Redwood grove on Ridgecrest Blvd, Mt. Tamalpais

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photo by Donald Kinney

Low spot on the long ridge, in the moist pathway of foggy clouds.



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As you might know, Redwood trees get a substantial amount of water by absorbing it through their needles and pumping it to other parts of the tree.


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Inverness -- on Tomales Bay

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Inverness is located on the west shore of Tomales Bay, which runs southeast along the line of the San Andreas Fault. Surrounded by Point Reyes National Seashore, it is primarily a small residential community, with little industry other than tourism.

The region became the property of James Shafter, who began to develop the property in the 1890s. It became a summer resort where people from San Francisco and Oakland came to camp, hike and swim in Tomales Bay. Many built small summer cabins that still exist today. Small steamboats took excursions down the bay to secluded beaches. They left from Brock Schreiber's boathouse, which has been preserved and is a prominent local landmark with its prominent sign "Launch for Hire".



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The town is a 15 miles or so to the east from Drake's Bay on the Pacific Ocean, named after Sir Francis Drake, who explored the coast in the 16th Century. Although Drake's official log was lost, the ship's doctor's log described landing in an area that reminded him of the White Cliffs of Dover. Drake's Bay is backed by similar-looking cliffs, leading many to believe this beach is where Drake's ship landed.   source: Wikipedia






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Nature meets City

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The shallow Nicasio Reservoir waits for rain. We've been getting a smattering here and there...



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The City doesn't wait for anyone or anything, including ominous clouds.



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Hustle and bustle in the distance. A plethora of people slaving away.
Many--I'm sure, would enjoy being elsewhere; like the shoulder of Mt. Tamalpais, where I snapped this photo.


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Marin color -- right there, can't miss it

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With west Marin valleys already filled with low fog, this is the view to the north from the ridge of Mount Tamalpais at sunset.



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Breakfast is looking good on the farm. Plenty of Shredded-Wheat on-hand.


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moon and sun -- basic features in the sky

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Eight-ball-in-side-pocket moon...



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Candy-apple red setting moon...



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A blazingly large sun, obscured by a bit of fog.


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framing up a sunrise at San Quentin Village

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Within 100 yards of the main gate at San Quentin is a delightful overlook of San Pablo Bay and the Richmond Bridge. Not far below is a very cool beach that--I'm guessing--goes unused by the 4,223 prisoners incarcerated nearby.



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Eucalyptus trees can be quite full of art in their old age. They aren't native to this area but seedlings were brought in great numbers from Australia. Great claims were made for their usefulness; many did not live up to expectations. This tree grows fast and straight, but has a tendency to split as it dries, making it unsuitable for construction projects and furniture.

In the 1850s, Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians during the California Gold Rush. Much of California has a similar climate to parts of Australia. By the early 1900s, thousands of acres of eucalypts were planted with the encouragement of the state government. It was hoped that they would provide a renewable source of timber for construction, furniture making and railroad ties. It was soon found that for the latter purpose eucalyptus was particularly unsuitable, as the ties made from eucalyptus had a tendency to twist while drying, and the dried ties were so tough that it was nearly impossible to hammer rail spikes into them.  source: Wikipedia

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fog buffeting the Golden Gate Bridge

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afternoon,



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the next afternoon,



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and evening.

Oh by the way; good article about fog and fog-horns


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Richmond Bridge -- from San Quentin Village

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earlier...



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and a bit later, after 344 snaps.


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morning atmospherics at Nicasio Reservoir

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The sun still comes up...



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…but the lake is getting kind of low.


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Nicasio Reservoir -- almost dry but artful

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This seven foot diameter pipe crosses underneath the county road; from the main reservoir to a smaller fore-bay, and in normal years it has at least s-o-m-e water in it, but this is our third year of drought--and some forecasters are predicting a fourth. I've seen River Otters swim through this pipe--now the little water that remains is about a quarter mile away.



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Cat-tails and their artful sword-like leaves stand, but have long since died.



