Archive for December, 2008
Mount Hamilton
We set off at 6.30. The sky was beginning to lighten and it looked like it may be foggy up at Mount Hamilton. If you live in the Bay Area and have traveled on 101 you will have seen the white domes on top of the mountain range to the east.
Our route was north on 101 to Alum Rock Avenue. Once off 101 and driving past lots of small shops, we kept our eyes open for a Starbucks. We thought we would have to resort to a 7-11 because for the first few miles there was not a Starbucks sign to be seen. Eventually in Alum Rock Village we spotted the welcome sign ahead.
(Click on the images for larger versions)
The guy in front of us in the line asked for directions to Mount Hamilton. Maybe we will see him again up there.
After a refreshing coffee for Tom and a signature hot chocolate for me, we were on our way again. We turned off Alum Rock onto Highway 130 – Mount Hamilton Road – and immediately began to climb into the foothills. Before long, on our right, we had a view down into the Santa Clara Valley where a few lights still twinkled. The houses we passed became larger, some with impressive gateways with signs saying ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘No Parking’.
The road twists and turns. Sometimes we can see San Jose below us on the right. A sharp turn and the city was on our left hand side. We look up to the gently rolling hills and before long we are looking down on them.
I spotted lots of deer, mostly in groups of three, but there was one group of about 10. Tom pointed out a small group of wild turkeys just after as we passed the Joseph D Grant County Park sign. The road bisects the park and we pass several parking places where the trails begin. Another place we must explore one day.
Mount Hamilton, at over 4200 feet, is not only the highest point in the Diablo Range but also in the whole of the
Window and shadows
Bay Area. On top of Mount Hamilton is the Lick Observatory. The observatory is part of the University of California. It was built in 1888. James Lick was the wealthiest man in California when he died in 1876. He made the bulk of this money during the gold rush, not by finding gold but by selling real estate. In his will, the largest single bequest was for an astronomical observatory to be built and named after him.
There are very few places to pull over on the road. In fact at one point we passed a sign which said ‘Emergency Parking only for the next 15 Miles”. But we did pull over on a wide gravel patch so Tom could take some photos. From this spot we could see one of the observatories on top of the mountain. We still have some way to climb. While Tom snapped away I kept on writing. It is a beautiful spot. Just in front of us was a brown sign pointing to the Twin Gates Trailhead, so we must still be in the the Joseph D Grant County Park. We are surrounded by grassy slopes which are losing their summer brown and turning to winter green. There are lots of trees too which are losing there summer green and turning yellowy brown.
Last time we were on this road we nearly ran into a small group of wild pigs. There are a lot of them in these hills and they cause a lot of destruction when they root in the ground.
We pass a fire station on our right. A sign just after says ‘Mount Hamilton 7 Miles’, so still some way to go. The twists and turns became sharper. We passed another sign warning us that the road narrowed ahead and narrow it did.
Phew, we made it. What a fantastic drive though. It was quite an adventure. Even though we were only 20 miles from San Jose, it felt like we had driven half way across the country.
We parked outside the Visitors Center but there were no other cars around. The time is just 8 am and the Visitors Center was not open. The opening times are 12.30 – 5 Mondays to Fridays and from 10 – 5 on Saturdays and Sundays. The 120″ Shane reflector visitors gallery is open 10 – 5.
If you decide to visit Mount Hamilton be warned that it is usually windy up here. It is best to wear layers. Last time we visited it was unbearably windy and we could only stand being outside the car for a short period. This time, though it was still a bit windy, we were able to walk around the outside of the observatory. I don’t know exactly how many telescopes there are up here but there are quite a few separate buildings.
View from Mount Hamilton
The views all around are amazing. We could see the city of San Jose away in the distance. Over the whole valley there is a layer of early morning mist. In the far distance to the west is the Santa Cruz mountain range and to the north we can see St Bruno Mountain just to the south of San Fransisco. The city though is not visible. Maybe on a clear day it would be.
It felt as though we were on top of the world. Tom and I walked around, both of us taking photos. There are a number of domes here but it is difficult to ascertain just how many. I counted about five. Some of them are further down the hill.
