So I went backpacking on Angel Island.
Now I'm six days behind with way too much to do in real life to worry about catching up. Not done writing, though. Too much cool stuff thought of to just let it lie, arbitrary internet deadlines or no. The hard part will be continuing it in January.
Angel Island is a national treasure. If it hadn't been turned into a military reservation during the Civil War (when Confederate ships coming in and bottling up the flow of gold were a real worry), and then kept by the Army for various reasons until recent times, it would not now be a wildlife preserve but instead some sort of enclave for the wealthy. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I like it as it is. The views of San Francisco, of the ocean seen through the Golden Gate and its Bridge, of mountainous Marin County, of Richmond, Berkeley and Oakland, of the Bay Bridge, of Alcatraz, they are all unparalleled. You can even see the neighborhood I grew up in if you have some good binoculars (which I didn't).
Hiking, Bay Area style (no, not us!)
A view from the top (Mt. Tam etc.)
Easy camping, long-closed Fort MacDowell and the Bay down beyond
Ghost buildings, a century old
The old Nike base (and yes, I have been down through that hatch, but that is rather another story ... )
A nice view from the ferry, the top of a Golden Gate Bridge tower just visible in the fog
Me and the real reason I do this stuff (or almost anything, really)
11 comments:
Oh, nice pics! I love the view from the top, and also your son is such a mini-you.
Too bad about NaNo, but good you have something to keep working with.
You still have to do the silly hat photo. See Teacake for deets.
P.S. I got your title. :)
Too much cool stuff thought of to just let it lie, arbitrary internet deadlines or no.
Well, then it's all worth it. Just keep going, November or not.
Still have to do the silly hat pic, though, UV's right about that. You and Roy both. Don't think we're going to forget. We'll nag you endlessly. Like, 50,000 words worth of nagging, if we have to.
You claim that kid? Doesn't look like you at all......except, uhm, the ears, and everything in between.
Just a nit-picky point:
"with way too much to do in real life"
Writing a novel is real life! But, believe me, I understand. So what kind of funny hat are you going to wear?
-Roy
Your son is adorable. Which translates to the father, because he looks just like you. Of course, you've probably already figured that one out on your own, huh?
I have to know, is there any way you can sneak into the ghost buildings? Because that's what I'd want to do.
I love the pictures, and I think it's wonderful that you enjoy spending time doing fun things with your son.
UV & T: The trouble is, I like wearing silly hats.
R: I think I'll wear the one I got at Mardi Gras.
Babs: They've padlocked the good ones. But I went down underground at the Nike base once, another time, cause someone had cut the lock. Now that was extremely cool.
G T-T: Thanks! There's not much that's more worth doing. (I dunno if writing "G T-T" makes me think of a gin & tonic or of a mai-tai.)
R: I think I'll wear the one I got at Mardi Gras.
If you do that, I'll wear my old hard hat.
-Roy
Awesome!! I used to have a sailing crew that would head over to Angel Island for potluck picnics, then head for Tiburon, and do a circle-return around The Rock to see the city skyline before heading back into port at Sausalito.
I never camped on the island, but did a fair amount of hiking on it. I love the ancient buildings, with their mysterious history, too.
Thanks for sharing! Good luck with the book! Happy T-Day!
Oh man! That bay area hiking photo is truly absurd!
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