BONEY
04-26-2007, 06:16 PM
For the second time in less than a week I've been hijacked by the weather. Spring and fall are the "summer" season along the north coast. While the rest of California enjoys warm, sunny summers, the coast in and around San Francisco typically covers up in dense, cold fog. Only in the spring and fall do the beaches and coastal towns sun themselves.
Today was one of those days. I felt Highway 1 calling my name and there was no escaping it. Just like I couldn't get myself free from it's grasp a week ago when I awoke to warm sunny conditions- Not that I made any more effort to get out of the ride today than I did last week.
The early morning ride home from work typically starts with a cold, damp, and windy crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge. Spring brings us beautiful mornings for a few weeks (if that long), then we enjoy them again in the fall. While there was a little moisture in the air, it doesn't compare to the almost drizzle-like fog to be expected soon.
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/123-1/marin001.jpg
I found my way off the freeway and onto Highway 1 in southern Marin County and pointed myself toward the coast. This is the start of a particularly popular stretch of roads for the squids. They wind along the coast, in and out of every draw and aroud each ridge at speeds that make the LEO's drool with anticipation. If a person were to so desire, he or she could find at least two other ways over, around, and atop the adjacent Mout Tamalpais. If you own a mountain bike, this place is nirvana. Not that it's too bad on a motorcycle, if you know what I mean. :thumb
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/125-1/marin002.jpg
Here, we're looking west down the valley toward Muir Beach. You may find the roadway to look particularly familiar even if you have never been here. Why? It was used in the very highly regarded film Basic Instinct (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si4odxbpf_8). <-It probably hasn't been paved since then either.
It is the section that appears at the first part of this 5 minute video I put together of the roadway between here and Stinson Beach:
http://sjc-static4.sjc.youtube.com/vi/H5az5ZYvtfc/3.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5az5ZYvtfc)
Stinson beach is a very popular destination for the surfers (and the nudists!) beacuse of it's south facing beach's propensity to catch swells that originate in the Soth Pacific. But it also has the unfortunate quality of being in one of the busier parts of the "Red Triangle." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Redtrianglesharkplace.jpg) The "red triangle" claims responsibilty for a large portion of the reported shark attacks worldwide. The sharks found here are of the Great White variety, complete with big teeth and nasty dispositions. It's, dare I say common, to hear of someone getting bit at least once a year. If you like sharks, catch me in person and ask about my "shark story."
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/127-1/marin003.jpg
Stinson Beach is on the penninsula in the picture above, Bolinas Lagoon behind it to the right, with the Town of Bolinas on the bluff. One cannot travel by anything but boat between the two towns without going all the way around the Lagoon- And that's if you can find your way. The Bolinans (Bolinasites? Bolinistas?) have been known to remove any public indication of the roads that lead to their town. (They've really gotta hate GPS's and their wayfinding ability!)
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/129-1/marin004.jpg
Further up the road is the "real" reason for my trip. The Daily Muffin at Bovine Bakery. A destination for the weekend warrior crowd, today I can buy a cranberry/pear muffin and a coffee without having to battle the out-the-door line crowded with Lycra and leather clad cyclists. This place really makes a good muffin and everyone knows it. They just can't be here today. :D
Today was one of those days. I felt Highway 1 calling my name and there was no escaping it. Just like I couldn't get myself free from it's grasp a week ago when I awoke to warm sunny conditions- Not that I made any more effort to get out of the ride today than I did last week.
The early morning ride home from work typically starts with a cold, damp, and windy crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge. Spring brings us beautiful mornings for a few weeks (if that long), then we enjoy them again in the fall. While there was a little moisture in the air, it doesn't compare to the almost drizzle-like fog to be expected soon.
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/123-1/marin001.jpg
I found my way off the freeway and onto Highway 1 in southern Marin County and pointed myself toward the coast. This is the start of a particularly popular stretch of roads for the squids. They wind along the coast, in and out of every draw and aroud each ridge at speeds that make the LEO's drool with anticipation. If a person were to so desire, he or she could find at least two other ways over, around, and atop the adjacent Mout Tamalpais. If you own a mountain bike, this place is nirvana. Not that it's too bad on a motorcycle, if you know what I mean. :thumb
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/125-1/marin002.jpg
Here, we're looking west down the valley toward Muir Beach. You may find the roadway to look particularly familiar even if you have never been here. Why? It was used in the very highly regarded film Basic Instinct (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si4odxbpf_8). <-It probably hasn't been paved since then either.
It is the section that appears at the first part of this 5 minute video I put together of the roadway between here and Stinson Beach:
http://sjc-static4.sjc.youtube.com/vi/H5az5ZYvtfc/3.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5az5ZYvtfc)
Stinson beach is a very popular destination for the surfers (and the nudists!) beacuse of it's south facing beach's propensity to catch swells that originate in the Soth Pacific. But it also has the unfortunate quality of being in one of the busier parts of the "Red Triangle." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Redtrianglesharkplace.jpg) The "red triangle" claims responsibilty for a large portion of the reported shark attacks worldwide. The sharks found here are of the Great White variety, complete with big teeth and nasty dispositions. It's, dare I say common, to hear of someone getting bit at least once a year. If you like sharks, catch me in person and ask about my "shark story."
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/127-1/marin003.jpg
Stinson Beach is on the penninsula in the picture above, Bolinas Lagoon behind it to the right, with the Town of Bolinas on the bluff. One cannot travel by anything but boat between the two towns without going all the way around the Lagoon- And that's if you can find your way. The Bolinans (Bolinasites? Bolinistas?) have been known to remove any public indication of the roads that lead to their town. (They've really gotta hate GPS's and their wayfinding ability!)
http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/129-1/marin004.jpg
Further up the road is the "real" reason for my trip. The Daily Muffin at Bovine Bakery. A destination for the weekend warrior crowd, today I can buy a cranberry/pear muffin and a coffee without having to battle the out-the-door line crowded with Lycra and leather clad cyclists. This place really makes a good muffin and everyone knows it. They just can't be here today. :D