Little Bit Of Work, Travel, Painting and Relaxing

 

                                      

                                             Self Portrait in Watercolor

   

                            Road trip with John and Angel to Bodega Bay.

                         

                             Angel at the Pet Parade in Rio Vista

Then at some time I have to work to pay for my space.

  

                            Fishing Derby     and      Crafts with kids and parents

  relaxing in new hammock

The trip to Sausalito and Marin Headlands and marine Mammal Center

   (information in previous post)

Then there was last week:

I needed to go into San Rafael to pickup my renewed Driver’s License and drop off my application for another Passport (mine expired over 10 years ago).  After that I went into Corte Madera to Mini of Marin to get a bracket for my front license plate.

As long as I was in the area I decided to check out Fort Baker on the North East side of the Golden Gate Bridge also in Sausalito.  When John and I were here, we didn’t have time to explore this part of the Marin Headlands Recreation Area.  This time I wanted to take some time and do some painting.

      

Angel was checking out some seagulls.           North side of GGB.

  

There is also a marina                                 and of course, Fort Baker.

   Seagulls

It was quite busy on the water and just a bit hazy , windsurfers, Ferries and sailboats      

 

Here’s the watercolor sketch that I did.  It was too windy and it was getting late.  I wanted to get started before rush hour. As it was it took about two hours to get home.

                               

Finally home.  This is another possible painting of the Water Tower in Isleton about 5 miles away, where I have more artwork in a gallery.

                                 

So that’s what we’ve been doing. How about you?  I hope that you all are enjoying your Summer.

Thanks for visiting

In this extra pic, Mom is scratching just the right spot.  It feels sooooooo good. Then more relaxing!!!!!!

Susan and Angel

Road Trip to Marine Headlands

 

After not leaving the park (except for shopping), it was time for a road trip!  Earlier that week I had seen a production of “On the road with Rob” on TV where he visited the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.  It seemed like it would be an interesting place to visit.  So I called up a friend, John, to see if he would like to go on a road trip.  Every 2nd and 4th Sundays they have a free Science talk at the center, (subject changes each month).  That’s where we headed early Sunday morning.  Angel had to stay home and fellow workamper, Jeanne would check on her and take her for a walk.

 

Just some of the literature that I picked up to learn about the area. 

                            

Not only is the Marine Mammal Center located in the Headlands, but the Headlands was also occupied by the military from WWII throughout the Cold War.  

  

  

         

                                              More information signs.

     This facility has the largest marine mammal rehabilitation hospital in the world.

                                

After we left the Center we explored the area, taking all the side roads.  Above is Fort Cronkite.  Right near there is Rodeo Beach where there were a lot of people picnicking and surfing.  From there we drove up towards the lighthouse past the Nike Missile Site (which, unfortunately was closed until later in the week- that’s another trip)

     

At the top of the Headlands are located the Batteries, this one is Battery Wallace where there was a big gun protecting San Francisco and the west coast during WWII.

  

  

When you look to the east the views are magnificent.  The Golden Gate Bridge would come in and out of view because of the Marine Layer.  Most of the time you couldn’t even see the city of San Francisco.  I could have stayed there for a long, long time, except for the wind, (and the crowds).  I’ll have to go back during the week and maybe do some  painting.  These pictures just can’t compete with the real thing.

From here we stopped for lunch in Sausalito and then did a little wandering over to Tiburon and then back to Hwy 101 and home.  All in  all it was a nice trip.  Neither one of us had been to the Marine Headlands, even though John has lived in CA all his life and the closest that I had been was to the Battery overlooking the bridge and Fort Baker.  That will be another trip.  If you are out this way and get a chance, check it out.  (Just a “heads up” , There is a one lane tunnel that may have up to a 5 minute wait depending on traffic when entering the headlands off of 101.)

I hope that you all are having a great summer.

Thanks for visiting

Are you sure I can’t come with you?

Susan and Angel

Nearing The End Of The Season

It is nearing the end of the summer season.  All the programs are scheduled through Labor Day.  That’s all that I have to plan for crafts for the kids and pick out some movies for Movie Night.  I’m not sure what I will be doing after that as far as activities are concerned, but we will be having a swap meet of some sort towards the end of September and are planning that.

My plans are to be here until some time in October.  Once the current Camp Hosts leave I can move in to their space at China Camp, where I was last winter.

In the meantime here in the Delta, the weather has been quite nice.  The last few days it has gotten up to the mid 80’s with the nights in the mid 50’s.  or me that’s perfect weather.  Before that we had several days in the 100”s. not very comfortable.  I am so glad that electricity is included, as  the A/C was on even when I wasn’t home, Angel was. 

I did have to go to the DMV in Vacaville to renew my driver’s license and the plates for my Mini Cooper.  For some reason there wasn’t a front plate on the car when I bought it last August and I was lucky that I never got a ticket for it, so I had to get a brand new set of plates with a new number.  Going to the DMV is not one of my favorite things to do.  I would have had to wait until next week to get an appointment, so took my chances and got there by 9:00am.  Because they were shorthanded,  I didn’t get out of there until nearly 2:00pm.  I also (unexpectedly) had to take a test (I passed) and get a new picture taken.  Oh well, you do what you’ve have to do. 

It seems like every thing that I have to do, I have to go at least 30 + miles, to do it. Where I’m at is that far from any place that has all the stores and facilities that I go to in any direction.  There are also bridges that have to be crossed that you have to wait for when there is a boat going under, even the sailboats or other boats that have antennas. 

Another place that I have to got to at least once a month is to Benicia where I have to check on the artwork that is there on consignment.  I usually go on Thursdays because I can actually paint in open studio.  I did another self portrait in watercolor.  When I got home I continued going through my STUFF, trying to get ready for the swap meet.  I want to purge about half of my things.  Recently, I have been thinking about downsizing again to a class C.  My thinking is that I would be able to camp host in more State or Federal Parks where they have smaller sites and if I have less stuff to put away I can move more often.  This might take me awhile (years?), I still have to figure out how to do it (??$$$??).

At least that’s what I’ve been doing.  I hope that you all are having a great summer.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel