Angel Island
I had to escape the cave today. I've been working hard on the job hunt lately, and it's been getting me down. So, after a hearty night out boozing last night, I woke up early and got the wheels turning.
I headed up north on I-280 to San Francisco, then headed up U.S. 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge and pulled into one of my favorite sunny day spots, Tiburon. But this wasn't a day I planned to spend Tiburon. Instead, I grabbed a cup of coffee and hit the 10:00 a.m. ferry to Angel Island, the largest island in San Francisco Bay.
After the 10 minute boat ride to Ayala Cove, I grabbed a to-go sandwich at the cafe and headed straight up the North Ridge Trail to Mt. Livermore, the 788-foot peak of Angel Island. The trail to the top of the island isn't more than two miles, but it does start out steep. My hiking book said the trail gains 500 feet in altitude in the first half-mile. But after that, it was smooth sailing, and the views were unbelievable. Of course you can see Tiburon, and Sausalito, and San Francisco. But don't forget the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, Oakland... everything! If you have not been to Angel Island, you must go when you know the weather will be clear. I know of no other place in the Bay Area with views like these.
After hiking back down Mt. Livermore via the Sunset Trail, I headed back down to Ayala Cove and rented a bike for $10/hr. Turns out I only needed the bike for an hour because it's only a five mile ride around the entire island. If the truth must be said, the views on my hike were better than my bikeride on the Perimeter Road, but this was a nice way to spend another hour.
After returning my bike, I lounged on the lawn in the picnic area for a while, and before you knew it, I was on the 3:30 ferry heading back to Tiburon.
Not a bad way to take a break from the job hunt.
Trivia questions:
Q1: How did the deer and racoons get to Angel Island?
A1: My sources say they swam from the mainland. Sounds crazy, but that's what they say. Apparently squirrels, rabbits, foxes, skunks, oppossums, coyotes and other common Bay Area mammals couldn't swim that far, because they do not exist on Angel Island.
Q2: How did the lizards get to Angel Island?
A2: I have no idea. But they are there. I saw them.
I headed up north on I-280 to San Francisco, then headed up U.S. 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge and pulled into one of my favorite sunny day spots, Tiburon. But this wasn't a day I planned to spend Tiburon. Instead, I grabbed a cup of coffee and hit the 10:00 a.m. ferry to Angel Island, the largest island in San Francisco Bay.
After the 10 minute boat ride to Ayala Cove, I grabbed a to-go sandwich at the cafe and headed straight up the North Ridge Trail to Mt. Livermore, the 788-foot peak of Angel Island. The trail to the top of the island isn't more than two miles, but it does start out steep. My hiking book said the trail gains 500 feet in altitude in the first half-mile. But after that, it was smooth sailing, and the views were unbelievable. Of course you can see Tiburon, and Sausalito, and San Francisco. But don't forget the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, Oakland... everything! If you have not been to Angel Island, you must go when you know the weather will be clear. I know of no other place in the Bay Area with views like these.
After hiking back down Mt. Livermore via the Sunset Trail, I headed back down to Ayala Cove and rented a bike for $10/hr. Turns out I only needed the bike for an hour because it's only a five mile ride around the entire island. If the truth must be said, the views on my hike were better than my bikeride on the Perimeter Road, but this was a nice way to spend another hour.
After returning my bike, I lounged on the lawn in the picnic area for a while, and before you knew it, I was on the 3:30 ferry heading back to Tiburon.
Not a bad way to take a break from the job hunt.
Trivia questions:
Q1: How did the deer and racoons get to Angel Island?
A1: My sources say they swam from the mainland. Sounds crazy, but that's what they say. Apparently squirrels, rabbits, foxes, skunks, oppossums, coyotes and other common Bay Area mammals couldn't swim that far, because they do not exist on Angel Island.
Q2: How did the lizards get to Angel Island?
A2: I have no idea. But they are there. I saw them.
posted by Leroy at
6:20 PM
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