Gillian's Birthday

Friday night we took Gillian out to dinner in San Francisco.  The restaurant is Peruvian and it's called La Mar.  It's a cevicheria, which means they specialize in ceviche.  We had wonderful fresh fish.  My only complaint is that they have some ceviches that have a sort of Asian flavor.  Although I love Asian foods of all kinds, ceviche needs lime and chile.  It was a beautiful warn San Francisco night.  We loved our dinner and walk by the waterfront afterwards.

Gilllian and Shannon

After dinner stroll

  The waterfront was beautiful...warm nights just can't be beat.  We have so few here that it's always a treat.

Taken by Luis

Taken by self-timer

Beautiful girls by water

I also took some fun photos of the girls.  I am so incredibly lucky to have two such wonderful daughters.  Just missing my Miami daughter.  Hopefully, we can see them all soon.

Such a fun night.  Marcio was with his friends at a party they had for him.  Gillian was sad not to have him join us...he has promised to make it up to her by cooking dinner...let's hope so.

Friday Harbor

An unexpected trip up to Friday Harbor brought an opportunity for some great photos and a couple of wonderful hikes.  The weather was warm most of the time:  Bay Area warm.  There was also rain and wild clouds.  On Thursday, Margie and I left mom in the hospital and headed to Anacortes waterfront for a 6 mile hike.

The bridge-like walkway across the bay

I am hooked on this wonderful yellow fungus/mold that grows on the wood decking and pilings.  John or Holly might know what it is, but, even without knowing, I love the colors.

the bridge walkway

We walked to the end of the bridge and then along the road, adding a couple of miles.  The road was pretty dangerous because there really isn't a trail-just cars wizzing by.  We gave up and headed back.  The view of the bridge is wonderful.

 After Mom was cleared for take-off, we headed to the ferry line.  I had to wait because we could only get one priority boarding pass.  I love this ferry line.  Every time we drive up, we wait in line and have a chance to walk down by the water.  It brings me back to my first wait in the Anacortes ferry line over 30 years ago.  I remember when Mom and Margie picked me up at SeaTac and we headed up the freeway.  I got out of the car at the ferry line and smelled something strange.  I asked mom what that strange smell was and she said something like, "Why Suzie, it's fresh air."  I'm a real city girl, used to exhaust and sewers.
I love the old pilings at the water front and always take pictures.

Not sure why I like them so much.  It's probably the contrast of the wood against the sky and the water and the wonderful, worn, irregular shapes.  Sometimes you get lucky and see some amazing birds.

This guy posed so nicely for me

I also practiced my macro lens that lets me take extreme closeups without the blur.  Great for a little camera.

The lens works really well.

The day was very misty although it never rained.  There were wisps of low clouds that hovered around the ferry building and the islands.

I didn't have very good light on the ferry ride, so I really just hung out and knitted.  However, there was one great shot of Mt. Baker through the glass window.  Seeing Mt Baker is always sort of a good omen for a visit.  If we can see it, the visit just seems that much nicer.

Can't believe how well this turned out thru glass-no glare at all

Now that the extreme worry over Mom was over, Margie and I did get a chance to go on a couple of hikes.  One of my favorites starts right on the corner of Roche Harbor road and the left turn to English Camp.  I found it by accident last August and was able to find it again to show Margie.   It was a new one for her.  First we walked to a beautiful pond/lake.  The grass had been cut so the trail was easier to find. (Last year, the grass was so tall, I had to guess at where to walk).  We had beautiful late afternoon light and took some photos.

The light on the water is always amazing here.

Photos for you, Mom.  I think they came out well what with the fantastic afternoon light.  I always remember Luis telling me to never take photos at noon.  The light is just too harsh.
We then hiked up the back way to the top of Mt Young.  Not much of a mountain and on the map, it has been downgraded to a hill.  It's called Young Hill now.  We prefer Mt Young.  Sounds like more of a hike.

Incredible clouds

I always get great cloud shots here

Same day, same time, clouds less wild.

Thought it would pour, but it didn't

I will never tire of this view

The hike down was much faster.  We made it down before dark and before rain.

