Hanging out in the Bay area

Ann McRae

I went to the dgrin birthday party last weekend. I arrived early - Thursday morning to be exact. Christina (Phyxius) and Debbie (Loper) were already in the Bay area and picked me up Thursday a.m. We hatched a plan to drive north on route 1 to Mendicino, then cross over to Napa. Well, we had a plan.....:D

First stop - the visitors center at the Golden Gate Bridge, at noon:




Coupla chimps.....


This past fall, I ran a contest at work - photos for a calendar. (I then put the calendar together, and it turned out really nice) In any case I was amazed at how many submissions were taken through a car window. So I had to try it myself, and liked the results so much that I now do this regularly. :rofl
Crossing the GG Bridge:


We adjusted our plan, after it became apparent that we missed our turn! and went to Napa for lunch. Beautiful countryside. Christina's phone/GPS has this cool feature that can find restaurants or businesses within a certain distance of where you are. It picked the Boon Fly Cafe for us for lunch!

The phone proved to be a good guide, as the food was delicious!

We headed out at a leisurely pace, thinking we might make it to the coast for sunset. We got distracted however, and made it to Sonoma instead.


It became imperative to stop here, given the name on the sign - MacRae - wine - me - it was just meant to be:


So we settled for sweet light on the grape vines instead:




We met April(aktse) for dinner in Mountainview that night, and planned out the next days shooting.

clemensphoto's

Nice phots Ann! Brings back memories when I lived in CA (Monteray Area).

grimace

Wonderful series Ann!! Looks like you had some nice weather. I wish I could had made the trip.

Ann McRae

Our plan for Friday was to predict fog at sunrise, so stay in bed. Meet for breakfast at 7:30 and head south around 8. Christina, Debbie, April and I were going to be joined by Sam, JC, Justin and later in the day Anthony. So, between 7:30 and 8 a.m these folks all found us in the breakfast room at Hotel Zico. We chatted and got to know one another, and before any of us knew it, it was 9:30!!! Off we went, down to Capitola for some great scenery! Schedule, what schedule?

The only Nikon glass in the whole group

An ambitious seagull




Under the Boardwalk


Pointing the crazy canuck out to a local:


Amunition to convince my hubby to come back here with me:



A peaceful scene:


to be descended upon by a bunch of photogs:

Ann McRae

From Capitola we found ourselves moving on, in search of butterflies and seals! The monarch butterflies were nesting at Hidden Bridges (I think???) (near Santa Cruz). Ever try photographing a sky full of flying butterflies?


Eventually one cooperated for us:


Justin and I took turns using April's Sigma 120 - 300. Let me tell you, that is some fine glass!!! I think this is with the sigma and the 1.4TC (maybe):


On to find some seals. Words of wisdom from Sam and JC to me, the prairie gal "Never turn your back to the sea. You must watch the waves":




JC, shooting from a different vantage point (now what was that about back to the sea? )


We headed back to the city. We communicated by walkie talkie. On the way to the city, April told us about this amazing construction project rerouting the road through the mountainside. Another through the windshield shot:

This project is really awesome on the other side of the mountain!



And on to join many other grinners shooting sunset at Twin Peaks Friday night:


More to process, hopefully soon!

aktse

Looks like you had a fabulous trip!

It was so good seeing you again!

roentarre

Beautiful and wonderful shots in deed! :ivar

Ann McRae

clemensphoto's wrote:

Nice phots Ann! Brings back memories when I lived in CA (Monteray Area).

Thanks! Wish I had memories of living somewhere warm 365!


ann

clemensphoto's

I suppose Canada is not always the warmest, but neither is Iowa.

Ann McRae

grimace wrote:

Wonderful series Ann!! Looks like you had some nice weather. I wish I could had made the trip.

Adam, the weather was almost as good as the company. Of course, you, Kendal, Davev and Kate, Jack and Sharon, Ed and Missy- that would have been all the more better, eh?!

hope to see you soon!

ann

Ann McRae

aktse wrote:

Looks like you had a fabulous trip!

It was so good seeing you again!

Yes, thank you! As you know I thought the weekend was a FAIL photographically - turns out, not so much. Wouldn't have mattered tho, because you made sure the weekend was a great success. Thanks, April!

Ann McRae

roentarre wrote:

Beautiful and wonderful shots in deed! :ivar

Thank you, very much!

ann

tisun

Ann, great series. It is great to have met you. I wished I could have joined the group earlier on Friday.

--Anthony

Ann McRae

tisun wrote:

Ann, great series. It is great to have met you. I wished I could have joined the group earlier on Friday.

--Anthony

Anthony - It was a pleasure to have met you as well. I am glad you caught us, finally, on Friday and that you joined the fun Saturday too. So, where's your shots?

ann

Nikolai

Ann, great series!
Your "sun behind the leaf" shot is perfect for the latest Weekly Assignment - wanna submit?

Ann McRae

Nikolai wrote:

Ann, great series!
Your "sun behind the leaf" shot is perfect for the latest Weekly Assignment - wanna submit?

But it isn't 'fresh' to your time period! But, if you give the , sure!

Nikolai

Ann McRae wrote:

But it isn't 'fresh' to your time period! But, if you give the , sure!

Darn... OK, please submit as a sample of what can be done in December:-)

Ann McRae

On Thursday night, we actually stopped before getting April for dinner, and shot the Golden Gate after dark. You can see that shot, and a pano from Friday sunset, in this post.

Friday, shooting at Twin Peaks, I got a few other shots.







Saturday morning we shot sunrise from Peir 7 with April, JC, Anthony and Steve Yikes - might have been Dave. I am getting old! I haven't finished editing those shots yet!

Of course, Saturday daytime we shot Miriam with Nik. Those photos are in various places in the people forum.

And Sunday, we shot the Jellies at the Monteray Bay Aquarium. Those photos posted here

spechtal

Most excellent Ann. I am jealous you got to escape winter...exellent use of your time

aktse

Ann McRae wrote:

Friday, shooting at Twin Peaks, I got a few other shots.

Nice! You make me want to go back and attempt this pano!

You have a ton of keepers from this trip!

roentarre

Looks like a wonderful day in deed :ivar

Ann McRae

spechtal wrote:

Most excellent Ann. I am jealous you got to escape winter...exellent use of your time

Thanks, Angela. Sitting here at -30C for the second straight week sure has me longing for that California sun! Sigh!

ann

Ann McRae

aktse wrote:

Nice! You make me want to go back and attempt this pano!

You have a ton of keepers from this trip!

Thanks, April - I quite enjoyed that 'cloudset' or whatever it is called.


ann

Ann McRae

roentarre wrote:

Looks like a wonderful day in deed :ivar

Hmmmm, thank you, it sure was wonderful!

ann