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<\/a><\/p>\nPigeon Point Lighthouse is really cool, especially on a day like this one.\u00a0 It has the slender beauty typically associated with New England lighthouses.\u00a0 And it has the benefit of being on the West Coast where we have some pretty nice sunsets.<\/p>\n
There is another lighthouse I\u2019d like to share with you.\u00a0 Point Reyes is a short distance north of San Francisco.\u00a0 It is a treacherous piece of coast line and the lighthouse at the tip of the point has saved many lives since it was first lit on December 1st, 1870.<\/p>\n There is a long stairway leading down to the lighthouse, a stairway of 308 steps.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy going down.\u00a0 Climbing back up\u2026.<\/p>\n Point Reyes offers many interesting places to explore.<\/p>\n Viewed from the vantage point high up on the flanks of Mt Vision the Point shows some if its diversity in the pre-dawn light \u2013 lagoons, ranch lands, oyster farms, Christmas tree farms, Drake\u2019s Bay and habitat for an impressive variety of wildlife.<\/p>\n From the lighthouse deer roam above a rare broad beach that extends northward into the mist.<\/p>\n Several large herds of Tule Elk make Point Reyes their home.\u00a0 These two bull elks were having a bit of a standoff but in spite of the aggressiveness of the large elk in the distance, it was the one in the foreground that had all the gals hanging out with him.<\/p>\n And how about this?\u00a0 What a place to be a cow.<\/p>\n Drake\u2019s Bay is on the peaceful side of Point Reyes.\u00a0 It\u2019s quite possible that Sir Frances Drake set foot here in 1579 during his circumnavigation of the globe.<\/p>\n Point Reyes is where the San Andreas fault, the dominant earthquake fault in California and the rent in the earth\u2019s crust that separates the North American tectonic plate from the Pacific plate, it is Point Reyes where it finally heads out to sea.\u00a0 Tomales Bay marks the fault and separates the Pacific and North American plates.\u00a0 It is normally a peaceful place with light that ranges from gentle fogs and brilliant mornings.<\/p>\n One of the most photographed attractions along Tomales Bay is the grounded ship aptly named \u201cPoint Reyes.\u201d<\/p>\n Continuing up the coast from Point Reyes the seashore continues to deliver.<\/p>\n Before turning inland, how is it possible to not mention San Francisco and its most famous icon, the Golden Gate Bridge.<\/p>\n This bridge is impressive in the middle of the day but I like it even more at sunrise.<\/p>\n Not as famous but equally spectacular are the Marin Headlands at the north end of the bridge.<\/p>\n Turning inland, Napa Valley lies waiting.\u00a0 What do you think of when you hear the words Napa Valley?<\/p>\n Quite naturally, we think of some of the finest wines in the world.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get back to that.\u00a0 But did you know that Yellowstone Park does not have exclusive bragging rights for an Old Faithful geyser?\u00a0 That\u2019s right.\u00a0 And our Old Faithful geyser is at the north end of Napa Valley just outside the town of Calistoga.<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s for real.\u00a0 It erupts about every 30 to40 minutes, shoots 80 feet into the air and carries on for four to five minutes.\u00a0 Cool!<\/p>\n One of the conditions that makes Napa Valley such a premium wine region are the volcanic soils.\u00a0 The north end of the valley culminates in Mt St Helena, an extinct volcano that is responsible for these productive soils (and the geyser).<\/p>\n Most of the vast expanse of Napa Valley is filled with vineyards and wineries.\u00a0 Wonderful vistas abound.\u00a0 Let me share a few with you.<\/p>\n All these vineyards produce tons of some of the finest wind grapes in the world.\u00a0 And it is the wineries that transform these perfect grapes in to works of art.\u00a0 A drive through the valley takes you past one legendary winery after another.<\/p>\n So there it is, a taste of one of California\u2019s less famous but equally impressive regions.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to fall in love with this area.\u00a0 My favorite time of year is early November when the weather and light is at its absolute best.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be there.\u00a0 Come on out and join me.<\/p>\n Join me on an upcoming workshop.\u00a0 Click here for more details.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n