Carmen's Chronicles: San Mateo County

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Weekend Reflections #67 - Crystal Springs Reservoir, San Mateo County, CA - January 1, 2011

The reservoir is made of artificial lakes in a rift valley of the San Andreas fault in the

north Santa Cruz Mountains in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco. The

water level is high from all the recent winter storms. Water is also piped in from the

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park.

It is a beautiful area, with trails for hiking, running, biking and just stolling, with

occasional benches to stop and take a break. The views are lovely, with rolling

fog at times, pouring down the mountainside.

This was taken from my car window as I took my son to catch his morning commute

train - so I couldn't get a very good picture. Had to cut out the guard rail and other

roadside clutter. One of these days, I'll go back and walk the trail for better photos.

I am participating in Weekend Reflections - visit the site to see other lovely places in the world.

I wish everyone the best that life can bring in 2011 -
check out my poem, As the New Year Dawns,

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Sundays in My City - Camelot Fish & Chips, Pacifica, CA - October 31, 2010

For my 34 years in the San Francisco area, I've lived in San Mateo County, close to

San Francisco - either in South San Francisco, Pacifica or Daly City. For that entire

time, Camelot Fish & Chips has been in existence ( it originated in 1969, seven years

before I moved from southern CA where I'd spent one year ). I passed it thousands of

times, primarily going to the Pacifica post office which is located right across the street

from the ocean - or to the Bank of America ATM or Safeway. Camelot is right there

with all of them. I'm not sure why I never stopped for a meal!

On Tuesday, after I mailed my packages, I finally decided to stop in. My healthy

breakfast had given way to gigantic rumblings and dinner was still several hours away.

I found myself in a very atmospheric place, filled with memorabilia of England - pictures

of Lady Di, the Queen, Guinness ads, flags, etc and a great assortment of fried fish and seafood choices. Of course, I had to have the big combination called "The Camelot" - it included fish, 3 shrimp, 3 oysters,3 scallops and fries ( $10.75 ). Only calamari were

missing and I don't see why they couldn't have added a few of those as well. I restrained

myself from ordering a side of mushrooms and sweet potato fries. I finished everything

except except a few fries and washed it down with a wonderful draft of Guinness
( I'm normally not a beer drinker except for the dark kind ).

All in all, it was quite tasty though I'm not overly fond of fried food any more. If I could

have gotten a grilled seafood plate with the same choices, I would have really been

happy. I wasn't crazy about the tartar sauce but the malt vinegar was fine.

Nothing could really compare with my visit to British friends in Rye, England and eating

at the fish and chips place, right on the beach, that they took me to there. Camelot is

the best of its kind that I've had, thus far, in the U. S. Given a choice, though, I'd opt for

grilled seafood anywhere rather than fried.

Oh, yes, later, when I was reading up on the place, I found that, for dessert, they serve a

fried Mars Bar. I'll go back in just to try that, if for no other reason.