Here's a moment from my visit to San Francisco. One of the great beaches is near Fort Funston, just on the south western edge of the city, at the border with Daly City. It's usually regarded as a dog park. It's also the location for a hang glider club, since there are usually great updrafts from the onshore breezes hitting the cliffs.
On the day I visited, there were 8-10 gliders lined up, waiting for the right conditions. Just as I was finished with my beach walk, the sun came out a bit and the breezes picked up. This fellow was the first glider off the cliff. I caught a great action sequence as he completed a turn at the southern end of the cliff formation, highlight his glider and him against the sky. Not much contrast in the picture, sadly, mostly due to limitations with my camera, but hopefully I've caught the essence.
Monday, 28 July 2008
Sunday, 27 July 2008
The Beaches of Brisbane
...Which is to say, there are none.
I only just now realized Brisbane City has no natural beaches. The nearest is 25-30 miles North of the city. And, the famous ones at Surfer's Paradise and the Sunshine Coast, are farther away still, perhaps 50-60 miles.
Until I returned from San Francisco, I didn't realize I missed this about city life. The beach in San Francisco, which is a good one, is just on the other side of town. And there are some spectacular beaches north or south of the city. Taking a walk on the beach was as simple as riding a short distance, and ten minutes later, your feet were in the water. Chilly, for sure, but still, a beach.
Brisbane has no such geographical luck that way. The city council has constructed a beach at South Bank, just opposite the CBD, but it's quite a ways to a really good natural beach.
Sunshine Beach, off Noosa Heads to the north of Brisbane, is really beautiful and unspoiled. So nice to take a walk and play in the sand.
It's sad to feel so landlocked and far away from a good beach.
I only just now realized Brisbane City has no natural beaches. The nearest is 25-30 miles North of the city. And, the famous ones at Surfer's Paradise and the Sunshine Coast, are farther away still, perhaps 50-60 miles.
Until I returned from San Francisco, I didn't realize I missed this about city life. The beach in San Francisco, which is a good one, is just on the other side of town. And there are some spectacular beaches north or south of the city. Taking a walk on the beach was as simple as riding a short distance, and ten minutes later, your feet were in the water. Chilly, for sure, but still, a beach.
Brisbane has no such geographical luck that way. The city council has constructed a beach at South Bank, just opposite the CBD, but it's quite a ways to a really good natural beach.
Sunshine Beach, off Noosa Heads to the north of Brisbane, is really beautiful and unspoiled. So nice to take a walk and play in the sand.
It's sad to feel so landlocked and far away from a good beach.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
A cold day in Brisbane
Today is the second coldest day in Brisbane in the last twenty years. Wednesday past was the coldest. Brrr. No central heating in my Queenslander, so it's been nights of hiding under the covers and drinking hot toddies to keep warm. It's also been raining off and on for the last week.
But today is Saturday and it's sunny. Hopefully it will warm up a bit here later in the day.
After waking up at 4:30AM this morning, I watched a recording of "My Own Private Idaho." River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. OMFG. Keanu before he was anybody. River before his death. Gus van Sant. Seattle. Portland. Vistas of the American West. Love/Unlove, power, family, Dickens, street culture, and then, hustling at all levels. Now I see why the Hollywood crowd loved that film...so gritty, so not LA. I watched all the way through to the end of the credits, something I rarely do, and noticed the copyright date: 1991. Amazing. So much has happened since then. And the final scene where passers-by find River sleeping on the road and steal his shoes and duffle bag, to the slack string guitar version of "America the Beautiful." Harsh.
These days I alternate between feeling I've reached my level of incompetence, feeling as if I somehow don't have the "killer instincts" so prevalent in the world, and feeling it is precisely because I lack those instincts that I am who I am. It's a mixed up time.
I see films like that, and realize how good my life has been to this point, though it certainly has some interesting punctuations. Like the years I spent as a separatist, or the years taken to try to start my own business. Failures in so many ways, but successes in so many others. And now I work for a trans-national far from home and trusted to run a business. This isn't what I expected from life. So far from separatism and small business and my ideals.
What will become of me? I have no idea. At best, I can try to guide the trajectory along the river that is my life, and perhaps avoid some shoals and rocks. But on days like this, that is the best I hope for...to get knocked around a little less than usual.
But today is Saturday and it's sunny. Hopefully it will warm up a bit here later in the day.
After waking up at 4:30AM this morning, I watched a recording of "My Own Private Idaho." River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. OMFG. Keanu before he was anybody. River before his death. Gus van Sant. Seattle. Portland. Vistas of the American West. Love/Unlove, power, family, Dickens, street culture, and then, hustling at all levels. Now I see why the Hollywood crowd loved that film...so gritty, so not LA. I watched all the way through to the end of the credits, something I rarely do, and noticed the copyright date: 1991. Amazing. So much has happened since then. And the final scene where passers-by find River sleeping on the road and steal his shoes and duffle bag, to the slack string guitar version of "America the Beautiful." Harsh.
These days I alternate between feeling I've reached my level of incompetence, feeling as if I somehow don't have the "killer instincts" so prevalent in the world, and feeling it is precisely because I lack those instincts that I am who I am. It's a mixed up time.
I see films like that, and realize how good my life has been to this point, though it certainly has some interesting punctuations. Like the years I spent as a separatist, or the years taken to try to start my own business. Failures in so many ways, but successes in so many others. And now I work for a trans-national far from home and trusted to run a business. This isn't what I expected from life. So far from separatism and small business and my ideals.
What will become of me? I have no idea. At best, I can try to guide the trajectory along the river that is my life, and perhaps avoid some shoals and rocks. But on days like this, that is the best I hope for...to get knocked around a little less than usual.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Sunset in the Tree Top
A rare sunset in the trees along Ocean Avenue. The neighborhood is usually fogged in during the summer time. I caught this photo during a hot spell, when there were on shore breezes all through the day, blowing the fog out to see, and thus rendering sunset light into the tree tops.
California Green Figs
My favorite fruit when they are in season, which is about two weeks every year. Amazingly expensive, but oh, so delicious. These ones were organic, to boot. From Rainbow Grocery, Folsom and Division. A real treat.
CCSF Facade
The front side of the Mission campus of the Community College of San Francisco. Valencia near 22nd Street. Beautiful tile work and incredible detail.
Dog is my CoPilot
A brilliant, only-in-San Francisco moment. A motorcycle side-car populated by a setter. Waiting for traffic at the intersection of Juniperro Serra and Sloat.
The Windmills of San Francisco
The windmills at the ocean end of Golden Gate Park, near the Beach House, have been restored. This was a decade-long project, I think, but the end result is amazing. I have no idea how authentic the restoration was, but the results are beautiful.
I'll be posting a few highlights of my recent trip back to the Bay Area, and then getting back to my life in Brisbane.
I'll be posting a few highlights of my recent trip back to the Bay Area, and then getting back to my life in Brisbane.
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