TENNESSEE VALLEY HIKE, North of SAN FRANCISCO
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As we left SF and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge from SF the sunshine was predictably replaced by a fog so thick you could see the car in front of you, and nothing else. We waved at the only car we could see, an odd mini-fire engine giving a tour to a bunch of cute old ladies decked out in fire jackets and red scarves and hats to stay warm. They were smiling and laughing and I figured that whatever they paid for the cold, foggy, short ride across the bridge on the Golden Gate Fire Engine Tour it was worth it for them. My friend Maimonides, as he likes to be called, pictured them heartily enjoying telling their friends about the fog….
OK, so our destination was the Tennessee Valley hike…we arrived around 12 pm and were surprised it was a bit colder than SF, but we quickly warmed up as we were on our way. Muey (Maimonides’ wife) spotted about eight wild turkeys with beautiful feathers that looked like some crazy alternative quilted jacket you might find at Buffalo Exchange on Haight St. Their heads were vulture-like – small and red and ugly. Anyways, I posted pictures so someone can tell me if they are not actually wild turkeys.
So we traveled on, with Maimonides clearly stating that he likes hikes that are “easy” (he later said “flat”), “linear,” and “have a pay-off at the end.” Hmm. I like his choice of the word “linear.” Sadly for Maimonides, Muey got to choose which way to go when we reached a fork in road. As a result the hike was no longer flat or linear, and it became unclear if there would be a payoff. Rather than heading to the ocean as we’d done in the past we seemed to be gaining altitude. Maimonides’ mood sunk as we rose, hitting a nadir of sorts when we saw a sign stating “Oregon – 460 miles.” Maimonides recalled Muey’s insistence about going the right way in the past, and the difficulties that had ensued.
Our moods were lightened when Muey spotted with her hawk-like eyes (aptly described by Maimonides) a group of partridges and a wild rabbit, in succession. Muey had jumped backwards and pointed at the rabbit, and earnestly described her reaction as excitement and not fear. A grand debate ensued over whether a hare is simply a wild rabbit, and we agreed it was, but in fact a hare is “any of the larger species of this genus, as distinguished from certain of the smaller ones known as rabbits,” so we were just plain wrong.
We traveled on and reached our destination, a small strip of beach bordered by majestic emerald wind- and water-eroded rock. We shared our lunches, a grab bag of Kettle Honey Dijon chips, a buffalo mozzarella and basil sandwich from the Cheese Shop in Cole Valley, some Sicilian olives, and a few juicy nectarines. Once the winds were too much we finished up, took a last look at the rock arches and coves, and jetted back for home. Great trip, highly recommend this hike!
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