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But the mornings bring fog and the sun continues to arrive like clockwork.


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China Camp -- boats once came and went

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I often gaze out at these old piers at Buckeye Point and wonder about the stories they could tell. Of boats coming and going at a leisurely pace.



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And before the State Park was established in the mid-1970's there were cabins and homes here. Some foundations still exist.

Historic China Camp Village just down yonder was established as far back as the 1880's--an enterprise for netting Bay Shrimp, operated by Chinese immigrants who were prohibited by law from engaging in more dignified businesses that might encroach on the White Man's domain. They couldn't sell their catch directly to the markets in San Francisco--they were required to hire a Caucasian agent for that.



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I probably can assume the ripples on San Pablo Bay (the northern "thumb" of San Francisco Bay) are the same today, as they were in days past.


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a vague border between Northbeach and Chinatown

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I've never worn a watch and I rarely pay attention to clocks, but I did notice that more residents of Chinatown were out earlier this past Sunday morning. Not that I don't like people--I do--but my big-bad-ass camera seems to draw a lot of inquisitive and sometimes scornful glances.



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All I have to do is point that camera at something vague. Someone is bound to ask why I'm taking pictures. Sometimes an answer is hard to come by.



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The border between Northbeach and Chinatown is vague. Asians have homogeneously blended with the Italians in Northbeach, however I'm fairly certain most Italians have habituated to the idea of getting that extra hour of sleep on the day everybody sets their clock back. The Asians go shopping for vegetables and pork. Dummy-with-camera wanders around snapping.



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A very common sight in Chinatown. This photo (above) taken July 2010.
CLICK for my 2009 video; "Food In San Francisco's Chinatown"


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Coit Tower -- finally lit up in orange

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Coit Tower had recently been lit up in red--I am assuming in recognition of our poopy-and-good-for-nothing 49ers (football team), but now that our San Francisco Giants (baseball) has won the 2014 World Series, Coit Tower is finally illuminated in the Giants predominate color; orange.

Courtesy of Wikipedia here is the story of Lillie Coit:
Lillie Hitchcock Coit donated money, and a tower on Telegraph Hill was built. Many locals were outraged, suggesting it looked like a penis.

'Firebelle Lil' Coit [b. 1843] was considered eccentric, smoking cigars and wearing trousers. She was an avid gambler and often dressed like a man in order to gamble in the male-only establishments that dotted North Beach. Lillie Hitchcock married Howard Coit, the "caller" of the San Francisco Stock Exchange but they separated in 1880, and he died in 1885 at age 47.



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Lillie was fascinated by firefighters from a young age. At age 15, in 1858, she reportedly witnessed the Knickerbocker Engine Co. No. 5 respond to a fire call on Telegraph Hill when they were shorthanded, and helped them get up the hill ahead of other competing engine companies. She was thereafter treated as a "mascot" of the firefighters, and after her return from travel in Europe, in October 1863, she was made an honorary member of the engine company. She then rode along with the firefighters when they went to a fire or were in parades, and attended their annual banquets. She continued this relationship with firefighting throughout her life.



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Coit died in 1929, leaving a substantial bequest. The funds were used to build both the 210 foot tall tower and a monument in Washington Square to honor Coit’s beloved volunteer firefighters. The tower was designed by the firm of Arthur Brown, Jr., architect of San Francisco’s City Hall. Contrary to popular belief, Coit Tower was not intended to resemble a firehouse nozzle [or a penis].   source of this paragraph: S.F. Recreation and Parks




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Mount Tamalpais -- in clearing fog

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Well, if you live on the west coast I hope you got more rain than we did here in our tiny burg of Fairfax. I measured about 3/8" in a flat-bottomed cup, and we're going to need a lot more than that if we are going to put a dent in our drought. Some major deluges this winter would be great.



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But it did rain… And after rain there is usually the promise of fog. It often rises like a veil from our beloved "sleeping lady"; Mount Tamalpais.


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