The Golden Gate

A beautiful day in San Francisco, learning the history and construction details of one of the world’s most beautiful landmarks. 

Joseph Strauss - Chief Engineer

Hiking at Cronan Ranch

Hiking trails near Cool, CA

 

my pal, Lisa; these trails are her occasional weekend stomping grounds. 

South Fork of the American River

Mighty Oak

The Streets (and stairs) of San Francisco

 

Going South

Nothing like a haunted hotel to break up a long trip down a boring highway. No intent to be disparaging by "haunted," it’s right on the website for this place, which is the oldest inn in the Pacific Northwest, built in 1883 as a stagecoach stop. And given the fact that there’s not a soul around (live one, anyway) plus the creepy 1930s-era jazz coming out of the speakers in the parlor, I’m fully expecting at least one ghostly encounter before I leave in the morning.

redrum??

A Labyrinth and Peach Preserve

I was driving around the island this morning on the way to a hike in an area called Peach Preserve, more on that later, when I passed a small sign saying "Labyrinth Open." I did a quick U-turn and found this lovely meditation spot in the woods.

An impressive configuration of stones and twigs and ferns arranged in a complex semi-spiral.

It took me about five minutes to do the walk, which in the spirit of the endeavor, I did without earbuds in, and without taking any photos until I was done.  

My real destination for the morning was a hike in a beach-front area called the Peach Preserve, which I found confusing due to the obvious lack of peach trees, but after walking trails through the forest, down the beach, and along a meadow, I came to an information sign indicating that the area was once part of a World War I shipyard, until local philanthropist Patsy "Peach" Bullitt Collins funded its rehabilitation into a nature preserve; mystery solved.   

Country Roads

I had grand plans to hike to the top of Guemes Mountain today. I did it last time I was here and was looking forward to the fairly easy hike with a great view of the water and surrounding islands as the payoff, but it's raining (a little) and windy (semi-blustery) and that seemed like a good enough reason to scrap the idea of a wet hike with a nothing but cloud-cover at the top, and just drive around, which is one of my favorite activities. Here are some things I saw on my drive this afternoon:

There is no real 'center of town' on Guemes Island, no area with boutiques and cafes. However, the General Store is the first thing you see when you drive off the ferry. It is a store, gas station, and restaurant. The store is semi-closed in that if you need something, you ring the bell and ask the nice person behind the Dutch-door and she'll grab it for you, but the restaurant has a patio that is open and does take-out service, and I plan to go back later to pick up something for dinner.  

Both times that I've been on this island, I've stopped my car several times in the middle
of the road to take photos. There's never anyone around to honk at me. 

That thing of when you're on a rural island in the Pacific Northwest and you see a couple of peacocks in someone's yard...  

Return to Guemes Island

I try to get away from home for my birthday. Over the decade I've been in L.A., Mexico, Sri Lanka, New Zealand; the last two years I was in New York, and I loved New York in January so much (sidewalks are empty, theater tickets are easy to get) that it was set to be my new birthday trip for the foreseeable future. Well, no one could have foreseen this future in which even if I felt like getting on a plane (I don't), there would be no point in going to New York City, where theaters are dark, and the idea of eating in the few restaurants that are open seems like a gamble not worth taking. Doesn't matter though because I discovered Guemes Island in November; I can get here easily from my home, and yet it feels like a world away. 

I drove to Anacortes late this morning, got on the ferry, and took a scenic drive to where I'm staying, stopping along the way at Kelly's Point to take a walk on the beach on a beautiful, sunny day.

Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with tiny houses? I stayed at one here on Guemes in November and I'm staying at a different tiny house this time. This one is almost waterfront - I can see the water from where I'm currently positioned in the bed-loft, and I took another beach walk after I unpacked.