FIW, Napa Valley & San Fran Adventures Nov 2012
3-13th November 2012
I have never been so nervous/excited in my life! The day when my supervisor asked me if I wanted to go to the Fast Ignition Workshop in Napa Valley - this is the most significant conference of my little academic career so far! Eeep! The journey was eventful, as was the conference, I met some wonderful people, the talk went well and I drank a LOT of wine in the wine capital of the planet!
So, conference over and i had a chance to explore San Francisco! I booked into the Green Tortoise Hostel and went out with the guys on the town (see facebook for more photos of that bit!)
Next day was the main event for me, I planned to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and whatever else I could so I wandered along the Embarcadero until I saw Blazing Saddles as recommeded by my friend Kate, hired a bike and off I went.... It was epic, i cycled a total of 25 miles in 4 hours...
Truly an epic week and a half, and i got to call it work! I attended a conference, saw an amazing National Lab (NIF), met amazing people, cycled 25 miles over one of the most famous bridges in the world, to some of the most famous woods in the world, saw sunset over Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge, and drank cocktails 60 floors up or something silly...Awesome. More weeks at work like that please!
I have never been so nervous/excited in my life! The day when my supervisor asked me if I wanted to go to the Fast Ignition Workshop in Napa Valley - this is the most significant conference of my little academic career so far! Eeep! The journey was eventful, as was the conference, I met some wonderful people, the talk went well and I drank a LOT of wine in the wine capital of the planet!
 |
| James soaking up the Cali sun! |
 |
| Martin Prav and Nathan 'working' ... lol! |
 |
| The best presentation ever! This was the format all week |
 |
| Conference Dinner venue, Artesa Winery :D |
 |
| Rutherford Grill, one of James great ideas :) nom nom.. |
 |
| The most american thing ever, wings, beer and football |
 |
| Driving back to San Fran over the Bay Bridge |
 |
| The twilight cityscape of SF.... |
Next day was the main event for me, I planned to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and whatever else I could so I wandered along the Embarcadero until I saw Blazing Saddles as recommeded by my friend Kate, hired a bike and off I went.... It was epic, i cycled a total of 25 miles in 4 hours...
 |
| Fort Mason, my first glimpse of the bridge |
 |
| Approach to Fort Point under the bridge... |
 |
| View of the main part of the city from the coast |
 |
| Gaining height now and you can see the whole thing |
 |
| The sheer scale of this thing! |
 |
| The view to the pacific from the bridge itself..awesome |
 |
| The start of the road to Sausalito |
 |
| Off the bridge, looking back into the sun |
 |
| A small yoghurt...?! |
 |
| EUREKA! I love that show, sad i know! |
 |
| Looking up at the redwoods at Old Mill Park |
 |
| Spot the people for scale! |
 |
| On the road to Tiburon, looking back to Muir Woods |
 |
| Random guy Woody who pulled on the ferry and bought me a beer! |
 |
| SF appearing in the distance |
 |
| Twilight as we leave Sausalito ferry pickup |
 |
| Sat here with a beer, some randoms and sunset.,,happiness |
 |
| Alcatraz at the end of the day |
 |
| Washington place i think!?... |
 |
| ...Italian part of town, with segways! |
 |
| A whole restaurant dedicated to smelly garlic, i found my calling! |
 |
| The final showdown at the height of the skyscrapers... |
 |
| Last cocktails at the Starlight lounge, and a cracking view |
 |
| I was here hungover, twice! Union Square, SF. |
 |
| Epic Macys Xmas tree |
 |
| Ice rink outside the posh shops, i sat here watching for ages |
 |
| Chinatown, such a great place! |
 |
| The final ride on the BART to the Airport... |
 |
| ...very sad to leave this place but ready for home... |
 |
| ....and England appears.... |
 |
| ...as does the grey clouds! |
Truly an epic week and a half, and i got to call it work! I attended a conference, saw an amazing National Lab (NIF), met amazing people, cycled 25 miles over one of the most famous bridges in the world, to some of the most famous woods in the world, saw sunset over Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge, and drank cocktails 60 floors up or something silly...Awesome. More weeks at work like that please!
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments: