A view of the original Mill Valley Library, and a hike up Mount Tamalpais via the Temelpa Trail: 21 June 2015

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph.

A view of three southern Marin water reservoirs. They are Lake Lagunitas Reservoir, Bon Tempe Lake Reservoir, and Alpine Lake Reservoir.

The route up Mount Tamalpais. The approximate distance traveled as tracked by GPS was 5.7 miles. The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 1,546 feet. Mile markers are shown on the route’s track.

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the ramble.

A photograph of the original Mill Valley Library under construction in 1911. It was located at 52 Lovell Avenue.

The library at 52 Lovell Avenue was closed in 1966, and a new library was built at 375 Throckmorton Avenue, which is where the library is still located. The library building at 52 Lovell was sold in 1966, and it is currently being used as a single-family residence. This is a recent photo of 52 Lovell Avenue.

A concise history of the original Mill Valley Library, which was endowed by the Carnegie Foundation.

A view of Bald Hill with Mount St Helena in the background, beyond the fog bank.

A madrone tree.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs that were posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com  

The San Francisco Bay Trail and the opening of the Ferry Point Loop Trail in Richmond: 31 May 2015

Two new additions to the San Francisco Bay Trail in Richmond were officially opened. The additions were made to the Point Richmond area of the Bay Trail. The new changes to the trail network enabled the East Bay Regional Park District to open a new trail loop: The Ferry Point Loop Trail. I decided to go to Point Richmond on Sunday to participate in the "Grand Opening Schedule of Festivities." The event took place across the street from the Richmond Plunge. After the grand opening celebration, I decided to ramble about and see what was done to the Bay Trail. The improvements are helpful; they promote safety and will be appreciated by both pedestrians and bicyclists. One of the improvements was widening the walkway/bike path that goes through the Richmond Ferry Tunnel. The other improvement for bicyclists and pedestrians provides a second access route to historic Richmond Kaiser Shipyard 3. 

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph

The grand opening ceremony. 

Bruce Beyaert is the chairman of the Trails for Richmond Action Committee. 

A view of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, as seen from Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline park. 

Angel Island is on the left; the northern tower of the Golden Gate Bridge is visible. The view is from Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. 

The remains of the Richmond Ferry Terminal. 

These building remnants are located adjacent to the remains of the Richmond Ferry Terminal. 

San Francisco is in the background, and the western span of the Bay Bridge is on the left. It is foggy and windy. The breakwater was constructed when the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards were in operation. A view from Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. 

This is the SS Red Oak Victory, a World War II Victory Ship built at the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards. 

Another view from within Kaiser Shipyard #3. The Red Oak Victory's bow can be seen on the left. A Whirley Crane is the center of attraction in this snap. This example was manufactured during WWII and was used at the Kaiser Shipyards during the war. 

The building is the former site of Ford Motor Company's Richmond assembly plant. It has had a fascinating history. In the background is a view of San Pablo Ridge. 

The map shows the route of the majority of the ramble. The approximate distance traveled as tracked by GPS was 6.2 miles. The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 131 feet. Mile markers are shown on the route’s track.

-------------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com.

The Excelsior District of San Francisco: 24 May 2015

On Sunday, San Francisco was under a thick fog cover with a light drizzle. I was in the Excelsior District of San Francisco, located in the southeast area of the city. I went to the Excelsior District to explore John McLaren Park. At 317 acres, it is the second-largest park in San Francisco.

Click on an image to see the full-size photograph.

The Cow Palace is located in Daly City. This snap was taken from John McLaren Park. This view is looking south. 

An overview of the location of the ramble.

The blue building is Glen Park Elementary School. The school is just north of California Interstate 280 highway. This is a view looking down Peru Avenue at Athens Street. 

The small hill is Bay View Hill, which is 420 feet high. This view is from John McLaren Park, looking east. 

The highest manmade object in John McLaren Park is La Grande Tank.  