The next day we did the Mt.  Findlayson hike up to Cattlepoint Lighthouse.  It was my day to catch the ferry so we only walked the hill part of the hike and didn't get down to the lighthouse.  The day was incredible.  Wild clouds again and sunshine.  Very changeable weather.  

Victoria and Vancouver Island in the distance

Looking in the opposite direction towards Cattlepoint

sun on water through clouds-it was mid-morning!

Looking towards Lopez Island

The next two pictures show the changing weather.  It's hard to imagine that these photos were taken seconds apart, just in opposite directions.

Toward Cattlepoint

Towards Victoria

Finally, some photos of Margie and me. 

Our shadows, looking down the hill.

The visit turned out to be wonderful though it started with a bit of a fright.  Margie and I caught up and we were able to be with mom a lot.  I realized how uncomfortable I would have been at home.  Family is everything.

Estero Trail, Pt Reyes National Seashore

We took our annual labor day weekend hike yesterday:  Linda, Nooshi,Laurie and I.  The Estero trail was too long for us (we had already had brunch in town and shopped and we had a sand castle contest to check out at Drake's Beach) so we hiked in an hour and back out-covering 6 miles of a 9 mile hike.  This trail is amazing. You walk past estuaries, several of them.  There is a forest of trees and several up and down sections that aren't too steep.  The trail starts as you walk down to a forest.

Looking thru the forest at the first estuary

The forest is the only shade, so you have to be prepared for sun and the elements (this includes a lot of wind-it is Pt Reyes after all).  First hike through the trees to the estuary.  There's a bridge where you can observe the birds.

egrets hang out here

After you cross the bridge, you head up to the top of a hill with incredible views of the sea shore and all the inlets.

Top of the first hill

The second estuary

Then more views of the estuaries.  More egrets and other birds.

We continued hiking up and down checking out the coastal inlets.

The Point Reyes National Seashore is incredible

 The hike continues, hugging the inlets.

Low tide looks like this

I took a lot of photos of these incredible rivers made by the tide as it went out.  All of this fills in at high tide.
More birds and sun.

This bird was hanging out with cows at their watering hole

Although I couldn't capture exactly what I saw, the top of the photo was sparkling in the sun.  It looked like shimmering gold coins or glitter.

Turning around on our way back

The day was incredible.  We have plans to do the whole hike on a fall day when we can start earlier.  It means doing away with some of the Pt Reyes Station rituals began many years ago by Linda, Laurette, and Kate.  Now with Laurette and Kate gone, we have a hard time breaking with tradition.  We still go to Limantour Beach most often where the bench is and where we celebrated the lives of Kate and Laurette with family picnics and wine drinking.  We still see them when we hike.  Laurette is a seal and Kate is a pelican-their favorite creatures to see on these walks.

Nooshi and LInda

Laurie and I took the photos so none of us today--it's just as well.  We've all known each other nearly 20 years.  Wow!

Treasure Island

Laurie and I walked around Treasure Island last weekend...it's a short walk:  3.5 miles, but the views are fantastic and we were able to see the construction on the new bridge.  I hadn't seen any of it for 2-3 years when I took a boat trip with Marcio and his friends to see Oakland harbor.  The bridge is coming along, but it sure looks like it will take a lot longer to build.  The first part of the walk begins on the San Francisco side.  It was very windy and cold, but beautiful.

Trans America Building

Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower.

As we walked around the island we could see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. 

The shore front walkway

After walking past Alcatraz, you can see the progress on the bridge.  You can also see the old section that they moved away to put in the famous S-curve section that was put in last Labor Day Weekend when they closed the bridge for 4 days.  The old section is still in the water.  I suppose they'll take it apart later.

The new concrete just below the old structure

The old section can be seen behind the current towers

On the left you can see where the construction ends

It was a beautiful walk and one that can be done by almost anyone.  There are still some abandoned buildings but much of the housing has been redone and rented out.  There are families living on the island very cheaply with million dollar views. 

I realize that I don't spend nearly enough time exploring the beautiful scenery around the Bay Area.  I hope this year to hike more and see more.