Bank of the West Building, S.F.

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photo by Donald Kinney

If I was giving out awards for beautiful building exteriors, the Bank of the West building on Market Street would get first prize and a blue-ribbon...

But you've got to help me out on this one -- this building may NOT actually be called the Bank of the West Building.   I tried Googling for more information on the building -- but the closest Bank of the West seems to be over on Montgomery Street.   One thing for sure, the building DOES have a Bank of the West sign on it -- but at this point I'm starting to think that that sign might relate to the ATM machine on the building's exterior, and not the building itself.   In any case, I think it's a very beautiful building.   Anybody know the true name of this building?


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photo by Donald Kinney


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sidewalk design

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photo by Donald Kinney

I kind of doubt if the person who added the newer concrete patch realized that they were inadvertently creating an artistic design with their handiwork.   But I know how I am when I complete any sort of fix-it project -- I always stand back and look at it for a few minutes, and if it is up to my standards I give myself a pat on the back...



And remember:   "A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae away from a kick in the pants, but it's miles ahead in terms of results".


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spider and web

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photo by Donald Kinney

Very early on Tuesday I realized that the rains had stopped, and the first thing that went through my mind was the possibility of a glorious sunrise out at China Camp.   So, off I went -- only to be disappointed by a rather ho-hum appearance of the sun...   Hey, no problem -- I got to spook around the village at China Camp, being as quiet as possible so as not to wake up the single resident of China Camp, Frank Quan.   (Actually, nobody is supposed to be inside the village until 8AM, but that's a rule that I frequently break)

So -- no problem, I thought -- I'd just head out to the the Lake at Nicasio via Lagunitas Creek...   Well, of course it was way too early to photograph the Lagunitas Creek, and besides, right now it is a rather un-photogenic raging brownish torrent.   So -- no problem, I thought -- I'd just head on over to Nicasio and see if the lake was doing anything interesting with the morning atmospherics.   It wasn't...

O.k., well the next stop on my loop was "Old Faithful" -- better known as Roy's Redwoods, and there I actually managed to get a few photos, but nothing that would knock-your-socks-off...   Anyway I had a fine time and got a good cardio-vascular workout by hiking up to the top of what they call the Nature Trail.

So, where to from there?   I was just a bit pooped from my hike, but I thought I would stop by the little creek, now raging, between San Geronimo and Forest Knolls -- it's part of the Gary Giacomini Wilderness Area.   That's where I found this spider web and the spider herself -- busy at work, and probably kind of hungry...   I was amazed at just how quickly she was working -- I had quite a difficult time getting a shot where she wasn't slightly blurred by her own movement, but I think this shot will do.


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our feathered friends

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photo by Donald Kinney

With oil spills, polution, and fluctuations in the food supply, being a bird or duck can't be the easiest job on the planet...   But if I had to wear feathers I think a perfect place to live would be the Marin Headlands, within spitting distance of the Golden Gate Bridge.


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photo by Donald Kinney


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water in three moods

Flowing water...

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photo by Donald Kinney

Still water...

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photo by Donald Kinney

Artistic water...

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photo by Donald Kinney


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Chinatown specials

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photo by Donald Kinney

It's difficult to pass by a Chinatown pastry shop without stopping to admire the goods...   I think the next time I'm over there I'm going to go in and buy some of these sesame bread-balls -- or whatever they call them...   For something baked, I've never been able to figure out how they get them to come out so round...

And of course, along with my sesame bread-ball, I'm going to need one of those Chinese Coolie hats -- should fit my pointed little head just fine...


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photo by Donald Kinney





SPECIAL EDITION
First, make sure your sound isn't turned way up, then
mouse-over keys for somewhat esoteric sounds --
or click on key to repeat 3 times...
Keys are draggable to the right side to create key combinations.




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confused poppies

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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, the wildflowers seem to be terribly confused about what time of the year it is out here on the west coast.   All through January and half of February our weather was Spring-like, but the Winter rains have finally caught up with us.   The wildflowers will just have to rock-and-roll with the weird weather as best they can...


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Cataract Falls, Mt. Tamalpais

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photo by Donald Kinney

It's kind of a Marin County tradition with some folks -- after a big rainstorm we all head out to Cataract Falls, on the northern slopes of Mt. Tamalpais, to check out the long cascade of waterfalls.

Getting up there is a genuine workout -- that's why I've unofficially renamed the place "Cardiac Falls", but if you are a glutten-for-punishment you can continue on the trail following the stream all the way to it's source up at Laurel Dell.


