Also during the visit, we decided to visit China Town. Ben stopped Megan and Jan to pose in front of this restaurant. Besides Megan and Jan, this picture has unidentied meat tubes, ducks with their heads still on, and some very vibrantly colored squid.

In early October 2003, Ben's cousin Adam and his girlfriend Sarah from Missouri came for a visit. While there, they visited the Muir Woods. Here is Adam wondering how these huge trees must look when situated next to Ben.

Here is a shot of the Redwoods of Muir Woods looking up, with Ben situated next to them. The trees in this region can grow to 250+ feet, and live to be 1000 years old. A constant barrage of fog is the primary reason for this.

Adam and Sarah can be seen here overlooking the ocean. Adam is quite excited by where he is, and lifts his arms in victory.

A rather momentous occasion is photographed here, as neither Adam or Sarah had ever been in the Pacific Ocean. Here is the very moment that Adam entered the Pacific, and the 50-55 degree water was quite a shock to both. However, this didn't stop either of them from seeking out the local jellyfish and crabs seen all over the beach.

On their last day here, Adam, Sarah and Ben all headed to Alcatraz. Before boarding the ferry, one last visit to see (and smell) the sea lions at Fisherman's Wharf was planned. Those crazy things were barking and fighting the whole time. You guessed it, good times.... had by all.

Unbeknownst to them, every now and then, an unlucky visitor to Alcatraz is put in the slammer. Poor Adam was the victim this time, and Sarah made the effort to visit her incarcerated boyfriend. Adam remains there to this day, and is busy planning his escape.

In October, 2003 Ben and Beth went for a weekend trip to Yosemite National Park. It was amazing. They stayed in Yosemite Valley, where stars (real ones, not the Hollywood type) were aplenty, as was the beauty of terra firma (who uses that?). The waterfalls that are usually roaring were either down to a trickle or gone completely. This is because of the dry season that had just ended. However, it was still beautiful, and Ben and Beth have since been back again.