There were a few interesting sights. A small bridge connecting to another building with a sign outside saying this was a dormitory building and to be quiet as there were people sleeping here both during the night and the day. The observatories are manned 24 hours a day. I spotted an interesting window on one side with a carving above it. Nearby was the Laurentine Hamilton Courtyard. I didn’t attempt to open the gate and walk inside but I could see a little garden and a bronze sculpture of a head. Presumably it is of Rev Lautentine Hamilton after whom Mount Hamilton is named. Overlooking the valley is a white stone bench. It is dedicated to Jeanne Meadows, who at 65 climbed to the top of Mount Hamilton six times on her bike. Nearby is a telescope and you can use it without having to put any money into it.
Our drive back down the hill was equally exciting as the drive up. This is a great place to bring visitors to the area and if you live nearby and have never visited then it’s about time you did.
December 29 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
After our early morning hike, we were hungry and set off from Big Basin Redwoods State Park to find
La Bruchetta Restaurant
breakfast. Our quest took us through Boulder Creek, Brookdale and Ben Lomond to Felton. Our first try was at Rockys Cafe on Highway 9 but not only was there quite a wait but the car park was full. We drove through Felton and discovered La Bruschetta at 5459 Highway 9. The big wood sign at the roadside said Felton Guild but underneath was a smaller sign for La Bruschetta which was difficult to read. Tom did spot though a banner which said breakfast, so we decided to give it a try.
The restaurant is a large wood building looking like an alpine lodge. According to another sign they also hold marriage ceremonies and have an outside cathedral.
In the front of the building is a large patio surrounded by plants and trees, In warm weather it would be a great place to eat. The entrance is very unusual. A large wooden sculpture of a naked woman sitting in the lotus position, with her eyes closed. To open the door you have to grab one of her arms and pull the heavy door towards you. (Going out you have to push one of her buttocks.)
Inside we were greeted by a young woman who told us we could site anywhere. We chose a table in the corner next to a big window looking out over the patio. This is not your typical diner at all – no booths and no stools at a counter. According to the menu it is an Italian restaurant – Sicilian to be exact – and it would be a great place for a romantic dinner.
Although they were not very busy when we arrived, the service was very slow. We had ample time to study the small selection offered for breakfast. Once again, no oatmeal offered. I’m beginning to suffer from withdrawal symptoms!
After a fifteen minute wait, Tom eventually got his coffee. All was forgive when he tasted it though because it was very good. I stuck to my usual glass of water.
The surroundings here are very pleasant. On the walls are black and white family portraits from long ago. Whether they were taken here or in Sicily was hard to determine. On each side of the door leading to the restroom were framed newspaper and magazine articles featuring the restaurant – all very complimentary of course.
One quaint touch to the deco are the murals on the walls that are executed to look like exposed brickwork and damp patches. The one facing you as you walk in through the font door is made to look as if you can see blue sky through the hole in the bricks.
Front door to La Bruchetta
Dotted around the place are various objects. On the wall are a huge wooden set of salad servers and three wooden artifacts which look like farming equipment. Near the counter a set of six plates with wooden knives and forms attached to the bottom making the plates look as if they are wearing bow ties. On the window next to us a small tiled plaque and a rack with four bottles of liquid containing fruits and herbs. The window sill behind me contained a small painted pottery watering can and a stained glass panel of an angel. Over the counter was a set of fairy lights which gave the place a slightly incongruous look.
We waited another 15 minutes before our order was taken. Tom ordered the asparagus omelet ($9.95) and for me pancakes ($6.95). I know, I know, pancakes are a strange choice for me but I just fancied some today.
I didn’t time exactly how long it took to get our food but it was twice as long as we would have liked. Admittedly the place had started to fill up but our server was rarely seen. We were not particularly impressed with our server. He had a slightly patronizing mien, as if he was doing us a favor. Finally, though, our food arrived. I was handed a large oval plate with three fluffy buttermilk pancakes covered in powdered sugar. As decoration there was a piece of water melon, a slice of cantaloupe topped with a slice of orange. Tom had the same decoration on his larger round plate. His omelet looked very attractive. In the omelet with the asparagus were tomatoes and parsley with melted mozzarella cheese on top. Also on the plate were fried potatoes and two small Italian sausages.
