GGB - Then & Now

When I wrote about the walk Cameron and I took across the Golden Gate Bridge, shortly after we moved to California, I mentioned how I'd walked across it with my dad and how Sam and I had walked out onto it when we were in California 5 1/2 years ago.








Recently, Sam reminded us that he hadn't been on the bridge since living here and that he had never actually walked across it. (The last time, we walked to the first peak and back.)

So, last Saturday when the ground was a bit wet from some Friday night rain, we decided to opt for sidewalks and pavement and take Sam back to the Golden Gate Bridge.











We took pictures from the observation area before heading out. I wanted to be able to share some flashback pictures.

Sam took another couple shot. You can see the bridge peaking out over my right shoulder.



My handsome men.

Our beautiful city by the bay, illuminated in the distance.

Hi Cam.

Happy Cam.











Shortly after getting on the bridge, you see these interesting rocks.


There were hundreds of birds flying just above the surface of the water all around them on this day.









Cam pointed out the white trails they left in their wake after taking off from the water and acknowledged how difficult of a feat that must be.

The bay is alluring.
















Talking, playing, marching along, singing a song, smiles.














Hugs, love.












A short while later, we spotted these pelicans. They are such impressive birds. When I see them flying, I always think of that scene at the end of Jurassic Park where they talk about how the dinosaurs turned into birds.

Fun.















Grown a bit, huh?







He's really into making up scenarios lately.















"You know what would be funny...?"















I like this shot of Cam in front of Angel Island. Some beautiful day, we will go and climb to the top of it.




It looked like Sam was about to jump off the bridge in this picture with Alcatraz in the background.












Here he is in the same spot again.

We haven't been to Alcatraz yet either but it is high on our list.


On the San Francisco side of the bridge, we followed a trail down to the base of the bridge. I'd never seen the bridge from this spot before.

This picture doesn't do it justice but off to our left, the waves were really slamming into the rocks. Often, the spray would come up onto the sidewalk and even into the parking area.

Cam suggested we visit Ft. Point. I am interested in history but wasn't especially thrilled at the idea. It turned out to be both beautiful and impressive. It was one of only a few outposts like this built early in our country's history. It was the only one on the west coast at the time.

Repeating archways were a reoccurring theme.

The way the light played off of the arches was lovely.

















We saw cannons and even watched a cannon demonstration. (They didn't actually fire one but did reenact its firing.)

We were free to explore much of the fort without supervision. We climbed up to the third floor.















Sam and I had hoped to be able to climb into this tower but not surprisingly, it was closed. What was surprising was how much was open.






Some seals treated us to a show on the way back across the bridge.

Cam got this nice shot of two of them.


Looking up at one of the peaks from the ground.








Tired but happy.

















We did it.

Cam's Story

Pt. Bonita Lighthouse during Fleet Week

Last Saturday morning, we headed back to Rodeo Beach. We didn't spend much time on the beach this time. Instead, we followed a trail left, up a ridge and walked along looking out at the water until we reached the trail leading down to the Pt. Bonita Lighthouse. From here, we had a different view of the Golden Gate Bridge and many of the vehicles involved in Fleet Week.

The contrast of colors ranging from the deep green of the shadowy part of the trees to the glistening sunlight on the water was striking.











Off in the distance, Cam captured four ships on the horizon.














We also enjoyed watching several seals play on the rocks.














Suddenly, we came upon a hatch into the rock. I thought we were on Lost. There didn't seem to be a way through. Our path to the lighthouse was blocked.

Cam consulted our handy guidebook and noted that the lighthouse would open at 12:30pm. Since Sam had had a friend spend the night the night before, we had gotten a slow start. It was nearly 11:30am so we didn't have long to wait.

The day had a bit of a military theme. Several old batteries are in the area. We decided to go explore one.


From the battery, Sam noticed a different trail leading up another ridge.




The drop off the edge was very dramatic and quite sheer. It felt like we were on top of the world.


There was the lighthouse.










There were more bunkers on top of the ridge. Sam enjoyed climbing around in them. The graffiti covering all of the accessible historical sites made it clear why the lighthouse was only open three hours a day.

Cam took this cool picture of me when he was down in the bunker with Sam. Interesting perspective.












We hiked a different way back down towards the bay and the lighthouse.





We walked through the hatch and waited our turn to cross the suspension bridge to the lighthouse.



Only two people (or three people if one is a child and the three of you weigh less than 500 lbs.) are allowed on the bridge at one time. They let the three of us cross together. Cam took this picture on our way back.







There wasn't a lot of room around the lighthouse from which to take a photo of a person standing next to it. We do have some shots of us near the lighthouse but this one is better than those.

Waiting to cross back to the mainland.

It was another lovely day in Marin.

We should do this more often.

On our first trip to Rodeo Beach, we had taken back roads through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to get there. When we went back with my parents, we took the Bunker Road exit off Hwy 101. This route took us by some turnouts with remarkable views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

We didn't stop on the way to the beach but the sun was setting on our way back home and the turnouts were too picturesque to resist. If you can believe it, there is one even closer to the bridge than this one. Maybe we'll go back some evening at sunset and take pictures from it.

I'm glad my parents were able to come to California to visit us and experience where we are living.



They brought me here as a child. It feels right to be bringing them here now.




One benefit of having my folks with us is having someone we know who is willing to take a picture of the three of us together.

Sam's getting pretty good at taking smooching ones.