Today’s feature event was a shore excursion to Muir Woods and then back to Sausalito. Our guide, usually a tour bus driver, knew a lot of history. He could answer questions although he was a little snarky. Maybe that comes from having to be quiet when he drives.
Muir Woods smelled so good, the way air is supposed to smell. We did the circle walk we’d done before.
The oldest redwood here is 1,200 years old. That’s not it.
Although the ancient redwoods in Muir Woods are intact, at one time a redwood forest covered the surrounding area, including San Francisco. Now, the closest similar forest is 100 miles away. It’s not protected. In the frenzy of logging that happened, how did Muir Woods survive? The area is surrounded by such steep terrain, it couldn’t be easily accessed. In the early 1900s, a handful of devoted naturalists managed to save the forest, no small feat once San Francisco burned to the ground in the 1906 Earthquake and building material was so desperately needed.
Isn’t this the perfect place to play? Or meet a bear!
We were so lucky to have a sunny day.
There was time to shop. I bought a small ironwood carved bear and a book about the woods.
We made a short stop in Sausalito. Why am I so obsessed with Sausalito? I hope to locate a book there. It’s much more difficult to write about an area where I’ve never lived and I wanted all the information I could get. I ran around taking pictures I missed yesterday. William Randolph Hearst had a house in Sausalito. His original plan was to build his castle there. The citizenry wasn’t particularly fond of his ideas, so he chose the more remote and less scrutinized San Simeon. I couldn’t find the remains of Hearst’s house, three large pillars on the hillside. But I was able to find the view he must have had.
Here’s the view, except Hearst’s was higher up.
I had time to stop in the bookstore behind the historical society I spotted yesterday. The clerk wasn’t interested in conversing until I started talking history. He recommended a book about Sausalito. He also told me the hardcover book I bought four years ago is valuable because it’s out of print. He is clinging to an old ratty copy he refuses to sell. I looked that book up on Amazon and it is out of print but people are selling used copies. I don’t think I’ll be able to live off the profits should I sell mine.
This turned out to be our first sunny day at sea. We observed the fickle fog as we departed.
For a while, we could only see the base of the bridge sticking out of the water.
By the time we went under, moments later, the fog had lifted completely.
Without the fog, I managed to spot a whale and lots of spouts once we got out to sea.
The show was good, a singer named Amy Jo Slater did an Adele tribute. I’m not modern. I didn’t know any of those songs. We ate late Italian.
One more good day! I think we’re even, 2½ to 2½. Hopefully, we’re done with bad days.