Sunday 9/27 Afternoon walk in Golden Gate Park

Sunday 9/27 Afternoon walk in Golden Gate Park

I was a warm hazy Sunday at Ocean Beach and a walk into the park seemed appropriate. The critters were ever present and I couldn't resist the photo opps.

There seemed to be a lot of Monarchs fluttering about. I still don't have the zoom technique down as this one is a bit blurry.

The same with this Red-Shouldered Hawk. But when you double click you can still see that blue piercing eye which was following my every move.

The Great Blue Heron is a frequent visitor to the Park lakes. This one lives in the tree tops of the tall surrounding trees. They tell me that there are three famlies of these that live in the Park which is about all that the food chain will support.

Sunday 9/20

We're at the beginnings of a heat wave that will start early this evening and last through the rest of the week. The temperature could reach 85 at the Ocean which is a rarity. Right now it is still a cool 65f because of the fog. Pictured here are more Golden Gate Park Lakes.

Sunday 9/20

I decided to go for an early walk in the park. These are a few of the lakes and ponds in Golden Gate Park within 10 to 15 minutes walk from my condo.

Friday 9/18

It was 72f at Ocean Beach today. Pictured here is the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge with Angle Island in the background.

By double clicking the picture to enlarge it, you will get a clearer view of the arched support structure under the bridge. Behind that area is where a scene from Hitchcock's Vertigo was filmed. This is where the Kim Novak character jumped into the water and the Jimmy Stewart character saved her.

The air was a bit murky because of a small grass fire in the Marin Headlands just to the left. It was extinguished. As you can see, warm weather brings out the pleasure crafts.

Friday 9/11 Sea Ranch/The Departure

We were on the road by 9:ooAM. It was a very laid back and restful vacation.

This frog outside the front door sums it up quite nicely.

Thursday 9/10 Seventh Day at Sea Ranch/The Sunset

We had a nice dinner at the Top Of The Cliff in Gualala. This picture was taken from the restaurant window.

I love the palm tree silhouetted against the sunset. I's so out of place and I think the only one I have ever seen in the area.

Thursday 9/10 Seventh Day at Sea Ranch

Breakfast was again at the local coffee shop so we could use the internet. I spent most of the morning re-booting and trying to log on to my blog. I finally gave up and decided that I would have to update the last two days when I got home.

This is a picture in back of the coffee house of some more driftwood art.

Thursday 9/10 Seventh Day at Sea Ranch

I was concentrating so much on the fox that I didn't see a deer approaching from the right. He seemed very curious and approached the little critter in that manner. The deer was not aggressive but almost in a playful mood. The fox was not afraid and looked at the deer as if to say "don't bother me, I'm hunting for my breakfast" and then he slinked away.

You will have to use your zoom to enlarge the picture. To the right of the deer you can see the fox leaving.

Now I feel complete. It took a week but I got that fickle fox on my camera. The deer was an added bonus. Looking back I should have used my zoom lens...but in the heat of the moment any picture was OK with me.

Thursday 9/10 Seventh Day at Sea Ranch

It is 6:45AM Thursday and at last that little fox has allowed me to get a picture. You will have to use the zoom to see that he is in the middle to the right of some small shrubs. The best is yet to come.

Wednesday 9/9 Sixth Day at Sea Ranch/The Sunset

Another beautiful sunset to end the day.

Wednesday 9/9 Sixth Day at Sea Ranch

More pictures along the coastal trail. This is looking South towards Shell Beach and Driftwood Beach

Wednesday 9/9 Sixth Day at Sea Ranch

More pictures from the coastal trail.

Wednesday 9/9 Sixth Day at Sea Ranch

We went to The Sea Ranch Lodge for breakfast and to see if the internet connection was any better than the coffee shop...about the same. I spent the afternoon walking north on the coastal trail and took some more pictures. Above is another hedge row and the other picture is me trying out my soom lens.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/More evidence of the vampires and The Sunset

Before retiring for the evening, we went to the local cemetery as we had heard more rumors about the visitors from True Blood. Here is confirmation that Bill and Eric (and another) had spent the previous day in coffins to avoid the sun.

Sunsets are a confirmation that we lived through another glorious day at Sea Ranch. The night however was to be avoided.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The Desecration

We had heard rumors that some vampires had been seen in the vicinity last night. No doubt Bill and Eric from True Blood. Much to our horror, we found proof of this; inside the Chapel we found this poor sole. Such desecration!!! The police said that this was a random fang crime and the victim was at the wrong place at the wrong time....or right time....depending how you view this sort of thing.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The afternoon

After visiting the Annapolis Winery for some vino tasting, we stopped at the Sea Ranch Chapel pictured here.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Walking back to the house, I stopped by the area where I had last seen Monday's fox. This is the little den where he disappeared.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Some volcanic rock and strata at Driftwood Beach. There's a geological story here.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

The tide was out so I could get some pictures of the tidal pools. I looked for some sea creatures and urchins but to no avail.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

I am always fascinated with the innate need to create. These driftwood sculptures were assembled by holiday visitors on Monday.

Tuesday 9/8 Fifth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Not very many wild flowers this time of the year.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The Evening

The end to another glorious day.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The Evening

The afternoon was very laid back. Reading, sun worshiping, and relaxing. The little frog sculpture outside the deck area is an acurate picture of how it is.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Walking back, a deer suddenly popped his head up and stared at me until I was out of sight. There was a movement to the left and I saw a red fox running for the under brush. This fox was much smaller with more red coloring than the one I saw on Saturday morning. Now I'm starting to think that the Saturday fox was really a gray fox.

In the center of picture #2 there is an oval area. I saw the fox for a second time as he scurried into a covered area just through that opening.

Missed the fox/photo-op again, but I will not be discouraged...he will not escape me for long.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Pictured here is one of the many tidal pools.

The wooded area also pictured is called a Hedge Row which parallels the Ocean and acts as a buffer during the winter storms.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning walk.

Walking South, this is another view of Driftwood Beach from the other end.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning.

Pictured here is an unexpected visit from the Gualala Fire Department. Outside the kitchen window I saw some smoke coming from the structure and people running towards it (our place is on the other side). It seems that the fire was in the garage. I told John that it probably was a Meth Lab. What ever, they put it out.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning.

Here comes the morning sun...as seen from the deck.

Monday 9/7 Forth Day at Sea Ranch/The morning.

I bounced out of bed at 6:30AM, grabbed the camera and searched the area for critters. Alas nothing this morning. Pictured here is the grassy meadow outside the living room window.

Sunday 9/6 Third Day at Sea Ranch/The evening

After my sun time the rest of the day was spent with reading and just doing nothing...down time. It's very necessary to have a vacation with no set schedule so you can vegetate and regenerate.

I watched one of my all time favorite movies that happened to be on AMC..."How Green Was My Valley." I love that movie. It brings up lots of emotion.

Some cocktails, some good food and it was to bed at 11:PM.