It finally came my approval letter from San Quentin to go visit my pen pal who over the last few months has become an important part of my life and one of my closest friends. I can't wait to just hug him and let him know someone out here cares.

So I have arranged for the days off and Sept 1-3 I am making the trek north seven hours to spend four hours a day for two days with him. I am so excited to finally be able to sit face to face with a person who knows more about me than most with the exception of my husband.

Now I just have to find a cheap but clean hotel and I am set.

Peace....Be safe and have a wonderful visit! Blessings...

I hope you have a wonderful visit! Be careful and make sure you give us a full update when you get back!

It finally came my approval letter from San Quentin to go visit my pen pal who over the last few months has become an important part of my life and one of my closest friends. I can't wait to just hug him and let him know someone out here cares.

So I have arranged for the days off and Sept 1-3 I am making the trek north seven hours to spend four hours a day for two days with him. I am so excited to finally be able to sit face to face with a person who knows more about me than most with the exception of my husband.

Now I just have to find a cheap but clean hotel and I am set.



Cheap hotels in the area....hhmmmm. Well I am not as up on that as others are so maybe someone can help you with that but for the most part you are probably looking at about $80 - $100.00 per night. The area in general is not cheap from what I understand.

Have a great visit but just a heads up and FYI - Have you requested an extended visit through the Visiting Sgt.? Sometimes you get lucky and they will grant it at the time of the visit but on others not so lucky. So this is just so you know that they can make us crazy at times.

I am only writing this because of the way you wrote your post and it was also the way I thought the first time I visited. I came over 250 miles "I get an extended visit." Depends on "who's manning the ship." ;) so to speak.

This request is required in writing 30 days in advance of the visit but when I got my approval I didn't have time to write the request. Because they weren't booked up with visits I was allowed to stay the extra two hours. Out of the "kindness of their hearts." ;)

My concern was that I couldn't go four hours without a "potty" break but they give you a 15 minute break after the first two hours and allow your friend and you both that opportunity. You can also pick up a few refreshments at that time also at the vending machines (for the second time). I really found them to be fairly decently priced as well as the quality.

I just don't want you to be upset if someone on the day of your visit decides that is the day they are going to "follow the rules to the letter". And you may have already covered all of the bases and I am bothering you for no reason. :o If so - sorry!!!

One thing you MUST follow is the dress code. And that can change regularly from what I understand. A friend of mine wore a pair of grey slacks and was told that just the day before they had decided no grey. Well her grey slacks were fine so if you have any questions about anything you are wearing just ask the staff inside the first door you enter and make sure you are there in plenty of time so if there is a need to change you have alllowed yourself plenty of time so as not to infringe on your visiting time.

I hope I didn't speak out of turn here. But I know how I felt the first time around just the not knowing the routine and more afraid of causing a problem for my friend so I wanted to get it right. It was a breeze and I was treated very well by everyone. If I had a question - everyone was very helpful, the staff as well as the other visitors.

Have a great visit in any event. :D

Snapdragon

Also forgot to mention that if you are visiting on two days, are you aware that you have to call and make reservations 7 days in advance of EACH day? You can not call one time and say "I want to visit on such and such days." Nope you have to call twice...just more hoops to jump through. ;)

Start calling a minute or so before 8 am and just keep hitting redial. I have gotten through in as few as 5 minutes and others - an hour!!!

Snapdragon

Eaps sounds like this is gonna be a chore to get in there on the days I will be there, but thanks for the infor so I can start hitting redial *UGH* That two day thing is a pain, Gotta love CDC rules. (laughs)

Also thanks on the info on the hotels, I am gonna have to see what I can find that is way more than I wanted to spend but I will do whatever needs to be done in order to finally Hug him.

It is funny most people think my pal is a monster of the worst kind, but to me he is my angel. It is a shame people don't take the time to look past their crimes and get to know the person. I am extremely glad I did.

There is a hostel not to far away. If you want I can send you the online link to have a look at. They do have single rooms, and the prices are fine too.

That would be wonderful, thank you so much and please do send the link

Hawks Lady have a wonderful visit. I am sure this is a great gift for both you and your penpal. You are both very lucky to have each other.

softie

There is a hostel not to far away. If you want I can send you the online link to have a look at. They do have single rooms, and the prices are fine too.

See I told you Hawks Lady there would be someone close by to give you helpful information. :) First I have heard of a nearby place to stay at a reasonable price.

I would also like the link for future use Schmusi.

TIA

Snapdragon

have a good and wonderful visit i am too going to see my pal in san quentin in october for the first time i have been writing to him for 4 years im also very excited i found a hotel not to far away cost 84 dollars a night but it has a swimming pool and u get breakfast and a newspaper wish u all the luck

when i visited San Quentin a while back i found a cheap motel about 10 minutes from the prison, it is called the national 9 motel, and is in San Rafeal, which is actually where SAan QUENTIN PRISON IS.
good luck

Fantastic! Check out for the Motel 6, these motel rooms are cheap and quite good. There's one near Sausalito.

As for your visit to your friend, here are some rules when you visit an inmate at San Quentin, but you may know them:

Everythin I'm writing is on a document you can grab on a counter in the visiting room, here is what is said:

Prohibited attire: brassieres with metal underwires or any other detectable metal are not permitted (a very important thing not to be forgotten! I have my special bras that I only wear while visiting Richard at SQ!!!); clothing which, in any combination of shades or types of material/fabric resembles California State-issued inmate clothing, blue denim or chambray shirts and blue denim pants; clothing that resembles law enforcement or military-type clothing, including rain gear; hats, wigs or hairpieces (except with prior written approval of the visiting Sergeant); clothing that exposes the breast/chest area, genital area, or buttocks; dresses, skirts, pants and shorts exposing more than two inches above the knee, including slits when standing; sheer or transparent garments; strapless or “spaghetti” strap tops; clothing exposing the midriff area; clothing or accessories displaying obscene or offensive language or drawings.

Acceptable identification: a valid State driver’s license with picture; a valid state department or motor vehicles identification card with picture; a valid armed forces identification card with picture; identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization services with pictures; picture Passport; picture identification matricula consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) issued by the Mexican Consulate.

Allowable items: identification card; one handkerchief, no bandanas; tissues pack unopened; clear change purse; $30 per adult in one dollar bills only and coins; comb or brush; two keys on a ring with no attachments; 10 photographs; Indian medicine bag, upon inspection approval; two small (less than 12 inches in length) solid toys; one infant carrier; six disposable diapers; factory-sealed baby wipes; two transparent plastic baby bottles of pre-mixed formula/milk/juice per baby; one transparent pacifier; 3 jars of factory sealed baby food and one plastic baby spoon; one single-layer baby blanket; one transparent diaper bag; one change of baby clothing; one single-layer burp cloth.

Prohibited items: all tobacco and tobacco products; food (all refreshment are to be purchased from the vending machines located in the visiting room except camps and ranches); chewing gum; purses; cameras; pagers; cell phones; writing materials or books.

If you have any other questions, please fell free to ask, I’ve been to San Quentin over than 20 times and I’m French… so I had to get through it! By the way, I never had any problem of any kind with the CO’s who were always respectable of me… maybe the French passport was part of it because they were really eager to know about Paris (smile)!

Have a wonderful visit! Catherine

Okay dumb question, I understand blue jeans are forbidden but it says blue deniem does that mean black jeans are alright? I went to see my husband in Delano and I swear I saw black jeans?

In fact anything that is blue is forbidden because all inmates have blue jeans and blue shirts... so no problem for a black denim! Take care. Catherine

woohooo my favorite black jeans are in...*does happy dance*