Golden Gate Bridge

This past Sunday, we drove to San Francisco to visit Fort Point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Point,_San_Francisco) and ride our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was an eight mile trip - but it was uphill most of the way!  At least it seemed that way!  We had lunch in Sausalito and took the ferry back – all in all a pretty long day.  Here are some shots in the fort.

 

Of course I make friends everywhere I go. 

 

Here is his impression of a turkey.

 

We had some good views of the bridge from below, despite the fog.

 

And here it is from the other side.

 

Here is a view of the city and Alcatraz from Sausalito.

We also visited Armstrong Woods (Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve), one of my favorite places in Northern California (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450 and http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22257).

We visit there every time we are out this way.  The woods is host to an 805 acre grove of coast redwoods, which range from southern Oregon to central California, extending not more than fifty miles inland - only as far as the coastal climate has its influence.  The coast redwood is the tallest living thing on our planet!  They live to be 500-1,000 years old, grow to a diameter of 12-16 feet, and stand from 200-250 feet tall. Some trees survive to over 2,000 years and tower above 350 feet.

One of the reasons I love it there, beside the natural beauty, is the quiet.  It is so quiet; you can almost hear your heart beating.  The stillness can be deafening!

Here I am in front of one of the tallest trees.