I asked for some syrup. The server said he would be right back. Five minutes later the syrup arrived. In the meantime we realized we did not have any silverware so couldn’t start eating. There was not a server in sight so in the end Tom took some silverware from the empty table behind us. When the syrup arrived Tom asked for some Tabasco sauce. We had another five minute wait for that. So far Tom had not received his toast so we were expecting to ask for that and have another long wait for it to arrive. As it turned out the toast arrived with the sauce. Now at last we can eat!
I’m no expert on pancakes but they tasted pretty good. Tom said the omelet was very good but the fried potatoes and the toast were barely warm.
Tom noticed a rather strange car pull into the car park. Could not see the make of the car but that was irrelevant. What drew the eye was the Smurfs stuck to the roof and hood – lots of them, big and small. Quite weird.
The restroom was unisex and though small sported two large pictures. One was a collage of Italian culinary herbs and the other an old fashioned sailing galleon made out of painted glass panels made to look like a stained glass window. There was a vase of potpourri on a small table in the corner. The sink looked like a clam shell. Lots of hot water and soap but the hand towel had run out. Had to dry my hands on a couple of toilet seat protectors. Not very satisfactory as the first one completely disintegrated.
Now to our verdict. The food and coffee was excellent and the surroundings very pleasant. It was just a pity the service was so slow.
December 16 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
By 7 am we were on the road heading for the Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We took Highway 85 and turned left on Saratoga Avenue. Just before we reached Saratoga, we picked up Highway 9. Saratoga is a cute town with lots of nice restaurants but not much happening there early this morning. We saw one dog walker and a gentleman who just picked up a paper from the newsstand.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Soon we were through the town and started to climb. The road was steep and twisty This is a favorite route for mountain bikers and even that early there were a few already heading uphill. It is a magnificent drive through trees with the occasional glimpses of craggy peaks. Occasionally there would be distant, hazy views over to the East Bay. Brown leaves lined the sides of the roads. Every so often I would spot a large house built on a hilltop. They must have some magnificent views from their commanding position.
The scenery changes slightly when we crossed Skyline Blvd. The views were now mainly westwards, down to scenic valleys. We drove through Castle Rock State Park though I saw no signs telling me so. There is a brilliant hike in the park. To reach it drive south on Skyline Blvd for about 2 miles from the junction of Highway 9.
We turned onto Highway 236 and passed a sign saying Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The Visitors Center is a further nine miles away up a narrow, very twisty road between some very large redwoods. There are even more wonderful views. Shafts of bright sunlight pierced through the trees.
Rounding a large redwood we turned in to the Visitors Center and parked the car. The only other car there was a Ranger’s pick up truck and he was busy emptying bins. As the Visitors Center was closed, we put the $7 fee ($6 for over 62) into an envelope and deposited it in the appropriate place.
Following the directions for Hike number 5 in ‘60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of San Francisco‘ by Jane Huber, we
looked for the Campfire Center. The first part of the hike was on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. This trail is 30 miles long. It starts at Castle Rock Ridge near Skyline Blvd, bisects the park, and ends at Waddell Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Almost immediately we were surrounded by tall redwoods. We crossed a wooden bridge over Opal Creek. Tom had already stopped to take photos. I wondered into a small clearing where a huge redwood lay on the ground. The only sound I heard was the faint tap tap tapping of a woodpecker. Try as I might I could not spot it.
The further we walked, the deeper the silence. Though it was only 46 degrees, there was no wind at all. Hardly anything moved. The sun was shining but it was a shady walk. The tall redwoods with their spreading canopies many feet up kept the sun hidden but every so often there would be a break and its warming rays not only gave light but also shafts of sunlight spearing through the tree trunks.
We took the Dool Trail for a bit and then turned onto the Sunset Trail. The trail eventually leads to a couple of waterfalls but it is a long walk and we don’t plan to walk that far today. The falls are probably dry anyway.
The trail rose steadily and every so often Tom would stop to take photos. He was taking long exposure shots. The lack of wind and therefore movement makes this the ideal choice. While he took photos, I stood and drank in the beauty of my surroundings. Craning my neck, I strained to see the top of the redwoods. So far up are they that I feel very small. Standing totally still in complete solitude, the silence was deafening.
Redwoods are amazing trees. They can be several hundred years old, over 300 feet high and are the tallest trees in the world. They are fairly resistant to fire. I read somewhere of one tree which caught fire and the core burnt for 14months but it is still standing. Walking on the hike we saw a lot of fire damage to the trees but most of the trees were not only still standing but living. Fire is very necessary though for the seeds to germinate. The cones are amazingly small though. It is hard to imagine how they can produce such immense trees.
