On Marcia’s last day with us on the West Coast, we dipped down toward San Francisco in the Marin County area just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. This area includes Sausalito and Tiburon on the water and Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands, way above the water. First stop: the Headlands.

Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The top of the headlands had a military installation during World War II, with men stationed to watch for naval threats on the Pacific or aerial threats approaching San Francisco. Remnants of the battlements are still there, but the hilltop is now primarily a bird-watching spot for hawks, a viewing spot for the Golden Gate Bridge, and a destination for hill-climbing bicyclists.

On a clear day… Note the Sutra Tower’s large antennae in the background.

The bridge is spectacular from every vantage point. Some stats: It was built in 1933 at a cost of $35 million. Eleven men died during construction, but 19 other survived after being caught in safety nets set up under the area of construction. (They became members of the Half Way to Hell Club.)

Despite periodic public outcries to make the bridge suicide-proof, it remains highly accessible and jumpable.

More stats: The bridge is 245 feet above the bay. So tempting to cross over, but we waited…for now.

Marcia, just before she left her heart near San Franciso

Great views from the Spinnaker restaurant in Sausalito.

The Bay Bridge and San Francisco in the background.

There are yachts here.

Great day for a sail, but lots of boats in harbor

…and houseboats.

People started occupying “floating homes” in Sausalito in 1945. Now they’re connected to water and sewer systems and quite livable.

A few days later we headed on the same route. We passed Tomales Bay and saw oystering similar to Tim Henry’s Great Bay Oysters in New Hampshire.

A dedicated oysterman sorting his crop

It’s a very different logo.

She does not look like the oysterman we just saw.

We climbed to the Marin Headlands for views of the bridge again. What a difference a day makes!

This is the Sutra Tower, but where is the Golden Gate? (Unbelievable, but it’s totally under the fog.)