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photo by Donald Kinney


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Roy's Redwoods

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photo by Donald Kinney

We finally got some good amounts of rainfall here in California, and the waterways out at Roy's Redwoods are gushing and bubbling again.

The mosses have been re-hydrated and are standing tall, and the lichens are definitely enjoying themselves.   One type of mushroom has sprung -- the red-tops -- and the white variety should be popping up soon.   And NO, you wouldn't want to eat either variety...

Sooooooooo, why is this place called Roy's Redwoods?
Well, one of Marin County's pioneer families, the Roys, purchased the land back in the 1880's -- that's about all I know...

Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve, in the heart of Marin County's San Geronimo Valley, is a perfect place for a quick escape -- IF you are able to find the semi-secret entrance along Nicasio Valley Road.

You see, there are no large signs to greet you, just a picturesque meadow surrounded by sheltering bay trees interspersed with clusters of towering redwoods.   These redwoods are among the largest in Marin County.   Remember that these specimens are just the offspring of even more massive “mother trees” that once stood in the center of these rings of 200 foot tall sprouts.

From the meadow you can choose from a number of shaded trails that loop through this 377 acre preserve.   You may also choose to climb the Dickson Ridge Fire Road to enjoy sweeping views that stretch from Mt. Tamalpais in the east to Mt Wittenberg at Point Reyes to the west.

The primeval groves of bay and redwood were once the setting for a George Lucas movie, The Ewok Adventure.   Prior to becoming an Open Space Preserve, several of the great rings of redwoods were inhabited by members of a loosely organized commune.

Today, the great meadow is frequently used for weddings and other special gatherings, but on weekdays visitors are sparse -- usually you'll just find some guy, all alone, shooting photos and basking in the peacefulness of the area...

For a perfect quiet getaway, try the Roy’s Redwoods Nature-Trail.   This trail meanders along a secluded ridge among sheltering fir, madrone, and oak trees.   As I mentioned above, right now the mushrooms are putting on quite a show...

Desperately need to see more photos of Roy's Redwoods?   Then stop by my "big" site at:
http://www.photoarrow.com/big/96/96roysredwoods.html.


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photo by Donald Kinney


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photo by Donald Kinney


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rail port, Point Richmond

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photo by Donald Kinney

Freight cars, having chugged up-and-down mountains and across verdant plains all the way across the country, had one final obstacle -- San Francisco Bay...

Loading freight-cars from dry land to a wishy-washy barge must have been kind of tricky...   Of course those were the days when the United States actually manufactured goods, instead of getting most everything shipped in from Asia.


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Roy's Redwoods after the rain

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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, we finally are getting some rain here in California -- buckets of it...   You might even say it's been raining cats-and-dogs...

This is becoming an annual event for me -- after a big rainstorm there is nothing more delightful than to go out to Roy's Redwoods and check out the bubbling-creeks that are normally dry-as-a-bone...


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photo by Donald Kinney


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Chinatown shoppers

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photo by Donald Kinney

The residents of San Francisco's Chinatown seem to do just fine without one central "supermarket".   The way I see it, if supermarkets were any good, the Chinese would already have invented them about four thousand years ago...


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good morning San Francisco

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photo by Donald Kinney

In the photo above, the "blown-out" portion of the sky was bothering me...


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photo by Donald Kinney

...so I did some cropping on these two.


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photo by Donald Kinney


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wood and stone

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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, there you have 'em, folks -- two very durable building materials.
Top photo is a barkless fallen oak out at China Camp.

And if you've ever been on Conzelman Road overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge -- then you've seen the amazing patterns of all those layered, bent, and folded orange-red rocks.   The rock is called "Chirt".


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morning, China Camp

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photo by Donald Kinney

The way I look at it, any place populated by streaming sunlight and calm deer is a pleasant place, indeed...

China Camp, population 1, is located on the western shores of San Pablo Bay, which is the "upper-thumb" of San Francisco Bay.


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West Marin

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photo by Donald Kinney

You probably won't find "West Marin" on any official map, but getting there is easy -- you just go over the hill.   It's as simple as that...


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photo by Donald Kinney

I've been waiting for this ranch out in the Cheleno Valley to magically spring back to life some day.   All it needs is some city-slicker who wants to play farmer -- a Green Acres type of thing...

