Travel: Red Rock Island

Travel: Red Rock Island

While driving on the Richmond Bridge one might not notice a little red island on the south side of the bridge... You can hardly see it, the bridge is almost on top of it. It's the only privately owned island in San Francisco bay and has been on and off the market tons of times. But no one has ever bought it.




It used to be a Magnesium mine, but now there's only scars on one side from it. There's a teeny beach full of beach glass on the north side. I had never been, last time we tried going there we almost sailed into the bridge, so I was excited to sail up there earlier this year. This proved to be the last trip on our small sailboat, but alas we have a newer bigger one now.




While there another boat showed up and it's party went to climb up to the top. I didn't partake in that activity cause the only thing you win from getting to the top in poison oak. Both times my friends have climbed the crumbling rocks all the way up have become miserable itchy dudes the next day. I don't really think it's worth it.



So I spent my time walking around the island on the beach and rocks, picking up sea glass (remnants of abandoned island parties) and taking pictures. Of course there was a beautiful sunset that framed the mountains to the west beautifully.

It's absolutely beautiful, I hope it stays remote and full of poison oak.

Huggles,
Lauren

Travel: Angel Island

Travel: Angel Island

Now weeks ago a few of my buddies and I took a nice little sail to Angel Island, a state park off of Tiberon in San Francisco Bay. It's a pretty common place we sail to always rewarding us with a deserted island (since the last ferry leaves at 4). This time as we neared we could hear the barking of seals playing in the bay that we usually anchor in. Lucky for us they were super playful, one even came up to the boat and did a backflip for us! Sadly I don't have an awesome photo but I have some pretty good ones... you guys have an imagination :)





After some hotdogs and burgers, we made our way to the old abandoned military buildings along the shore. Some you can walk into but the stairs are knocked out so you can't go upstairs. Another building you can get into by jumping and pulling yourself up onto a second floor ledge. I myself would not do that, so while other people went on a head and made fun of me, I walked around the building surveying the land. And lo and behold one of the locked doors was open... so I sneaked in a scared the others. Naturally.







This history of Angel Island is quite spectacular and also somewhat depressing. Starting out as a base it soon became the "Ellis Island" of the west, hosting immigrants from russia, asia, and sometimes europeans. Unfortunately the times weren't the best and there was strong racism towards many asian immigrants many times quarantining them and forcing them into small living quarters sometimes for years waiting to be allowed entry to the US. None of these photos are of the immigration buildings which are on another side. These are all part of the massive fort on the island, Ft. McDowell, specifically the East Garrison. These buildings were mainly occupied during WWII since San Francisco was a major staging area for the Pacific theater.





I go back often and this isn't the first post, and I'm sure it won't be the last. We go there often and it's a definitely favorite of living in the bay area. If you're in SF ever you should definitely visit, it's not as common as alcatraz but a billion times more beautiful, and there's cute little deer living there too... So that's awesome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Island_(California)

- Lauren

Travel: Steep Cliff Ravine Pt. 2

Travel: Steep Cliff Ravine Pt. 2

Man it's been a while... so here's the rest of mine and Mike's weekend at the Steep Cliff Ravine Cabins. On Sunday we had to check out of our cabin early so we drove down the road to Stinson beach to have a good yummy breakfast. Best part of breakfast was a loud guy sitting near us telling his friends about his eggs benedict sauce has like "Three cups of cheddar cheese... you know to get the sauce yellow!" His friends tried once to correct him that there was no cheese in the sauce but you could see them easily give up. Haha I really love listening in on some peoples conversations like the creep I am.





After the beach we drove up and up and up to Mt. Tamalpais to go hiking around the redwoods, and walking in the grassy fields. I love Mt Tam, but of course like most everything here I want to go there more often but can never find the time, aw sadface. Such a poor little girl who lives in San Francisco... haha







I absolutely love redwood pine cones, they're soooo tiny yet make the biggest trees! I had a gold coated necklace with a little redwood pine cone on it, and it was my favorite until I lost it :(





Anyway we hiked a bit to a little waterfall, unfortunately the drought made the fall nice but not spectacular like pictures of it in years past. We didn't hike much further because Mike had a twisted ankle, but I know I want to go soon!!

Can you believe these photos were taken in January, I swear the winter here is the most beautiful... If only the summer was warm!!

Huggles,
Lauren

Travel: Steep Cliff Ravine pt 1

Travel: Steep Cliff Ravine pt 1

About a year ago Mike, Adam, Brit and I got up very early to go to some natural hot springs along the coast... It was what I'll say an interesting experience, but the real take away I had from it was peering down the beach at these little cabins on the shore hundreds of feet below the road sitting right above the water. They were the steep cliff cabins, part of Mt Tam State Park, that were built in the 30's and getting reservations there seemed impossible. Enter a month ago when one of my new coworkers casually said, do you know anyone that would want my steep cliff cabin reservation... UM YES ME!!! So I bought the reservation from her and Mike and I decided to call the weekend outing an early 2nd anniversary... Wait I can't believe we've been dating for that long.





One day was a bit rainy which was beautiful. Each cabin (there are only 10) has an incredible view and hug windows in every room and a little wood stove to heat the place up. These are bare cabins so no water, no bed (there a platform to sleep on), no luxuries except a table, bench and stove. But with the view that's all you need.

