After a long season of working 16-hour days in my family's thistle orchards, Pappy would finally let me and my 21 siblings take a day off, and we'd gather 'round a pan of Mama's corn pone and a pot of steaming thistle stew and enjoy each other's company without worrying which of us wouldn't survive the harsh Kansa-homa Winter.
The best parts of the harvest festival have been kept alive with Slide Ranch's annual Harvest Celebration. Sure, there's not as much dysentary, and you can milk goats instead of the traditional prairie marmot, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more authentic harvest celebration this side of Amish country.
On Saturday, October 10th from 10am to 4pm, come to Slide Ranch for:
Scarecrow making - Now in my day, we used witchcraft to transform disobedient children into statues, but I understand these will be made primarily from straw. (Sigh) Simpler times...
Wool spinning - In addition to spinning wool for clothes, we'd also spin sheep for entertainment. You'd get the sheep as dizzy as possible and then race them across the barn. Then you'd eat the loser. And the winner. We were hungry in those days.
Relaxing in the garden - A lot of people think that we didn't know the meaning of the word "relax," and that's not true. We just defined it differently: "the time between when your heart stops beating, and your body finishes decomposing."
Coastal hikes - If by hikes you mean back-breaking work, and by coastal you mean in the thistle orchard, then yes, we did go on coastal hikes.
Great live music - I was actually a classically trained jug-blower and washboard player back in the day. I had ambitions to go pro until a giant tumbleweed came and destroyed the local symphony.
Now, the bad news is that it does cost money: $20 a head in advance, or $25 at the gate. $75 for families of 4 or more.
But the good news is kids two and under get in for free, as opposed in my day, when kids under two would have to work the fields for 16 hours at a time. And if they complained? No thistle stew for them that night!
So come on down to the Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration. Marvel at nature's bounty, and be grateful you don't live in a era when you actually have to live with her as your cruel, cruel mistress.
Because of the positive response to the surfing post (read: I liked it) I've decided to do a post on surfing's "ginger-haired cousin," windsurfing.
Windsurfing is what you get when you take a yacht club and overrun it with beach bum hippies. After a long night of partying, a surfboard with a sail stuck on it might be the end result. And like all hybrids, windsurfing is something of an outcast. It's got one hand on a sail and one foot on a board and no one to eat with at lunchtime.
But untold wonders await you if you choose to pursue a relationship with this awkward sport.
This video features "loops, aerials, waveriding, spocks, flakas, and jibes." I figure if it's it's this amazing to watch, it must be even better to actually do it.
Now, I have some good news and bad news for you about windsurfing in West Marin. First, the bad news: you can't really do it there as a beginner. The conditions aren't too beginner-friendly (read: you will die) and as a result there aren't really any windsurfing shops in the area doing rentals and lessons.
But here's the good news: there's a really great place to do it that's pretty nearby and it's cheap. The Cal Sailing Club in Berkeley is a non-profit organization that gives windsurfing lessons every Saturday at 10:30am.
$69 buys you a three month membership, which covers all-you-can-eat rentals and lessons. Plus, if you're a student or a senior, it's only $65 and you can take your savings down to The Cheeseboard for one excellent slice of pizza.
Tangential gush: since you're already down in Berkeley, you might as well make a day of it and grab a bite to eat there, and the Cheeseboard is a good a place to do it as any. They only make one type of pizza a day and it's always thoughtfully composed, vegetarian, and really, really good. A past creation: "Fresh Bell Pepper and Onions, Feta and Mozzarella Cheeses, Kalamata Olive Tapenade and Italian Parsley." Do it. You deserve it after learning how to windsurf.
If you still want to get on the water but don't feel like forking over any money, the Cal Sailing Club also has a bunch of free sailing days where CSC volunteers introduce people to the joys of sailing.
I'm not saying you have to make sailing or windsurfing your new life mission (or more realistically, make getting water up your nose your new hobby), but there's something magical about learning to do something that you never thought you were capable of. All of a sudden your life floods with possibilities. You've transformed from the person who reads a real estate blog on the Internet into a person who can do this:
Surfing. One of the Left Coast’s great pastimes. Daunting,
yes, but rewarding? Doubly so. I can understand the apprehension that might
come along with a first surfing lesson, but if you’re willing to overcome your
hesitation, there’s an incredible world that awaits you.