At one point we heard a lot of birds making alarm sounds. Something was obviously worrying them but we couldn’t see the birds or whatever it was that was causing them to be upset. We also heard another animal noise which we later realized was made by a squirrel. We discovered this because as I rounded a corner I disturbed a gray squirrel on a nearly tree trunk and it made the same noise. Tom swears this squirrel was bigger than the ones in our garden and it’s ears were more pointed.
We cut the walk short by taking a connecting trail back to the Skyline to the Sea Trail and made our way downhill to the car park. We did not see anybody else the whole while we were on the walk. There were several other cars parked when we arrived back at our car and one couple were just setting off for their walk.
We really enjoyed our short, early morning hike among the Big Basin Redwoods but it was time to go and look for breakfast.
December 12 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
We planned to go and see a movie and wanted to see ‘Milk’ with Sean Penn, which opened on Wednesday, but it is not in local movie theaters yet. It is playing in San Francisco though so, on the spur of the moment, we decided to go up to the city. It was playing in several locations up there but we picked The Castro Theater on Castro Street – the very place which is featured heavily in the film.
For those of you who have never heard of the main character – Harvey Milk – (and I certainly hadn’t heard of him until I came to live in California), I will enlighten you. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in the USA. He, along with Mayor George Moscone, were assassinated by another elected official named Dan White in 1978. It was a very sad and painful time for San Francisco. The Castro is the center of the gay movement in San Francisco.
The first showing was at 10 a.m. and we arrived in Castro Street at 9.30. Already there was a line outside the theater and it took us ages to find a parking place. We bought tickets for the later performance at 1 p.m. and decided to explore the neighborhood. First of all though we found somewhere for breakfast.
After breakfast, we returned to Collingwood Street where we’d parked the car to get Tom’s camera. From there we continued up the hill and turned left on 20th. No two houses look the same and most of them are really pretty. Two smaller houses had gardens instead of the usual flight of stairs up to the front door and these gardens had flowers in them. The first of them had several different types of roses and one of them smelt gorgeous.
At the junction with Castro Street, we turned left and walked down the hill. Here we were still walking past residential houses. One on the other side of the road particularly caught my attention as it was painted a lovely shade of navy with the windows painted white. Opposite though was a semi detached in need of a little care and attention but they had one endearing feature – each had three front doors.
The shops started when we crossed 19th. The very first one was the Buffalo Whole Food and Grain Company and was a grocery store with brightly colored fresh fruit on display outside. I don’t intend to list every shop but I will mention those which caught my eye. I did go into Pro Plus – which is mini post office and sells stationery – to buy a small notebook because I’d left mine at home. Now at last I could start writing notes. On this block is Luna where Tom and I had breakfast earlier. One interesting shop further along, called Whatever, had an eye catching window display of retro toys, especially super heroes like Superman, Wonder Women, Hulk and the Flesh Eating Zombies, to name but a few.
As this is The Castro, there are a lot of shops displaying sexually explicit items and clothing. It all adds to the charm of the place.
Dolma, which sells Himalayan gifts and handicrafts, confused me a bit. I thought the window display contained sweets. What confused me were some smooth pebbles in a basket which looked like candy to me at first glance and in the basket nearby were some orange packages which looked just like a brand of nougat I’m fond off. On closer inspection they turned out to be incense! Under One Roof had a marvelous display of brightly colored fish, jelly fish and sea horses suspended from the ceiling.
Between 18th Street and Market the only shops which made me stop and look in were A. G. Farrari – fine Italian grocer since 1919 and Louie’s barber shop.
I waited at the end of Castro Street for Tom to catch me up and looked around. Market Street was bustling
and an old green trolley squealed round 17th onto Market. Behind me the huge rainbow flag fluttered in the breeze. I noticed the gas station across the street was selling gas from $1.87 a gallon, To think that two months ago it was selling for over $4 a gallon. It was fun to watch everybody walking by. This is really a nice neighborhood and it is a pleasure to walk around it. I don’t feel threatened at all.
