Thanks to Google, I caught a travel dispatch from Austin visitors to San Francisco over New Year’s. Their visit included the major storm of Jan. 4, which they handled with aplomb:

Winds of 70 mph came on our first full day in San Francisco proper. Feeling adventurous, we braved the storm and walked a mile-plus from our hotel to the Exploratorium — an enormous collection of thought-provoking hands-on science exhibits — to spend our day out of the rain.

Yes, they walked all the way to the Exploratorium during the worst weather in several years so they could “spend a day out of the rain.” There’s more.

A couple of umbrellas broke along the way (replaced on a quick visit to the local pharmacy), and layer upon layer of our clothing soaked up the cold downpour. One large limb crashed on top of a car as we walked past, and crews removed downed trees blocking a retailer’s driveway on Lombard Street. We spent most of the day inside the Exploratorium, experimenting with mock tornadoes, a bike-powered radio and other activities.

Whee! Then in another part of their account, the family was stuck on a tiny Marin County beach by the advancing tide and had to bushwhack their way back to the car. Clearly the writer — a lawyer who is, judging from his bio, smart to a point — was trying for a Stolpa Award nomination. The Stolpa Award, given annually to the parent who manages to endanger his whole family through his own stupidity, already has one nominee this winter.

Related posts:

1. California man nominated for Stolpa Award
2. Winter is here, and it is wet
3. Monsoon Season?
4. Welcome Home!
5. HDR Exploratorium