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Spellbinding

The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever ~Jacques Cousteau~

Once in a while I like to take a stroll in the cold sea water. Earlier today, the water at Baker beach was a nice warm 59 degrees and the air temperature, a balmy 67. Karl The Fog was draping the Golden Gate Bridge in a lovely shade of gray. To put it bluntly, it was a very beautiful time by the shore.

Only a wee bit of the Golden Gate Bridge is visible
Only a wee bit of the Golden Gate Bridge is visible

I thought the weather was great and I wore a short sleeved t-shirt. However, it was cool enough that you could tell the tourists from the locals.

Beach b

I watched a seagull wading in the surf and then flapping away.

Beach c

Beach d

Then my phone went off. I usually turn it off when I’m out, but I forgot. Then I realized it was Lastech who was watching from the parking lot up above. I answered to hear him giving me a “fins in the water” alert. The bottlenose dolphins were out romping.

Beach g

Beach e

Beach f

It was amazing to watch them. I wish I had been faster with the camera, but I did better than the last time. 🙂

Now for some bonus pics. We were on our way home and we stopped at a red light. We were right next to the freeway. I saw movement to my right and saw a hawk land on the ground just on the other side of the chain link fence. It was less than ten feet away.

Hawk a

Hawk b

Hawk c

To be honest, I never know what I’m going to see when we go out. I’m always amazed. 🙂


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Birdy, Birdy, WTF? Birdy?

These past couple of days have been frustrating, thanks to business providers. In order to put me back in a good mood, Lastech took me to the park and then the beach. We saw many birds and here are are some of them.

I call these parking lot birds. They are either brown headed cowbirds or Brewer's blackbirds. I'm not certain. They're everywhere.
I call these parking lot birds. They are either brown headed cowbirds or Brewer’s blackbirds. I’m not certain. They’re everywhere.
Sanderlings? I'm not sure. I just know that the lead bird had the noms and the other two wanted them.
Sanderlings? I’m not sure. I just know that the lead bird had the noms and the other two wanted them.
I love empty beaches. Ok, not quite empty as there were plenty of birds. That haze is sand as it was a tad windy.
I love empty beaches. Ok, not quite empty as there were plenty of birds. That haze is sand as it was a tad windy.
These teeny weeny birds were fun to watch. Sanderlings, I think.
These teeny weeny birds were fun to watch. Sanderlings, I think.
synchronized nom hunting
synchronized nom hunting
Sea gull has noms
Sea gull has noms
WTF?? No, not even sea gull noms. These were too big. Lastech decided I needed some good Zen this morning, so we went to the Japanese Tea Garden. I love the Koi
WTF?? No, not even sea gull noms. These were too big. Lastech decided I needed some good Zen this morning, so we went to the Japanese Tea Garden. I love the Koi
Sea gulls having an argument over noms. The gull on the lower left has the crab in question
Sea gulls having an argument over noms. The gull on the lower left has the crab in question. Photo by Lastech
You got the noms? No I don't have the noms! There over there! Damn!
You got the noms? No I don’t have the noms! They’re over there! Damn! (photo by Lastech)
Ha Ha! I got the noms! Photo by Lastech
Ha Ha! I got the noms! Photo by Lastech
Bird butts in triplicate
Bird butts in triplicate
Gulls on the beach
Gulls on the beach
Synchronized bird butts
Synchronized bird butts

Note to self: Do NOT go to Ocean Beach when the wind is blowing. I’m still finding sand in my ears and other assorted nether regions. Baker Beach is safer in the wind. Yes, we knew it was bad when Lastech turned on the fan in the car and sand was blowing out of the vents.

That was the pleasant part of our adventure for the day.

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Beach, Stairs, and a Tyrant named Titan

Fist things first. We want to congratulate our friend StateOfGrace for her adoption of Pearl, a bengal mix and Mabel, a beautiful black kitty. We know those two furbabies are very lucky and have a wonderful human who will love them, forever. Hugs and head bonks from the JBoD family.

Now… I’m beginning to get cranky. I want my rain and/or fog darnit! There’s too much sunshine. It’s hard to take pics that aren’t over exposed or suffering from terminal purple fringe. Oh well. We managed to escape and Lastech got a few nice pics in spite of the sunshine. These were taken around Lands End and Sutro Baths. It provided me with some much needed exercise as there were lots of stairs to deal with.

Mile Rock Beach
Pretty purple flower at Mile Rock Beach by Lastech
Mile Rock Beach
Sweet alyssum on the cliff above Mile Rock Beach by Lastech
Stairs near Sutro Bath
That’s a lot of stairs. This is just one of the ones we climbed. There were many more. Photo by Lastech
Great Blue Heron
A Great Blue Heron (left), a seagull and seal rocks from Sutro Baths, by Lastech
Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks from Sutro Baths, by Lastech

As for that white whiskered tyrant named Titan… He’s coming along. He’s still a hissing spitting old fart. Today we opened the door to his room and left it open for a while. He hissed at Tito. Tito was unfazed and ignored it while exploring Titan’s room. Jenny was napping elsewhere. 🙂

Titan
Titanescu looks more like sleepycat in this photo by Lastech


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The Coastal Trail: Before the Storm

On Tuesday the 27th, we went for a walk along the Coastal Trail near the Golden Gate Bridge. We knew there was a storm coming, so we wanted to get some time outdoors before it hit. It turned out to be a wonderful little jaunt that was full of surprises.

Golden Gate
Lastech looking out across the Golden Gate. Point Bonita (on the Marin Headlands) is visible in the distance

I wanted to break up the trip into two posts, but it just wasn’t going to work. We had some very nice surprises along the way.

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Sunset over the Pacific

As usual, the weather has provided us with some stunning sunsets. It’s not quite as common in the summer because of the fog, but when it’s mostly clear, it’s beautiful. Here are a few photos from Baker Beach.

Kayaking off Baker Beach at Sunset
Kayaker
sunset
Looking out over the Golden Gate
sunset
Reflection in the sand
sunset
Returning home
sunset
Wow
sunset
Land’s End


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Happy Monday!

Yes, it’s a happy monday for me. We had RAIN! I love the smell of wet pavement and grass. I love the sound of it on my roof. I just love it.

Here are a few pics from the last sunset we went to watch. We didn’t get any rain, but there were a few storms offshore. You can see the rain off on the horizon. Did I mention that I love rain?

Ocean Beach sunset

Ocean Beach sunset

Ocean Beach sunset

Ocean Beach sunset


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Moody Tuesday: silver skies and grey waters

Counting down to Halloween on this gloomy Tuesday morning, let’s stroll through Autumn, Ray Bradbury’s country.

I hope you’ll enjoy these photos as I do, taken between the beaches of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park and the Shoreline at Mountain View, CA.

“That country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.”

― Ray Bradbury, The October Country

Gulls over Baker Beach

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