Point Reyes National Seashore

6th and 7th June 2009

I had been to Point Reyes National Seashore few times. But, it was just a hike to Alamere Falls or to Tomales Point. Never happened to do any extensive exploring. So, I thought of taking a two days trip staying a night at hostel in there. When you have a plan why wait ?

Day-1 : Drove from Sunnyvale to Bolinas and started my hike to Alamere falls. Yes, I again I hiked to Alamere Falls, scrambling down to the beach. There was a group of youngsters ... they were engaged in their own fun ... eating, taking pictures of each other, playing frisbee, chasing one another and so on ... I leave it to your imagination ! It was a sunny afternoon and low tide so it was okay to sit there to relax. The waterfalls were looking great with the wildflowers lining the pools ... the experience there was like eating a chilled dish with honey and paprika :) The cool breeze, burning Sun and pleasant landscape !

After the hike I headed to the hostel. I spoke to the lady at the reception and she gave a tour over the hostel. About silent hours, how to use the bathroom in silent hours, about potential users of the bathroom, kitchen etiquette, different thrash bins, the process of cleaning the dishes used etc. The bed was clean and tidy, the bathroom was clean, the kitchen was clean, the patio was wonderful where I had my dinner and headed out to Lighthouse for some night photoshoot. It is a long drive on this mostly silent road. I saw herds of elks and deer ... many of them ... As usual you find the lighthouses at lands-end.

Sun was sinking on my right ... I waited looking at the lighthouse ... waited it to glow. Few people came and they went. I tried to talk to them and told them it would look great when the lighthouse glows. But, nobody seemed to buy my idea. They wished me luck and left. Now, I had the company of Sea Lions. I spent some time listening to their calls along with the zoom of the chilly wind. Then I saw slowly the lighthouse glowing ! It was wonderful ! When I walked to the parking I saw my car faintly glowing in the light of stars. I started driving towards the hostel. In the lonely night the distance seemed doubled and the those Historic Ranches looked ghostlier than ever ! I didn’t see even one car passing by. My thought was Point Reyes Lighthouse was a popular place and I was expecting a lot of crowd there on weekend. That is what travel throws at us … unexpected surprises ! Otherwise what is the point in traveling ?

When I reached the hostel back all other inmates were snoring. It was full and I felt it was over-crowded. But, it was right in the heart of Point Reyes National Seashore and was much better option than backcountry camping.

Day-2 : The next morning I headed out to Tomales Point and Abbott’s Lagoon hikes. It was so wonderful … the trails were lined with yellow lupines and the birds were singing all my way. Blackbirds, sparrows, California quails and few more birds were in abundance. I did some bird photography.





There was a meetup scheduled that day by East Bay photography at Duxburry reef specifically the tide pools. It was disaster as the tide came in earlier than expected. Instead of any tide pools I got few dead fish. Oh, well all the time meetups are not great. Sometimes I get a feeling that the whole day was just waste of time. Anyways, I am not here to complain about meetups But, next I had to make best use of my time. I spent sometime strolling on the Drakes Beach . The cliffs here are one of a kind and the way the waves crash on the beach makes a flowery design ! Also spent some time at McClures Beach. Last, I headed out to Inverness. Bought flavored soy milk and a big muffin, enjoyed the taste of both :) The Point Reyes boat was waiting for me at sunset. Ahhh … wonderful ! Sometimes the abandoned and useless things look so good and make such great pictures !

At the end of two days, I still felt I have so much to see there. I didn't visit Chimney Rock yet, I haven't strolled in North and South Beaches. I still have to be there at McClures Beach for that colorful Sunset, still have to visit sculptured beach. Eh ... there is no end :)

Waterfalls in Tahoe BMU

22nd to 25th May 2009

On Memorial Day weekend I went camping near Fallen Leaf Lake. It was sometimes fun, sometimes stupid, sometimes solitude and always beautiful. I filled my days with wildflowres and waterfalls ...

I started from Bayarea on Fri at about 6:15PM to avoid traffic. We think so, in reality can you ? I had a long wait at the intersection of CA-237 and I-880. From Mission Blvd exit on I-880 to I-680 uptill Pleasanton I was driving in 10 mph. Later some more delay on I-580. Ahh ... I ran out of patience ... but then what to do ?

On Saturday, I thought I will try to climb Mt. Tallac. My idea was if there is a lot of snow then just go up to Cathedral Lake and return. The rest of the group was also doing the Cathedral Lake hike and so I planned to join them. It was a steady climb with lots of snow patches on the way. Mt. Tallac looked so dominant in the whole set up with carpets of snow on it. I made it up to the Cathedral Lake easily as most of us did. The group organizer had a loop hike planned, with Fallen Leaf trail as return trail. As I always say ... life throws unexpected situations ... Fallen Leaf trail turned out to be a nasty beast to beat ... very steep right down to the lake ... the trail was unmaintained, narrow, rocky and steep ... very steep. At the end of it I felt like my ankles and knees were dislocated. That was not enough we had to walk accross two waterfalls ! Not on the top or bottom ... right in the middle !! It was not very scarry but was of concern as the water was flowing with a considerable force.

On Sunday, the organizer had another ambitious hike from Lake Aloha to Lake Lily which I didn't join. Later in the day I came to know they had FUN. I have different definition for fun though. I went looking for waterfalls ... and I visited Upper and Lower Glen Alpine falls. Lower falls is on the roadside and much more beautiful.


For Upper falls a mile hike is required. We can see it from a distance. When I was at both falls everything was all me alone.


Then I went driving around Lake Tahoe, YES the 71 miles perimeter. Stopped at several State Parks. It was nice though not wonderful. The stops I would like to mention are Sand Harbor on Nevada Side Popes beach on California side. You know Emerald Bay and few other popular places ...

On Monday, I hiked down to Lower Eagle Falls. It was so beautiful. So much of water with so much of force gushing down sprinkling the mist all around ... I stood there like heavely angel in the mist. Everyone has their own fantasies :) It was fun standing there as the cloud of mist covering me. Unfortunately, it covered my camera too. It was just impossible to avoid the waterdrops on the lens.

On the way back I saw Horsetail falls from a distance ... It wasn't a great long weekend trip but, I am happy with my Glen Alpine Falls picture. And the experience of hiking down the Fallen Leaf trail was something :)