When Tom caught up with me and taken a few photos, we crossed over and walked down the other side of Castro Street. On the corner is Twin Peaks which is a cocktail bar. Here it is only 11.10 and already the place is crowded. Further down is The Bead Store with some beautiful beaded model statues in the window. Next door but one is Castro Cheesery. Even though I pressed my face to the window and glanced in the door I could see no sign of any cheese for sale. There was lots of coffee though.
Then we came to the Castro Theater. This is a wonderful building built in 1922 and still going strong. It fits in so well with the area with its huge highly decorated awning and it’s enormous neon sign. It is the last remaining single screen movie theater in San Francisco and proud of it. More about the inside later though.
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December 07 2008 | Neighborhoods | 1 Comment »
I didn’t expect to be writing a breakfast blog today. We set out to see a movie but the only place it was
showing was in San Francisco. So here we were in the Castro, hungry and looking for breakfast.
We chose Luna which is more of a lunch/dinner sort of place but they do brunch as well. Just inside the door is a padded bench seat with a sign on it indicating that we should make our way to the garden at the back. The corridor is wide with a tiled floor and lined with pictures, mostly classy nudes.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Up some wooden stairs, we see the seating area in front of us. Only one other table was occupied. We were greeted by a young man who told us to pick a table. Difficult choice. I picked one table but the sun was in Tom’s eyes. Our second choice was perfect.
The breakfast menu is limited and no oatmeal. Tom chose Dutch Eggs ($12.50) and my choice was Granola ($6.25).
This is a real funky place. Black stained wooden floorboards, black wooden tables and chairs with chrome legs and green, padded seats with gold studs. The restaurant is set in the back garden of an old house. The area is tented with a trellis on one side and, on the other side, clear plastic sheeting round a small garden, complete with a statue. The patio is heated so it is warm and cozy. Soft Spanish music plays in the background. Adorning the walls are a variety of glass and wrought iron lanterns On the table, the silverware is heavy stainless steel and modern in design. All is very pleasing.
Our food arrived quickly. Mine was very colorful – golden granola with slices of bright red strawberries on top in a big round shallow bowl A china bowl of yogurt was served separately. Tom’s Dutch Eggs looked delicious – two poached eggs on top of smoked salmon which in turn were on two halves of an English Muffin and covered in hollandaise sauce. It was served with fried potatoes and a leafy salad. Tom’s verdict was that it would have been perfect if the eggs were a little less runny and the English Muffin was a little warmer. I really enjoyed my granola.
Tom and I were both using our Kindles. Tom was reading the New York Times and I was writing notes. As I said at the beginning, I was not expecting to write anything today so didn’t have my notebook. I was using my Kindle to write notes though. It was very laborious but, without anything to write on, it was the best I could do. Our server was very interested in our Kindles and we were happy to extol its virtues. Another convert maybe?
No report on the restroom I’m afraid. I did try but the door was locked. I waited for about ten minutes but nobody came out so I gave up.
As for our verdict, it is a bit pricey but we would certainly come back again if we are ever in The Castro at breakfast time.
December 05 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
After our walk at Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, we decided to drive into Menlo Park for breakfast. We’d heard that the Flea Street Cafe on Alameda De Las Pulgas served Sunday brunch but when we arrived at the restaurant we found it closed. On Sundays it only opens at 5.30 for dinner.
We ended up in downtown Menlo Park and dropped into Keplers Bookshop for a paper. Right outside is Cafe Barrone where breakfast was being served but it was crowded. Almost next door was the BBC – which stands for British Bankers Club. Originally it was the American Trust and Savings Bank. It was built in 1922. Later it became Menlo Park’s city hall, police department and jail and the public library was upstairs. It is on the corner of El Camino Real and Santa Cruz. The sign outside said brunch but there was nobody eating. I won’t say the place was empty. It is a sports bar and at least three televisions were showing different football games. The noisiest group were upstairs watching the Cleveland/Houston game.
We had our choice of tables and chose one in the window. No booths here but there are stools at the counter for bar drinkers. All the tables and chairs are wooden and have linen tablecloths and napkins so that was a plus.
The whole place was large but dark because it was primarily a bar I guess . It still retained the wood paneling from the former bank so there was a lot of dark wood around and gold railings. I could see one picture on the wall. It looked like an old fashioned oil painting as it was in a gold frame but I think it was just a print. The main decoration as such were the large screen televisions.
