Also easy -- the "snooze and cruise" marriage proposals. I think we're up to 14 proposals that have occurred during Bay Cruises. My hands down favorite was when the gentleman (we'll call him Brian) wanted to propose directly under the Golden Gate -- we were within 20 minutes of the Bridge when we got an emergency call from the Coast Guard. A sailboat had lost its tiller and was going to smash into the Marin headlands. We were the nearest vessel and went to assist.
The lady in question (we'll call her Jill; she had no idea a proposal was coming her way even though the rest of us knew) was elated. It seems Jill had just finished emergency medical technician training and was ready to help if anyone needed medical assistance. Meanwhile, her fiance-to-be was sweating bullets. Brian had been nervous before, but now he was looking distinctly pale and had even ceased to talk.
We pulled the sailboat to safe water, and headed back to the Bridge. To our surprise -- and Brian's anguish -- the sailboat still had trouble and we had to return to their side until a smaller rescue boat finally towed them back to shore. An hour after our scheduled time we finally hovered under the Golden Gate. The sky was blue, the horizon starting to go rose-gold at sunset and Brian grabbed Jill's hand, dragged her to the back of the upper deck, dropped to one knee and said "Please, before anything else happens, will you marry me?"
We're pleased to report she said yes. They left a note in our guest book promising that if their first born was a girl, they were going to name her Athena.
What's your least favorite part?
Any time we have to dig stuff out of the marine toilets. They are very sensitive and can only handle personal effluence and the special marine toilet paper. One time a guest used a head as a temporary vase for roses -- the single rose petal that fell inside required six hours of dismantling, cleaning and re-assembly, a smelly and rotten task. Luckily, most guests do follow instructions and it's rarely a problem.
What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you as an innkeeper?
It would have been the time two guys reserved the boat for what they said was a quiet three person batchelor party. According to Pier 39 security, there were actually closer to 20 guests on board when the guards had to close down the party. In the morning when we went to inspect the boat, the walls were festooned with silly string, there were two 10-foot 2x4s on the sofa and the floor was covered in lettuce leaves. To this day we can't quite figure out what happened -- but it must have been an interesting party.
What are some of the must-see attractions in the San Francisco area?
I can only give you our favorites. Certainly finding great restaurants in the city is special. No matter what you like to eat, you'll find it here in San Francisco. Jack has been a long-time member of the Society of Wine Educators and I was a restaurant reviewer in an earlier part of my life, so we're happy to provide recommendations about dining here in the Bay Area.
Jack's top three attractions include walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, visiting Muir Woods in Marin County and a walking tour of the San Francisco waterfront. Personally, I recommend going to Fort Point in the Presidio, shopping in Union Square and taking a walking tour of Angel Island.
Other than being on a boat, how do you make a stay at your B&B special?
I firmly believe that our location on the Bay provides a special energy you'd never get at a hotel. Surrounded by gulls, the sound of the waves and salt air -- it's a uniquely relaxing experience. Unlike many B&Bs, there are not other guests, so you get a tremendous amount of privacy.
When did you first stay at a bed and breakfast?
You'll need a little history here. Jack and I have quite a few years between us. Suffice it to say that when Kennedy was assassinated, Jack was managing a car dealership and I was just entering second grade. Given that, our first B&B experience was not together. However, our first B&B together was nearly 14 years ago in Gualala here in California at Whale Watch Inn. (A great location and still one of our favorites!)
What do you remember most about your first stay at a B&B?
It was the discrete care and attention from the staff I remember most. While the room and view were spectacular, we really enjoyed how all of our needs were met, as if we were cherished family members.
What advice would you give to aspiring innkeepers?
1. Really listen to your guests. If they even make a minor complaint, you can assume other visitors have had a similar experience and haven't mentioned it. It's a great way to improve and maintain/surpass quality standards.
2. Follow through. If you promise anything to a guest, move heaven and earth to make sure it happens.
3. Find the right advertising/PR for your kind of facility, and be selective.
