Weekend Round-Up: Flower Power

What a great and busy weekend! The weather was amazing and we had adventures all over the Bay Area.

Rob and I went to the climbing gym with our friend Matt on Friday after work. I bouldered my first ever v3 route – and only managed to fall seven times in the process. Sore! At home in the evening, we had a simple dinner and watched a video.

Up reluctantly at 9:30 the next morning. Rob knows the best way to get me out of bed and on the bike is a bribe of breakfast at Velo Rouge. Very good french toast and Blue Bottle coffee. After eating, we biked to the bridge. The windy week resulted in a crystal clear view of the entire bay.

We rode over the bridge and through Marin Headlands out to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. What a pretty area and amazing view of the city! I can’t believe we’d never been out that direction before.

Back home through the old military buildings and the single-lane tunnel. We had just enough time to shower and have the car washed before looking at an apartment in Portrero Hill – too small unfortunately. We’re not in any rush to move, but keeping an eye out since rents are dropping. Does anyone have a lead on a 2 bedroom place with a formal dining room and a garage?

We drove straight from the apartment viewing to San Mateo and lunch with Margaret. We went to Little Sichuan – my favorite authentic Chinese restaurant. Eating their spicy twice cooked pork and ma po tofu took me straight back to Chengdu.

After our early dinner, we drove to Ikea in Palo Alto. I adore IKEA! We spent two hours going inside every little model home and buying all sorts of inexpensive perfect things. I even found a red SPF 25 beach umbrella for only $15.

We dropped by Margaret’s to unload her new bookcase and then all drove up to San Francisco together. Ice cream and Vicky Christina Barcelona.

Up early on Sunday morning to go to Palm Sunday service with Margaret at a German Lutheran church down the street. Unfortunately, they moved their service time and we were an hour and a half early. Instead, we walked over to Mission Dolores and snuck in right as the 8:30 mass was getting out. I’d never been inside or seen the gardens since they normally charge $5.

We walked back home and made spicy egg tacos for breakfast. Then on to the bikes for a ride through Golden Gate Park. Margaret, Rob and I pedaled to the Safeway at Ocean Beach, bought picnic supplies and then basked in the sun by the Conservatory of Flowers.

From the park, we rode down Market Street to Macy’s. The 63rd annual Macy’s Flower Show is on through the 18th. This year’s theme is “Bohemian Garden.” It’s better than last year with lots of manzanita, maiden hair ferns, renunculas and jasmine. I’ve got more photos here.

We biked from Macy’s to the Ferry Building for a second picnic. You can make a very nice snack for three for under $10 if you know what to get – a $1 rustic loaf from Acme Bread Company, half a wheel of Cowgirl Creamery’s soft, stinky Drake cheese for $6, and an apple and two Italian soda’s from Farm Fresh to You.

We biked back home through the crowd from the baseball game and ran into a friend from San Diego. 20 miles total for the day! Margaret took Caltrain back to San Mateo after five. Rob and I did laundry, read the Times and ate the rest of the Sichuan food for dinner.