The first day we got there late in the evening but it was super quick getting set up in the cabin. They were a lot bigger then we thought, they can sleep up to 5 and have two bedrooms and a bed platform in the living space. One thing you definitely need to bring are curtains or sheets to hang in the windows, they're huge and don't offer too much privacy at night. But it's cool the cabins have curtain rods to hang you fabric. The next day after walking around in the sprinkling rain. Then we went into the small town down the road during the day and bought provisions, and made hamburgers on the little wood stove.




We spent the whole weekend cozying up in the cabin or going on walks on the beach (I know so cheesy), and walking around the paths. Unfortunately Mike had hurt his foot so we couldn't go on any extreme hikes. But on sunday he hid his pain and we walked to a little waterfall on Mt. Tam. I will someday hike to the vista point but that'll be another time.




If you ever are in the bay area or planning look these place up... But the are near impossible to get a reservation, you can only get one 6 months in advance on the 1st day of the month starting at 9am... See near impossible. I'm so grateful that my coworker sold me her reservation and we were able to experience a beautiful magical weekend.




We also watched the Hobbit while there... seemed fitting to be cozied up in a cabin in a place that is as magical as Middle-Earth.

The next day we hiked and drove around Mt. Tamalpais... More on that later!

Do: Caught some Crabs. Yum.

Do: Caught some Crabs. Yum.

A month or so ago Mike and I went crabbing under the Golden Gate Bridge. We got some good sized Rock Crabs, and lots of Dungeness Crabs we had to throw back :( And lots of starfish... they're really ugly... like creepy sea hand fingers. Ew.





Later Mike made the most amazing Crab bisque and I got us yummy gf rolls from the bakery and a white wine recommended from a wine store, both down the street from my house, it's great living by everything.... mmm.

February Sailing

February Sailing

I am very lucky to have my friends own a sailboat, and be able to go on adventures with them. The unlucky thing for me is that the Bay scares the shit out of me. Makes no sense, I come from a family of sailors... why am I so scared of sailing. It's the lean of the boat and the coldness of the bay... I think if it was warm I wouldn't be so afraid of the water, but the bay is freezing all year 'round and it scares me.





So my boyfriend informed me the best time to go sailing is in the winter since the wind is so light. Saturday we all packed up and sailed to Angel Island, a state park by Tiberon. It is true the wind is much lighter during the winter but I still eeeked, winced, and whined when we leaned far and tacked. But I did it! I didn't freak out, I just looked at the horizon and how beautiful it all was. And I'm so happy I went, I hadn't yet been to Angel Island and it truly is kinda Jurassic Park-esque. We got there around dusk which is the most beautiful time of day and walked around the island at night exploring all the abandoned buildings before heading back to the east bay under the stars. We had to motor most of the way back cause there was no wind and the water was like glass.




It was an amazing day/evening and wanted to share it with you. The boys of course go sailing all the time, but I usually go do my own thing and not tag along as much anymore cause I don't want to be a buzz kill. But maybe I need to try to go at least once a month... Also here are a couple videos I took with the new app Vine :) you can follow me on that under Moyer the Destroyer

The next day on sunday we then all headed into the city for the Superbowl, and although the 49ers didn't win it was a good game :)

What I Wore & Did: Fleet Week

What I Wore & Did: Fleet Week

Well this past week in San Francisco was Fleet Week! Which is when lot's of navy and airmen are roaming the streets... and of course there's planes doing aerobatics and big ships. My buddy Jim called me up on Saturday and invited me down to the city to watch with him and the boys.





Of course we were talking most of the time, and after the air show was finished we elbowed our way to In & Out to get some munchies for oursevles. The weather was gorgeous and we all made ourselves comfy by Ghirardelli square... if only I had bought some chocolate. While we ate a falcon decided he was hungry too and swooped into the bushes near us grabbing himself a mouse morsel to eat and perching on the lamp post. It was a great park and day to be eating outside!





Soon we all sprang from our roost and made our way to a rooftop in chinatown. How we got there you can guess.... by walking. We sat and watched the sun set and yelled at the moon for being early. "Go back to the night! You don't belong here!!" We all parted ways, half staying in SF and half barting it back to Oakland.







But that's not all! On Sunday I met back up with ole' Jim to go look at the ships. Of course our early start actually became a late start and the lines for the ships had grown very long. So we made ourselves content at looking at the battleships from a safe distance. We walked up and down the piers and tried to sneak a peek at where the Exploratorium is moving (Jim works there and is excited for the move to pier 15). So we ate and took the obvious pictures of us in front of boats, and tickling tug boats naturally. Then we hugged and I crossed the bay to come home to a snuggle puppy.




I'm really excited to have worn one of the dresses I bought at the flea market. It was so warm, some of the day I didn't need my cardigan! Thought I noticed waist seam is coming undone but that is a easy fix! I felt very colorful with the teal dots on the dress, my teal scarf, and my teal tights! So bright and fitting for fleet week! And I think this might be the first closeup of my Dooney & Bourke purse! I was going to sell it but some puppy decided to chew on the strap! But it's perfect for me and I also have a matching mini dooney purse too, I love Ohio thrift shops!



Anyway. Planes, ships, dress. My weekend.

Huggles,
Lauren

{ outfit details }
{ dress - vintage, alameda flea }{ scarf - pitaya }{ cardigan & tights - UO }{ shoes - target }{ purse - dooney & bourke, thrifted }