And how about the yellow of that yellow field -- I call it wild mustard, but others insist it's canola.   Anyway, I was experimenting with "selective focus".


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at Green Gulch Zen Center

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photo by Donald Kinney

Here in Marin County, followers of Zen Buddhism are just about as common as hybrid cars, and there is no shortage of places around here for the budding Buddhist to hone his or her spiritual skills...

We have a fine Zen meditation center out at Spirit Rock in San Geronimo Valley, but the Green Gulch Zen Center -- not far from Muir Beach -- includes a highly productive organic farm producing food not only for the Center, but to sell at Farmer's Markets in the area.


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photo by Donald Kinney

The winter vegetables are still going-strong out at Green Gulch...   They've been progressively picking broccoli, and besides about six different chards they are growing strange looking varieties of lettuces and other colorful and crinkly greens.


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Chinatown commerce

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photo by Donald Kinney

As a young lad, one of my first memories of Chinatown was trying to eat a very curious piece of candied ginger.   It took me a while to figure out I didn't really care for candied ginger...   But how I wanted that articulated wooden snake that I never got...

Yep, if you have a few spare dollars in your pocket Chinatown is the place to spend them!   They've got virtually everything you would want, plus a few things that you probably don't even know you need.

Step inside the bustling shops to see barrels brimming with knotty ginseng, shelves lined with traditional herbal remedies, and windows strung with glistening roasted ducks dangling by their necks.   Inhale.


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photo by Donald Kinney


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photo by Donald Kinney


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adventures in Chinatown

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photo by Donald Kinney

Sunday was the wrap-up of the new year's festivities in San Francisco's Chinatown.   I showed up for a couple hours in the afternoon -- yes, I actually found parking on the other side of North Beach -- but didn't stick around for the parade.

Here's a snippet by Steve Rubenstein, lifted from the Chronicle:

A lot of traffic was diverted, a lot of barricades were erected, and a lot of firecrackers enlivened the scene and deafened the eardrums.

There were dancers in red outfits twirling gold fans. There were dancers in red outfits twirling green parasols. There were dancing rice bowls, dancing trash cans and dancing oxen. There was no shortage of dancers, both in the parade and on the sidewalk.

Spectators were 15 deep, standing shoulder to shoulder and chest to chest.

A vendor on Post Street, Andy Stemen, was a bit bummed over slow sales of his $5 plastic trumpets, $8 blinking light wands and $3 cotton candy. The police wouldn't let him into the crowds.

The centerpiece was the Hong Kong-born dragon, which at 238 feet long was the longest in parade history. More than 100 units were registered this year.

The parade - which ran for 15 blocks along Market, Geary, Powell, Post and Kearny streets - marked the climax of two weeks of celebrations for the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Ox.

Parade organizers say the event, believed to date back to at least the 1860s, has become the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. It certainly was the largest traffic jam in San Francisco all weekend.


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art at Embarcadero Center

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photo by Donald Kinney

One of the great things about all four buildings of Embarcadero Center is that it's possible to walk four blocks without ever going down to street level.   The time to wander is on the weekends when there is barely a soul in sight...


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photo by Donald Kinney


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Steep Ravine

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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, you'd have to search high-and-low for a prettier place right after a rain than Steep Ravine, out on the coast not far from Stinson Beach.

The beautiful trail is the last stretch of the Dipsea Trail Race -- each year hundreds of well-seasoned runners use this trail to cross over Mount Tamalpais on their way out to the sea.


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Mission San Juan Bautista

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photo by Donald Kinney

As you might be able to tell, I've been on the trail of some of the California missions recently...   And although I lived not too far from San Juan Bautista and visited several times when I was a kid, it wasn't until Plug1 did two posts on Mission San Juan Bautista -- one here and one here -- that I got inspired to visit again after all these years.

The place looks just like it did when I was a kid, but what struck me was the peacefulness of the area.   Just farmland and rolling hills, a sleepy town and an old historic mission -- all very quiet...


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photo by Donald Kinney

If you're looking for earthquakes, San Juan Bautista and nearby Hollister have more than their share!   You would think that earthquakes would be a problem for a mission built out of mud-and-straw adobe, but they make the walls very thick, and instead of falling down the walls just realign themselves during a large quake...


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photo by Donald Kinney

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I've added a new set of California Missions (so far:  Sonoma, Dolores S.F., San Juan Bautista, and San Rafael) to what I call my "big" site over at:
www.photoarrow.com/big/20/20californiamissions.html




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