Lou and Dave felt the wine country calling them so they went their way for a couple of days while I headed for Sacramento. I didn't do much in Sacramento except go to the Crocker Art Museum. Founded in 1885, it is the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River. It specializes in Californian art.
After spending two weeks in the San Francisco area, it was time to move on. I think two weeks in one place is the longest I've ever camped anywhere. I didn't move very far, just a little bit up the coast to Point Reyes National Seashore. The drive was through Marin County, one of the prettiest places I've been to. Marin County is the 6th highest income per capita of all US counties and while that is impressive, it doesn't even come close to how impressive and beautiful the countryside is. There are mountains, there is the ocean and the climate, which is described as a Mediterranean climate, warm days- cool nights. Nestled among all this are the quaint towns which have a small-town feel. Of course, it ain't all sunshine and roses. The San Andreas Fault separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from the California mainland. I think there would be a high likelihood of Marin County falling into the ocean if the “big one” ever happens.
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| Look!! A carnation tree!!! |
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| When the 1906 San Francisco earthquake happened, it was felt in Point Reyes. Part of this fence was moved 16 feet to the right. |
We were lucky to be there during Elephant Seals pupping season. When the pups are born, they weigh about fifty pounds. After about six weeks, their moms leave them on their own. At this point, the pups have gained about 250 pounds. For the next four weeks, they lounge on the beach with all the other abandoned pups living off their fat until one day, they wake up and decide they are hungry enough to go into the ocean and fish. Remember, Mom has not taught them how to swim, how to fish but these brave little souls go for it. I was thrilled that while I was there, several of the pups decided it was time to head out to the ocean. They will stay out to sea for about nine months. Fun Fact: A group of seals is called a bob (also called a pod).
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| Here is a bob of pups lounging around in the sun |
The seals would go a few feet and then collapse and rest up a few minutes before they took off again. Once they got in the water, they were free from the constraints of gravity.
More random photos from the peninsula:
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| The Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 with a First Order Fresnel Lens. First Order means it is the biggest type of Fresnel Lens. There are 300 steps down to the lighthouse but the walkway was closed because of high winds. |
In 1862, Sarah married into the Winchester family – owners of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, home of “The Gun That Won The West”. When Sarah Winchester's husband died, she became immensely rich.
Back in our working days, Lou and I worked with a woman named Hongyu. She is an amazing woman, born in Mongolia, grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution and immigrated to the U.S. She has traveled extensively throughout the world on her own. I think she is one of the bravest women I've ever met. She now lives in the San Francisco area in a senior housing development called Rossmoor. This housing development has 10,000 residents and it's own zip code. Rossmoor is it's own city. She took us on a tour, fed us lunch. She taught us how to make spring rolls. I won't tell you how incredibly sloppy our spring rolls where compared to hers but it sure was fun to do.
The Conservatory of Flowers is the oldest building in Golden Gate Park as it was completed in 1879. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As you walk thru the Conservatory in your jeans and Tennies, I felt very under dressed. I should have been wearing a long Victorian dress complete with gloves and a parasol.
I am overjoyed that my traveling buddies Lou and Davey have met up with me again. Last time I saw them was in New Mexico when we spent a few weeks together. Now they are camped right next door to me. I think we are going to caravan together for a while at least until they get sick of me. Besides the fact that I'm happy to hang out with them, they have a fancy little car and they have been driving me into the city for which I am very grateful for. Little San Francisco streets are not made for big pickup trucks.
I'm moving north and made it to the San Francisco area. The majority of the campgrounds that are available are aways from downtown San Francisco which is where most of the sights I want to see are located. Depending on traffic, it is about a forty minute to over an hour drive into town. Speaking of traffic, I evidently have been out in the boonies for a while – I am finding myself overwhelmed by the amount of traffic in the area. I have found that SF drivers are very polite, merging into traffic is a breeze. Driving down the road – not so much. People are just way too much in a hurry.
I move up to Monterey, the home of the Monterey Pop Festival. I so wanted to be here in 1967 when the soundtrack of my life - Hendrix, Joplin and Redding among others - played here. This festival is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the “Summer of Love”. For many of us wannabes, this was the place to be.
I have arrived at the Pacific Ocean!! I am staying at another Elks Lodge in Oceano where the beach is a mere 800 feet from my campsite. I can't see the ocean, but when it is really quiet at night, I can hear it.
I have spent the last few months in various types of deserts. Yes, there are different types. From the scrubby New Mexico deserts to the hard-core sand deserts of southern Arizona to the sage brush type of desert of southeastern California, I have enjoyed experiencing each type. My plan was to continue up the east side of California, thru the Mojave Desert, into Death Valley. One morning I woke up and said 'Enough! I need to see trees and water.' I decide that I should head to the coast – see the ocean, find some greenery.
I made it to California!!! I've tried for several years to camp here and have always not quite made it. I'm here!!! I have a new state sticker on my Camping Map!!
Yes, yes, I know it is hard to believe but I have been to the Center of the World. But let us back up a bit.
The town of Felicity California was established in 1986 by Jacques-Andre Istel, who also became the mayor. Istel is considered to be the 'Father of American Skydiving, as he is considered to be widely responsible for popularizing parachuting in the US. I think he made his money in investment banking, I was told that the museum has received no grants of any sort, it is truly a labor of love. As far as I could see, the totality of the town consists of a main building, a few rental units and is on track to being considered as a World Heritage Site. Oh, and of course there is the gift shop. The museum consists of dozens of granite panels, gathered together in rows over 100 feet long. Each individual panel weighs over 500 pounds. Etched on the panels is a historical record of humanity as chronicled by Istel.
Istel named the town after his wife Felicia who is now 92 years old. She greeted me and gave me an introductory overview of the Museum. I have to say – she was a spry older woman – I had to run sometimes to keep up with her and she was sharp as a tack. She took me to a pyramid and unlocked the door. I was allowed to go inside and stand on a small circle which is the legal Center of the World. As I stood there, I looked thru the Museum up to a small chapel on a man made hill. I was told to make a wish and after Felicia carefully noted the time, I received a certificate saying that I had been to the Center of the World. I am allowed to come back at any time, with my certificate, and go to the Center of the World and make another wish.
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| How this became the LEGAL Center of the World |
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| Getting Ready To Enter The Pyramid |
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| And Here It Is!!! The Center of the World |
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| Looking up to the tiny chapel |
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| Looking Down From the Chapel |
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| There is a Rosetta Stone so that people or aliens in the future will be able to read the history of humanity |
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| One of panels in the Animals of the World section |
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| I think this row might have been all about the French Foreign Legion |
There were other sights to see:
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| An arm from Michelangelo's painting |
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| Actual steps from the actual Eiffel Tower. |
