Writing project update
There's still time to enter!
So far, the turnout for the Getting the spouse to come along writing project has been rather disappointing. We've had four responses from three people. On the flip side, we have 117 or so exciting things to do in those people's three locations.
First, Tillerman weighed in with 50 great things to do in and around Tiverton, Rhode Island. Apparently, he envisions his friend sticking around for a very long time and provided plenty of suggestions for the spouse to enjoy, finishing up with cocktails on Tillerman's own back deck.
Not to be outdone, Captain JP responded first with The Ultimate London Walk by the Thames, which included 50 stops along the way, for the tourist with lots of stamina and good walking shoes. He followed that up with an additional post, Escaping London, in London, with nine more activities, starting with hiring a bicycle to ride along the Thames Path.
Finally, Greg and Kris give us Things to do near the Sailing Club on the Willamette, with about eight more activities.
There's still time for more participants to submit entries; this project is open until July 31. Simply compose a blog post, or post a response in the comments here, telling about things besides sailing that can be done near your local sailing venue, so non-sailing travel companions can enjoy themselves, or for sailors to do when the weather isn't suitable for sailing. As with the previous project, all participants will get a complimentary pint of their choice the next time they find themselves in New Mexico, and if multiple participants show up at once, a VIP showing of Pirates of the White Sand is a distinct possibility.
So keep those entries coming!
Labels: beer, boats, family, five o'clock somewhere, food, friends, sailing, travel, writing
posted by Carol Anne | 1:14 PM
7 Comments:
Thanks for the plug Carol Anne. But to make a minor correction... our house is somewhat weirdly laid out by normal American design standards. It's on a hillside with the front of the house facing west to the bay, and so the the deck is actually on the front of the house, not the back.
Strangely enough our previous house in New Jersey was on a slight rise with the front of the house facing west to the lake and with a deck... on the front of course. I only realized after we moved in that we had basically bought a clone of our old house!
Interesting ... Five O'Clock Somewhere is on a hillside facing the lake, so the deck there is also on the front of the house. It faces south, however, rather than west.
I'm working on it. I will have my list published soon
I won't get to it by today (I'm sort of new to this whole blogging thing it seems) but I will participate in the early part of next week.
But, come on, things besides sailing to do in the San Francisco Bay Area? There aren't enough pixels on earth to compile that list. I'll have to do some sort of twist to the project.
Well, you can start with junior swim meets. There must be at least one charming, pretty, and talented contestant at those events.
Two things to Do In San Francisco To Keep Your Spouse Sailing
Another non-blogger just mentioned that there are a zillion non-sailing things to do in San Francisco. I'm writing about just two, so that should leave him plenty of choices.
I have to come up with non-sailing activities almost every time I sail. My wife sails to humor me, not because she's awestruck by the sheer wonderfulness of a rushing wake and perfectly trimmed jib.
Two weeks ago, we sailed over to one of San Francisco's swankiest marinas and parked the boat there for five days. We decided to do some touristy things that no hip San Francisco native would be caught dead doing. I can get away with this because I'm from a backward, cow-town in the central valley and don't know any better.
We now have some folding bikes that we can take on the boat, so one day we rode them over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.
It's actually very cool that one of the world's most spectacular bridges is open to foot and bicycle traffic. Besides seeing the bridge's famous art deco structure way better than you can driving across, you also get to stop and check out some of the most astounding marine views anywhere - the Marin headlands, Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the classic city front. And it's all for free, if you ride your bike or hike across. We went for the full tourist drill and took the ferry back - about $8. Sausalito is a great lunch stop and it's rumored you can find some tee shirts there, too, if you're into that.
The next day, it was tourist time all over again. After 30 years in northern California, I prayed I wouldn't run into anyone I knew and finally took the boat tour over to Alcatraz (they won't let you dock a private boat there). It's much cooler than I ever thought it would be, and we were both glad we went. Alcatraz is now a national park, so the tour is actually very well done - not nearly as hokey as it would be if a commercial outfit ran things. There's a lot of history there beyond the obvious and you're surrounded by more spectacular bay views at every turn. If you must have a sailing connection, you can check out one of the oldest lighthouses in the bay - and it's still functioning.
But face it, haven't you always wanted to be in the actual dining hall where Clint Eastwood and Burt Lancaster pounded their tin cups on the tables?
Behave yourself, though. The tear gas canisters are still hanging from the ceiling.
Fantastic! Gotta try both.
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