SFO to Seattle

---

On Saturday night 29th August, when we all returned to our hotel in Foster City on the Google Shuttle Bus (Roshan had rented 2 for the wedding transportation) at 11:45pm, R announced to us that Departure Time on Monday was 8 am. The next morning, R woke up at 7 am shocked that the alarm had not sounded at 6:15. G had set the alarm, but not turned it on! Despite this hitch for R and G, everyone ( 2 Baliga couples, Raos, and Renu) was in the van and we left at 8! R said that G is almost fired as tour assistant. Was not fired because she had to read out the Ten Commandments of Ford Transit.With dozing, harmless chatting, a couple of stops for fuel and restrooms, snack at McD, we pulled into our Waves at Newport motel right along the coast at 7:30 pm. All except R reached for jackets and shawls when we emerged from the van as we were greeted by the cool breeze off the ocean. Chinese dinner, laundry (ending at 11: 45 pm) and bedtime. No one knew what time breakfast would be open in the morning. Plan was to eat breakfast and leave.On Monday morning, everyone was ready for breakfast by 6:45 am, but the office and breakfast area was not open. Office hours were posted (8a - 10p) so we walked around, enjoyed the morning views of the ocean and cliff, then loaded the van and waited for breakfast. It was worth waiting for, good variety of items. Tummies filled, we set off at 8:45 am. We drove on Old Hwy 101 for a while alongside the coast and feasted our eyes on spectacular views Oceanside and later through woods with moss covered trees. Also stopped at Otter's Rock at Devil's Punch Bowl Rock State Park. Sudheer waited for the punch bowl to fill to check if it was spiked punch😊. Then drove past the world's smallest harbor and the world's smallest River. Someone in the van expressed interest in smoking marijuana as it was legal in OR. Reached Seattle in good time. KCKinis had arrived from Houston and were at the hotel. Spent the evening at Vivek/Sachita's beautiful home up on the hillside with their dogs Minchu and Mollie. Some of us went for a walk with our hosts and their dogs, overlooking views of Puget Sound, downtown Seattle, hazy glimpses of Olympic mountains, walking along noticing Queen Anne's stairs to the shore, while a couple stayed behind in the cozy home enjoying drinks and snacks. Vivek and Sachita made us a delicious and very filling veg burger/salad/ peach pie-ice cream dinner, and entertained us to a short piano piece by Sachi after which we returned to our hotel. Checked at the front desk to be sure that Prabha had arrived and had checked in before settling in for the night

---