It seems kind of appropriate to restart this blogging thing a year on from when we first got out here. I had always stuck pretty close to home before so it seemed inconcievable that I would settle in a bizarre country thousands of physical and cultural miles away from everything that I knew. But in the last few months I have been gradually realising, with suprise, that I am actually very settled here and feel like I am home. I am sure some of that comes from how easy it is to have a nice life here in California. From beautiful beaches with bright green, steep mountains rising directly behind them, to golden dry hills rustling in a hot breeze and a city filled with restaurants, beautiful free parks and activities and stunning houses to dream about living in its pretty easy to settle!!
Sorry guys, I always thought home wasn't home without your close friends near by but it seems I have sold out on that idea!
One of my favourite things to do on a monday is to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge with my friend Lisa, in her convertible (!), to Stinson Beach: the beach at the base of the mountains. Behind the beach is one of few remaining coastal redwood forests and the road itself is lined with Eucalyptus trees. Everything smells alive and fresh and above us we will always see several Turkey Vultures and Hawks circling, while on the road we keep an eye out for fallow deer. This is less then 20 minutes out of the city which I find amazing!
We pack a picnic, wetsuits and boards and spend the day trying to catch the waves or if the sea is flat, floating in the skin tinglingly cold water and looking back at those mountains and the azure sky above them! Mondays will never feel the same again.
The drive home can be just as spectacular. As we round the mountain we can often see the evening fog pouring over the top of the hills, onto the road in front of us and blanketing all but the top tips of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The other day we visited Point Bonita, a rocky outcrop just over the 'Bridge, with a small lighthouse perched there. To get there you cross the GG bridge then climb steeply for a mile or so. The road swings around the mountain, hanging you over the bay; the 'Bridge is almost in touching distance to your left and open water to your right. It had been a warm few days previously which had obviously brought the fog in early and as we rounded the mountain it was like being in an aeroplane. Below us was white cloud sparkling in the sunlight, the bridge was partially covered and there was no sign of the water below. We felt like we could step off the mountain and onto the clouds below. Above was bright bright blue sky and in front of us the lighthouse with its terrifying swinging narrow bridge. It was the most breathtaking view and I mourn our broken camera, although I think it would be difficult to catch all that in one photo!
In just over a week I turn 30 and I had been planning to do something adrenalin filled like learn to hanglide, to keep the blood pumping. However with the arrival of our summer I decided I would rather spend the day at my favourite beach, with as many people as want to come and board and bbq all day long. Dranny and I are going to stay the night before at some environmental cabins near Stinson Beach. They provide the bed base, a wood stove and you bring bedding a lantern and whatever else you need. The cabins are on a flat bit of land at the base of the cliffs that side California and look out directly to sea. Hopefully if we are brave enough, we will have an evening picnic on an enormous rock looking out to sea. The rock is accessible only via a slippery path down the face of a sandstone cliff and then a very narrow path which I think looks do-able although on either side of the path is a plunging fall onto surf bashed rocks. However once we got on the rock it would feel like we were sitting in the ocean so although I have promised Lisa we won't do it, I am sorely tempted. Somewhere to the right of this rock is another treacherous path that leads down to a secret beach, totally screened from everywhere but the ocean and as I have never actually officially skinny dipped maybe this would be secret enough for me to have the courage to do it!
Either way, it is all looking to be a fabulous birthday and with the arrival of the littleist Shack the fri before I am very excited!
Sorry guys, I always thought home wasn't home without your close friends near by but it seems I have sold out on that idea!
One of my favourite things to do on a monday is to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge with my friend Lisa, in her convertible (!), to Stinson Beach: the beach at the base of the mountains. Behind the beach is one of few remaining coastal redwood forests and the road itself is lined with Eucalyptus trees. Everything smells alive and fresh and above us we will always see several Turkey Vultures and Hawks circling, while on the road we keep an eye out for fallow deer. This is less then 20 minutes out of the city which I find amazing!
We pack a picnic, wetsuits and boards and spend the day trying to catch the waves or if the sea is flat, floating in the skin tinglingly cold water and looking back at those mountains and the azure sky above them! Mondays will never feel the same again.
The drive home can be just as spectacular. As we round the mountain we can often see the evening fog pouring over the top of the hills, onto the road in front of us and blanketing all but the top tips of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The other day we visited Point Bonita, a rocky outcrop just over the 'Bridge, with a small lighthouse perched there. To get there you cross the GG bridge then climb steeply for a mile or so. The road swings around the mountain, hanging you over the bay; the 'Bridge is almost in touching distance to your left and open water to your right. It had been a warm few days previously which had obviously brought the fog in early and as we rounded the mountain it was like being in an aeroplane. Below us was white cloud sparkling in the sunlight, the bridge was partially covered and there was no sign of the water below. We felt like we could step off the mountain and onto the clouds below. Above was bright bright blue sky and in front of us the lighthouse with its terrifying swinging narrow bridge. It was the most breathtaking view and I mourn our broken camera, although I think it would be difficult to catch all that in one photo!
In just over a week I turn 30 and I had been planning to do something adrenalin filled like learn to hanglide, to keep the blood pumping. However with the arrival of our summer I decided I would rather spend the day at my favourite beach, with as many people as want to come and board and bbq all day long. Dranny and I are going to stay the night before at some environmental cabins near Stinson Beach. They provide the bed base, a wood stove and you bring bedding a lantern and whatever else you need. The cabins are on a flat bit of land at the base of the cliffs that side California and look out directly to sea. Hopefully if we are brave enough, we will have an evening picnic on an enormous rock looking out to sea. The rock is accessible only via a slippery path down the face of a sandstone cliff and then a very narrow path which I think looks do-able although on either side of the path is a plunging fall onto surf bashed rocks. However once we got on the rock it would feel like we were sitting in the ocean so although I have promised Lisa we won't do it, I am sorely tempted. Somewhere to the right of this rock is another treacherous path that leads down to a secret beach, totally screened from everywhere but the ocean and as I have never actually officially skinny dipped maybe this would be secret enough for me to have the courage to do it!
Either way, it is all looking to be a fabulous birthday and with the arrival of the littleist Shack the fri before I am very excited!
posted by ShackBird at 9:11 AM
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