57002--Telephone pole at Point Reyes Lighthouse

[zyzyly]

It was cold and stormy last night, but we woke up to a cold but sunny day, and decided to go to Point Reyes for the day. It's another of my favorite places. My grandpa thought it was a spiritual place, and took care to make sure I thought that too. It's about 2 1/2 hours from home, in western Marin County, on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

It was in the 40s and a little windy, particularly on the beach, which we had to ourselves. We wandered on the beach for a while and then drove up to the path to the lighthouse. Point Reyes has strange weather sometimes. It can be rainy a few miles east, and absolutely beautiful here. Or it can be a mild day inland, and be absolutely miserable at the lighthouse. I have learned to just accept the weather that presents itself when I get there. Today we were lucky. The wind was down and it was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon.



There are 308 steps leading down to the lighthouse, and 308 leading back up. I like coming here on or near my birthday, and have spent a number of them walking down and up these steps. There were so few people here today that I was able to get some shots with no one on the stairs. It's not usually like that.

After hiking around for a while we headed in to Point Reyes Station, the little town. We had a late lunch at the Station House Cafe, which is a place my grandma used to love. I like it too. The food is good, but they kind of have an attitude now, and the service suffers as a result. Anyway, I'm not a restaurant critic.

In a comment yesterday, asakiyume made mention of some telephone wires in the background of my shot, and how they hinted at a human presence close by. I liked that and thought that it would be something to pay more attention to as I explore the world. Maybe there's something to be discovered in it.

Comments

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

first of all, yay for Pt. Reyes, and yay for Kurt Vile; also, I've wanted to get a tattoo of a row of telephone poles along a desert road. I couldn't have said why, but I love that thought of what they represent.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh what a beautiful image this is--and yes, the web of connection.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how a tattoo would turn out, but the idea of it is awesome. I love telephone poles disappearing into the distance. And yay that someone else knows Kurt Vile!

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

listening to him right this minute ;)

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Beautiful photos! Point Reyes is lovely.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It is one of my favorite places in the world. After my grandfather died, I would often meet him under a tree in a meadow in Point Reyes in my dreams, and we would talk about my life. Those were such vivid and wonderful dreams.

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a lovely way to spend your birthday. Great shots. It's always amazing when you can capture a shot in a place that always has people there then there's the opportunity when the place is devoid of people.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I love photographers who live in a spot and can capture it over and over, but always in a new way. My friend Judy Watt did that with the Golden Gate Bridge.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

That's a spectacular setting for a lighthouse.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It sure is--although I have seen very few lighthouse settings that don't have something going for them.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The lighthouse looks like a child's toy, down there. And the waves, the long view of the waves--seeing them from on high, they seem so different--just fringe on the ocean's skirts rather than these mighty creatures in their own right.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I know--I love that particular view of the beach and the waves. I always stop and watch for a little while. It's surreal, as if in another world.

[her-whispers.livejournal.com]

Nice job with the no-people shot on the stairs! I'm out at that place frequently (I live very nearby) and it's NEVER empty. Though the cooler/windier it is, the better chances you have! Gorgeous photos!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I know--I love it when I have the place to myself.