Marin, Bolinas, and the North Bay - the last weekend in California
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Returning to Bolinas, a place that resonated so deeply with me during my three months in California, and sharing it with some of great folks. It ended up being an unexpectedly reflective adventure.
After three months doing field work and research on Coast Redwoods in the Santa Cruz area, the last weekend needed to be intentional, relaxing, and reflective. Alex and I had been mulling over how we were gonna approach it. It wasn't 'til a few days before that we got the plan together. But, the framework was always there and had to consist of the following: surf, bike, loose checkpoints with lots of "go-with-the-flow" sidequests, and most importantly, MOG.
Friday 08/14
But first, let's surf...
One last morning rip at Pleasure Point. This place became my afterwork place of solitude and release. I had had a fantastic sunset surf the day before, chopping it up with a bunch of lads at sewer's point and dropping into some big sets, and combined with this session, with the Ham's made for a perfect finish to my time in Santa Cruz.
It ended up being a late start getting out of Santa Cruz towards Marin (a combination of time spent at the mechanics, packing, lunch etc). But we were soon on the road with boards strapped to the top and bikes hanging off the back. Sean gave us a call as we were driving up and said his neck was finally healed enough to get at it with us. Fuak yeaa
We decided to pull off at the headlands and get the bikes off. Figured we see what was going on, especially after Anna Winter, a friend and legend from the NASA DEVELOP program, had spoken so highly of it. It was a little drizzly, as expected, but what a stunning ride - way better than we had imagined. And good lord, the roads were paved so wonderfully.
We hurried to Olema campgrounds quickly after, met up with Sean, slammed some Kirins, and grilled some steak and lamb chops. Mega.
Saturday 09/16
An early start to Bolinas. Hopped into the water by 7 to a quiet line up. The waves in this town aren't the best but it's fun, you surf to a view of redwood forests in the distance and fog swirling low around you. It's like you're in Jurassic Park.
Sweet surf sesh, chatted to some locals after (they'll come back up in the story)
We ended back in town, of course had to stop by Buzz's to pick up some T-shirts (ask me about the legend of Buzz), and found some ribs and freshly baked sourdough in the local mart. The early afternoon was filled with lying on grass back at camp, sipping cold Rose, and chain smoking fags.
Soon after, hunger struck again and we knew that there were oysters up north in the Point Reyes bay to be had. After trying and failing to get some at Hog Island oysters (crazy wait), we stopped by a local seller. Unfortunately, they would not shuck for you and wouldn't let you have the oysters there.
So we found a nice pullout by the bay, and got to shucking ourselves. What, a, vibe...
After bidding Sean adieu (for now), Alex and I debated going on a bike ride. We ended up deciding to go to mass at the local church for Alex to do his weekend duties before cycling to a woodfire pizza place for a pint and grub. We had unknowingly stumbled into a Grateful Dead Tribute concert. The pizza was insane and people watching was right up there with it.
Out of nowhere we get a tap on the shoulder and this fella asked us if we were surfing this morning. It was the same fella we chopped it up with after surfing! I guess we had pretty recognizable complexions. The rest of the evening we got to know Jesse, his wife, and his mum. What a coool scene out here. Very local, anti-AI, and anti forest harvesting (Alex and I sneaked glances at each other throughout hahaha)
Sunday 09/17
Another early start. Today we MOG.
We packed up camp and got on the road to the East Bay, we had a mission to complete. Alex and I had been talking about doing a big ride around the North Bay for months and this was the last chance. This would be a 50mi ride from the Berkeley area, getting across the Richmond Bridge, all around Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and finishing at the San Francisco ferry pier on Market Street.
Calamity!
I had the worst fucking charlie horse in my right quad just as we went up our last little hill. It had been wanting to pop for the last 20 minutes and that last hill just did it. Couldnt get off the bike, couldn't bend the leg. It took a long time and a lot of smokes for it to calm the fuck down. We figured we needed food ASAP and popped into a Viet spot. All was well after and we had made it to Market St. 50mi almost on the dot!
Yes lad, that'd cure any charlie horse
We arrived at Market St! The first half tonne Fin
The cherry on the fucking top of the cake
Sean let us know that we should stop by for dinner. Unbeknownst to us he had been cooking up a proper fucking feast while we were out zooming on bikes. What. A. LEGEND. I've learnt a lot from Sean over the years. He has such a deep respect for connection. And I mean, wow, I'll never forget the thought and generosity of this.
P.S.A. Never unemploy this man again, who knows what damage he'll do next time.
The weekend concludes here but thinking back on it as I write it a month and a half later, I smile, and just feel so grateful for the people in my life and that they appreciate that I am in theirs too. Its times like these that wonder about the meaning of life and I almost want to believe there is a higher power, because the connection I feel to people and places are so ethereal and its such a difficult feeling to explain. You feel blessed and so fortunate to meet amazing people, see amazing things, be in awe of the experience of life. The one thing I do know is that love is the truth and it is a beautiful thing to give love and be loved and that love comes in so many forms.
Thank you for life, opportunity, and experience.