PHOTOS: President Obama Departs Crissy Field for Atherton Fundraisers Thursday

Mill Valley photograper Kirke Wrench was on his way to work in the Presidio Thursday morning when he spotted a San Francisco Police officer blocking traffic along Mason Street, which abuts Crissy Field.

As he looked around to see if there had been a car accident, he heard the roar of multiple helicopters above him and realized that he'd stumbled upon the departure point for President Barack Obama, who arrived in the Bay Area Wednesday and headed out Thursday morning for a pair of fundraisers in Atherton on the Peninsula.

Obama arrived at San Francisco International Airport Wednesday for a cocktail reception at the Pacific Heights home of billionaire and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor. He then darted off to a dinner at the nearby home of philanthropists Ann and Gordon Getty. The events raised money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

They also drew a number of protesters, including a group opposing the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would extend from Canada to Texas.

Obama stayed overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco and made his way to Crissy Field by motorcade. He departed Crissy Field on Marine One on his way to two fundraisers in Atherton to benefit the Democratic National Committee.

The first was a $32,000-a-head brunch at the home of Liz Simons and Mark Heising. The president then visited the home of Marcia and John Goldman. The cheapest tickets to that event cost $1,000.

Obama departed from SFO on Thursday afternoon. His last visit to the Bay Area was in October during his presidential campaign.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.