Fact: Surfing will make you cooler.
It doesn’t matter how old you are. You + surfing = cooler
you. The amount of coolness-increase you experience is, however, at least
loosely correlated to how well you surf. In other words, if you spend all day
eating waves, you might now achieve your maximum coolness. Practice, makes
perfect.
Myth: Surfing is the most dangerous sport ever.
There are many more dangerous sports than surfing,
especially if you consider competitive Russian roulette a sport. Seriously
though, you have a far better chance of getting into a car accident than you do
having a shark attack you. Is that comforting? That was meant to be comforting.
Fact: Riding a wave is the best feeling in the world.
There is a downside to this, namely that other important
events such as your wedding day, the birth of a child, or winning the lottery
will pale in comparison. However,
most surfers find the trade worthwhile.
Myth: Surfing is the heroin of sports.
In most important aspects, this is not true.
Fact: Surfing might make you talk like a surfer
It might also turn you into a member of the Beach Boys. This
was more desirable several decades ago.
Myth: Humans are the only animals that surf.
As we have learned from animated documentaries, both
penguins and chickens are also able to surf.
Fact: If a penguin challenges you to surf, it will win.
Don’t surf against penguins until you’re very confident in
your surfing abilities, and have a large bucket of small fish to distract them
with.
Myth: Surfing is expensive.
Aside from the aforementioned bucket of fish, there are very
few costs to surfing. Oceans are free, and you can rent a board and a wetsuit
from Bolinas Surf Shop for about $25. A group lesson, a greatidea for a first timer, is about $50.
So basically, you need to get out there and try. It’s
nothing short of the best thing you’ll ever do in your life. Ever.
But what happens when you're all set to sunbathe at the beach only to find that it's overcast, windy, and a hair above freezing?
I found myself in the same situation just last week, and rather than bemoan the fact that Muir Beach wasn't Waikiki (or after our teeth were chattering too much to bemoan effectively), my friends and I hunkered down and created a memorable experience for ourselves. Here's how to make the most of your cloudy beach day:
1. There's no such thing as bad weather... ...only bad clothing. Bring layers. And layers. And a few more layers on top of that. Wrapping yourself in towels and blankets only adds to the sense of adventure, especially if you and your friends/family look slightly ridiculous. Being prepared for the coldest that Mother Nature has to offer goes a long way to making the trip a happy memory instead of a traumatic one.
2. Food, glorious food. The only thing worse than being cold is being cold and hungry. Go into survival mode by packing an assortment of delicious snacks, treats, and drinks. Sandwiches? Check. Bag of cookies? Double check. Thermos of hot, life-sustaining coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? Check plus. Food = energy = you keeping your body heat up and not freezing to death. And it's delicious. So eat something, you're all skin and bones.
3. Capture the moment. Cloudy days offer some of the greatest photo opportunities because you don't have to deal with the hassle of shadows. Set the white balance on your camera to cloudy (a picture of a cloud) and start walking the beach, bundled up in blankets, well-fed, and looking for adventure.
4. Fire good! [Disclaimer: the only beach that I know you can have fires at is Muir Beach, and only in the designated fire rings. All other beaches follow a strict "fire bad" policy, just like Frankenstein's monster.]
Our cro-magnon ancestors had it right: fire good. In fact, fire very good. So bring a bundle of logs to a fire pit and bask in the loving glow of its warmth. Roast marshmallows, char processed meat on sticks, and be grateful for having a roof over your head whenever you want one.
5. Wind good!
Instead of being whipped around by the wind's cold chill, harness its awesome power for your own entertainment! Take the old kite for a spin and rejoice in the child-like wonder that ensues.
It's very nice to spend a day at the beach relaxing under the summer sun, tanning and burning ourselves to our hearts' content. But ask yourself: how many different times can you actually remember spending a perfect day at the beach? If you're like me, all those cloudless, sunny days have started to blur together, and while pleasurable, adding one more to the mix isn't necessarily going to stand out in your memories.