This snap was taken from McLaren Park. The houses are located in Daly City. The hilly area on the upper right of the snap is a small part of San Bruno Mountain. The houses nestled on the hillside are located in the small town of Brisbane. This view is looking southeast. 

University Mound Reservoir. This clean water reservoir is one of eleven in-use water storage facilities located throughout San Francisco. See the below map. The view is looking northeast. 

A picture of the University Mound Reservoir facility during construction. Looking north. Circa 1930s.

The locations of both in-use and unused reservoirs located in San Francisco.

A photo of Balboa High School. The view is from the intersection of Onondaga Avenue and Otsego Avenue. The picture is looking south. 

The Jewish Home of San Francisco was founded in 1871, and it is a staffed housing facility for elderly residents. This photo was taken from Mission Street and Silver Avenue. The view is looking southeast. 

This interesting building is Cleveland Elementary School. This photo was taken from Persia Avenue. This view is looking northeast. 

The San Francisco Muni Metro Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center depot. The view is from Ocean Avenue; the cross street is San Jose Avenue, and the view is looking south. 

The route of the 24 May ramble. The approximate distance traveled as tracked by GPS was 8.5 miles. The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 1,075 feet. Mile markers are shown on the route's track. 

The graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the ramble. 
  

                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com  

A Cool and Foggy Day in San Francisco: 20 May 2015

A light drizzle was falling when I arrived at the West Portal Muni Metro Station. It was cool, foggy, and somewhat windy. A perfect spring day in San Francisco!

24th Street is the location of the Noe Valley shopping district. This is an apartment building on 24th Street.

The approximate distance traveled as tracked by GPS was 4.8 miles. The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 456 feet. Mile markers are shown on the route's track. 

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the ramble. 

This view is looking east. Oakland is on the opposite side of the bay. The picture was taken from Douglass Street, looking down Duncan Street. 

A rock garden on Diamond Street.

 An apartment building at the intersection of Diamond Street and 25th Street. 

A gaggle of children and their guardians are rambling down Sanchez Street. 

An apartment building at the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Sanchez Street.

Watch out for the alligator at 765 Sanchez Street; she looks hungry. 

 In the Excelsior District, John McLaren Park is in south-eastern San Francisco. This view is from an area of Sanchez Street situated in the Delores Heights Neighborhood. 

Entrance to the 16th Street Mission BART station, located in the Mission District. 

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com. 

San Francisco's Bay to Breakers foot race: 17 May 2015

I have previously participated in the San Francisco Bay to Breakers foot race. I have included photo galleries taken during the 2002, 2003, and 2004 races.

The 17 May 2015 race started at 8:00 am, and the official estimate is that approximately 50,000 registered and unregistered people entered the race. The weather was overcast and cool. This was the 104th year that the race was held.

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph.

A view looking back down Howard Street. This location is approximately 1.5 miles into the race.

The route of the 104th edition of the San Francisco Bay to Breakers foot race. The race started in downtown San Francisco, and it finished on the Great Highway, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Park. The approximate distance traveled as tracked by GPS was 7.7 miles. The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 366 feet. Mile markers are shown on the route's track. 

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the Bay to Breakers. 

This is as close as I am going to get to the starting line before the race begins. 

And we are off! The race has begun, and the runners are heading up Howard Street. 

We are heading up Hayes Street. The building is the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. This location is approximately 2 miles into the race. 

Ahead is the Hayes Street Hill, the biggest climb of the race. 

We continue to climb Hayes Street hill. 

We reached the top of Hayes Street, and there is now a short downhill before we turn left onto Divisadero Street. This location is approximately 3 miles into the race. 

On John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, we are heading to the Pacific Ocean. This location is approximately 4.5 miles into the race. 

We are now on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Golden Gate Park. In the distance on the horizon is the Pacific Ocean, and just ahead is a large sand dune which indicates that the ocean... and the finish, are just ahead. This location is approximately 7.2 miles into the race. 

The finish line of the 104th running of the San Francisco Bay to Breakers foot race. Another great public event which was put on with the cooperation and support of the City of San Francisco. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs that were posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com