West Marin's Greatest Hits

This Boston Globe article by Jonathan Levitt does a great job of capturing the spirit of West Marin as seen by a visitor.

Levitt's first recommendation is to pick up some artisan cheeses made by the Cowgirl Creamery at Tomales Bay Foods. The cheeses feature milk from another great local vendor, Straus Family Dairy.

Cowgirl Creamery's signature cheese, Mt. Tam. Photo courtesy of Cowgirl Creamery. Drool courtesy of you.

If you haven't gotten enough cheese through simply buying and consuming it, you'll no doubt want to get the most out of your creamery experience and sign up for a tour. I can assure you that unlike watching a sausage being made, watching cheese being made only enhances your enjoyment of the food afterward. Book in advance here to ensure that the tour doesn't get sold out, lest you spend the rest of your days weeping, wondering what might've been.

Now, devoted readers of this blog are well-acquainted with the people who won't go anywhere unless there are oysters present. You know who you are. With that in mind, next on Levitt's list of greatest hits is Drakes Bay Oyster Farms. To put it mildy, yes, there are oysters there. Fresh, clean, delicious oysters. Buy a net-full from Kevin the owner, sit on the shore at the edge of the continent with the rest of California at your back, and get to shucking.

The last of Levitt's picks that I need to mention is the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. If you've ever thought to yourself, "I love working on farms and Zen meditation, but I can never seem to do both in the same location," then this place might be for you.

GGFZC (clearly not named with its acronym in mind) puts on a slew of programs as diverse as the basics of bread making and the basics of composting, though presumably not at the same time.

There's a cool meditation/lecture/lunch program every Sunday that seems like a good deal for its suggested donation of $13. Side note: I'm pretty sure monks study kung fu so their suggestions of donations can hold a little more weight. As a rule, I usually listen to the suggestion of most people who can kill me five ways with two fingers.

So, tea ceremonies, cheese tours, and bivalves. And I didn't even cover half of Levitt's highlights. There's a great big world out there. Better start sharpening your oyster knife.

Cloudy Days and Beach Days

There's a lot to love about the West Marin coastline: it's gorgeous, great for surfing, and has more varieties of birds than you can shake a telephoto lens at.

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.

Bolinas Beckons - Will You Answer Its Call?

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.

Biking on the Ridge

Guest blogger and Seadrift visitor Clint Graves forwarded this photo to us. Bicycling is a favorite pastime of his while visiting Seadrift.

You can see the Seadrift homes and lagoons below him.
 

Summer is Here

The beginning of the summer started at 4:59 pm PDT on last Friday, June 20th. Fire danger is still high so please be extra careful.

If you're heading to the beach, the Marin County Parks and Open Space rangers will lead a guided walk "Wildflowers and Wildlife of Bull Point" on Thursday, June 26th between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. The trailhead is in Point Reyes, off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard before the North Beach turnoff. This is a great location to see burrowing owls and rare plants!

June 21st was also the start of the Marin Farmers Market in Point Reyes Station, a short drive north from Stinson. Wonderful local meats and produce (don't forget the cheese!) as well as yummy GBD (Golden Brown and Delicious) sandwiches made to order by Christian.

Watching the movie The Fog (filmed partially here in Stinson) may be your only encounter with the cold since it looks like we're in for another fabulous weekend weather-wise.

Prehistoric Brown Pelican of Bolinas

As we approach the longest day of the year, the sight of one of our favorite birds flying in formation fills the skies. The Brown Pelican is one of those few prehistoric looking creatures remaining in today’s world. These large, ungainly birds are a marvel to watch as they zero in on fish in the ocean or Bolinas Lagoon. Amazing how they can spot their dinner from hundreds of feet in the air, angle down and dive out of the sky into the water to fill their pouch with a a school of herring or other small fish! These wonderful birds fly between our Lagoon and the Sea of Cortez and other Mexican spots. Look for them on the remnants of the old dredge in the Bolinas Lagoon or sunning on Kent Island – they are magnificent!

Spring in Stinson

April on the Steep Ravine Trail, photo by David Fox
(click to enlarge)

Spring in Stinson Beach is in full swing with green hills, great waves and wildflowers everywhere. It is the best time of year to explore the wonderful trails that surround the Stinson Beach and Bolinas communities.

Zigadenus, photo by Stephen Lea
(click to enlarge)

One of the many trails that offer amazing views of the ocean as well as wonderful forest paths, is the Steep Ravine Trail. Easy to access at the Pantoll Ranger Station on Mt. Tamalpais, it will take you through the Redwood Forest, with waterfalls still flowing for that perfect cooling touch to a warm hike.

Look for the beautiful Zigadene Lily wildflower. Lean down and check the out the haunting fragrance. The fragrance is most noticeable toward evening but in the darker haunts of the forest you might be fortunate!