But a day under the clouds, watching the cold waves lap at the shore while you sip hot chocolate around a fire you built, huddled with friends and family, wrapped in an assortment of blankets and towels-- now that's a day worth remembering for years to come.
There are harder races, longer races, and bigger races in the world, but the Dipsea has a certain magnetic appeal that's hard to beat. Because the race gives head-starts depending on age, there have been winners from the ages of 9 to 70.
It features 675 stairs in the first mile, and an altitude gain of 2200 feet over the 7-mile course.
Even more interesting, shortcuts are allowed, and at several points in the race, runners must decide between forking paths, weighing the pros and cons of both. The race has an intoxicating mix of strategy, luck, and tradition, all while experiencing the most painful exhaustion and enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.
If you're free on the morning of 14th, stop by the finish line at the Stinson Beach parking lot. The race starts at 8:30 AM, so within an hour you'll get to see some of the happiest people on the verge of collapse ever. By the smiles on their weary faces you'll know that they'll be back next year. You should be too.
If you're in West Marin, you may hear whisperings of a mythic town that time forgot. A town that really enjoys its unique and insular character. A town that revels in its own eccentricities and tears down the signs that would direct a tourist there. Bolinas is not for everyone (and possibly not for you), but that's a large part of the allure. Who wouldn't want to be part of a club that doesn't want to have you for a member? Playing hard to get is a powerful thing, and the more Bolinas says, "betcha can't find me," the more I'm drawn to it.
Since Bolinas's pull is undeniable, and locals are not known for their love of outsiders, the best I can do is to give you a few tips that might help you make the most of your trip without ruffling any feathers.
1. Try passing for a local. Naturally, this is a risky move, as with a population of 2,500, any real locals would spot you for the outsider that you are and shake their heads. That being said, if you're willing to take the risk, I recommend tie-dye, facial hair, and essential oils. Bolinas is a town that celebrates oddballs, so the more conspicuous you look, the better you could blend in. Confidence could go a long way. Try velvet purple pants and an invisible dog on a leash.
2. Don't go to Bolinas. This is a pretty safe bet. Upsides include knowing that you'll survive your trip to West Marin without feeling like an outsider. Downsides include not getting to enjoy a plate of mahi-mahi fish and chips, Marin Sun Burgers, and fresh oysters at the Coast Cafe.
3. Avoid everyone who's been there longer than you. I like to think of Bolinas residents as bears: they're probably more afraid of you than you are of them. Give 'em a wide birth and you'll be alright. Grab a loaf of fresh bread, a hunk of artisan cheese and some bottles of organic juice from the Bolinas People's Store and hit the Palomarin trailhead. The gorgeous Alamere Falls awaits you. Just make sure to pack out your trash.
4. Be respectful. Bolinas is a privilege, not a right. Just because you found the town despite the residents' best efforts doesn't automatically mean you deserve to enjoy its beach, food, and atmosphere. You have to show that you're not the kind of Abercombie wearin', iPhone usin', uncouth out-of-towners that they've tried to protect themselves against. Just pick up a copy of "The Bolinas Hearsay News," and enjoy the area the way you'd want tourists to enjoy your quirky, picturesque hometown.
Whether you are lucky enough to live here or are just planning a visit, September is a great time to be at Seadrift.
Both
Minke and humpback whales were seen off Stinson Beach last weekend.
They are a bit early this year, but what better way to watch whales
then from the beach?
This weekend, Sunday, September 14th you can make the short drive up
to Inverness and join in the annual Piper on the Ridge. Bring an
evening picnic and a few dollars to "pay the piper" and enjoy the
sunset and moon rise on beautiful Mount Vision. The parking lot at the
top of Mount Vision Road is where you'll park. The trail to the top is
moderate and you WILL want to bring a flashlight. While the walk up is
easy, walking down in the dark is much better when you have a
flashlight (or better yet a headlamp). Take it from someone who has
tried it in the dark.
Saturday, September 20th is annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Join your
friends at your favorite beach and help take care of our environment.
The monkey flowers, Marin County's late-blooming flowers are showing on Mt. Tamalpais now. On the lower slopes you'll see the Seep-Springs Monkey Flower, higher on the rocky slopes you can spot the orange Sticky Monkey Flower.
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