Important night tour info I just this minute found out (because it's not listed on their website, and I had to call Blue & Gold and get transferred around until they could find someone who knew):

The tour is 3 hours long.

Holy crap.

I mean, it'll still be amazing and well worth it, but damn, that's long. Dress warm, if you have Emeline bring a stroller for when she inevitably zonks right the hell out, line your pockets with snacks, and maybe we should check into either the availability of coffee or whether we're allowed to bring a thermos of our own.

It won't be that chilly on Alcatraz. But it will probably be colder on the ferry boat ride across the Bay.

On Thursday, I am collecting Teppy at SFO at 5:30 and Kate P. at 8:00.

I can take one more person that's arriving in that zone between 5:30 and 8:00. Anybody? We'd be hanging out until Kate arrived and then swooping directly into the City.

Wool coat seems excessive to me. Or is that just the warm-weather-acclimated-LAer needs warmer clothing?

After sundown, rocky island, non-heated stone/brick/concrete prison, on the Bay = wool coats for all, not just the LAistas.

The tour is 3 hours long.

At least an hour of that will be the Ferry back and forth. But yeah, that's longish.

At least an hour of that will be the Ferry back and forth. But yeah, that's longish.

Then there's the one hour and forty-five minutes where they lock you in solitary....

tommy, why'd you go and ruin the surprise?

Finishing up aimless, pointless, feckless, and graceless projects that got dumped on me at the last minute. I'm taking tomorrow to wash, iron, and pack various things for my trip to SF.

See you on the west coast!

Ahem. Lush-philes, the Union Square (240 Powell) store is closed for renovations currently, though they might re-open by the week end. There is a secondary store in the Marina on 2116 Union St.

IIRC, the Union St. store is nicer, anyhow.

::makes mental note to pack thermal underwear::