We left San Fransisco in early afternoon and headed over the Golden Gate Bridge and up twisty Highway One. With eucalyptus trees scenting the air like a big cough lozenge, we stopped for views at the first place where the road found the edge of the cliff. The point had a complete view back to the city and north to Point Reyes. We were joined by two ladies who were still using film in their cameras, and three giggling chicas taking pictures with their I-Phones, who were from Dominican University, only about ten miles away. Of course we all traded cameras to take pictures of each other.
We hiked through the grassy, sandy hills to the campsites close to the beach, throwing our backpacks into the metal boxes provided for raccoon protection, and headed down to the water for the sunset that was fast approaching. What a beautiful scene, with crowds of sandpipers and dowitchers on the shore and no houses as far as the eye could see.
The few other campers all came down to watch the sun sink into an pumpkin puddle.
We went back to the campsite and set up the tent and cooked dinner by headlamp. The air was still warm and the moon was up. It was easy to sleep well in our flyless tent, looking through the screened roof at the stars.
The next morning we caffeinated and went back to the beach. I ducked into the water which was cold but nothing like Oregon cold. Robert waded and thought about getting all the way in but never quite made it. We sunbathed in various states of undress, and I tried to capture the scene with colored pencils. Then late in the morning we went back to pack up and head out. Getting back to the campsite, where I had left my backpack on the table, I found that my wallet had been rifled and my money was on the ground. A five dollar bill had two corners chewed off. The dread raccoons had struck! We hiked back to the car, meeting several locals coming in take advantage of the rare October sun and heat. Then we headed for Sonoma and Harbin Hot Springs.
Reading about Point Reyes in the giveaway newspapers in the local stores, I learned that this place was saved for my public use as a result of a familiar struggle. First, a developer declares that he wants to build hundreds of houses and a small brave band of citizens tries to stop him. Locals are divided between those who can't understand why anyone would want this land and those who love it. The National Seashore designation came in 1962. We spent less than twenty-four hours there, but could have easily stayed a week.
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