lot of ground in eight days. We only camped one night here, but it was just wonderful. I think we decided that this was  perhaps our favorite part of an incredible trip.

I saw lizards for the first time and was quite taken with them. They are so delightfully quirky!

I also saw a couple of bears! I was very concerned with bear confrontations at first, but after seeing the first one it put my mind at ease. He couldn’t have been more indifferent to my presence. Bear management is carefully attended to. I was glad to see the extreme importance they placed on protecting the wildlife and environment of the park.  It was impressive to see how well managed the park is. It manages to be accessible to everyone yet still  retain its mystery and wildness for those willing to explore a little deeper.

{please note all images are property of Gypsea Tree}

More of my California adventure will follow!

Are you all enjoying these summery days as well?