The menu is not extensive and features such items as fish and chips and quesadillas. No oatmeal of course. I choose a three egg bacon, avocado and cheese omlette with hash browns and toast ($9). Tom chose Eggs Benedict ($10).
Tom sat and read the Financial times. He said it made for depressing reading. The economic situation can only get worse. Let’s hope breakfast cheers us up.
As they were not busy, our food was very prompt. Both dishes came on really large plates. My omlette was stuffed with bits of bacon and at least half an avocado. The hash browns were not that at all. More like cubes of fried potatoes but they were cooked with red and green bell peppers and onions. Nice but a bit greasy. There was an attractive decoration of a few cubes of fresh fruit, comprising of melon, pineapple and grapes, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There was just one slice of toast, but, to their credit, the toast had not been buttered and a pat of butter plus two containers of packaged preserves were also on the plate.
I did enjoy the omlette and ate it all up but left half the hash browns. Tom’s Eggs Benedict was OK but his English Muffin was under toasted and cold. The coffee was good.
The restrooms are upstairs and I had to pass the noisy football watchers. The restrooms were also a bit gloomy, especially the small lobby outside and the cubicles. I’m sure the place was once quite grand but it’s a bit run down now. There were three pictures on the wall and a huge gilt framed mirror. By the sink were some burgundy knick knacks – a soap dish without any soap, a small vase without any flowers, a perfume bottle without any scent and a tissue holder without any tissues. There was also a large artificial arrangement of flowers. At least an attempt had been made. The water was only lukewarm but the place smelt nice.
Would we come here again? Hmmm…. The food was OK, our table in the window was nice and bright but it was very noisy. Maybe we would give it a try again in the middle of summer when there are no football games.
December 03 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
This morning it was foggy but we still decided to go on the hike we had planned at the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. You may not know where this is so I will explain. At the southern end of the San Francisco Bay there are a lot of salt ponds owned by Cargill Salt. These salt ponds attract a lot of seabirds and the wildlife refuge was set up to protect these wetlands and wildlife. There are two places to access Don Edwards, one on the peninsula at Alviso and one on the east bay just to the south of the Dumbarton Bridge. Our expedition today is to the latter. (Click on the images for larger versions)
It is a great place to visit at any time of the year. Be careful though during the spring nesting season because the parent birds are likely to dive bomb you. Today we are hoping to see flocks of birds gathering in preparation for their winter migration.
Our route took us on Highway 87 to 101. Surprisingly the fog had dispersed over downtown San Jose and there was the sun. The temperature though remained at 46 degrees. Passing Moffat Field the sun was still shining but it was hazy. Could not see the east side of the bay at all. Come on now, haze is for the summer time and we are now officially into winter time.
We turned off 101 onto University, driving past Ikea and then through East Palo Alto towards the Dumbarton Bridge. This area used to be really run down but it is slowly improving.
The fog appeareard again. As we turned onto Highway 84, we entered the mist. The bridge was shrouded but as we drove over the top of the bridge the sun was visible to my right. Back on lower ground and the fog was thick but I could see the salt ponds as we get closer. No birds though, Maybe they had already migrated.
We were surprised to find so many cars in the Visitors’ Center car park when we arrived. Lots of folks must have had the same urge to be outside. The Visitors’ Center is open Tuesdays to Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.
We started walking on the Tidelands Trail. Since our last visit, which must have been at least two years ago, there had been quite a few changes. Along the first part of the trail, some of the plants have been identified with precise and interesting descriptions. The Learning Center has also been much improved.
Just before we turned onto the wooden boardwalk we met another photographer who had already taken quite a few shots and he proudly showed us some. They were good.
Apart from the regular boom of the fog horn and the distant sound of the traffic crossing the bridge, all was quiet. All the large bolts on the boardwalk posts were shrouded in cobwebs and covered in droplets of water. Very pretty I stood and gazed into the water. It was murky and moving very slowly. An occasional bubble rose the surface.
Ahead I saw Great White Egret standing on the bank. It was beautiful. Slowly it moved, reaching out its neck. I stood and watched, fascinated and hardly daring to move myself so it was not disturbed, though I’m sure it knew I was there. Eventually it flew away, gliding majestically over the boardwalk.
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December 01 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
