Angel Island & Muir Woods
As we stretched on the deck of the National Geographic Sea Lion we enjoyed wonderful fall weather in San Francisco Bay. The fog lingered as brown pelicans free fell head first, making huge splashes, fishing for breakfast. In Zodiacs, we made our way to Ayala Cove on the north side of Angel Island; we admired the playful California Sea Lions, loons, and grebes swimming nearby. As we arrived at Angel Island we realized we had it all to ourselves! Some chose an active hike to the top of Mount Livermore, while other guests explored the lower altitudes and learned the human and natural history of the area. We were able to see the fortifications left by the military and see the progress of this state park since 1963.
In the afternoon, we made our way to Sausalito. There we visited the Bay Model Visitor Center. We saw the three-dimensional model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento/SanJoaquin Delta. It was built in 1957 by the Army Corps of Engineers as a scientific tool to test the impact of proposed changes to the Bay and Related waterways. We were impressed by the engineering and were able to understand the impact of environmental issues and get a better understanding of the geography of the Bay and surrounding areas.
Soon we were on our way to hike in Muir Woods. The sun was still shining bright and as we arrived we appreciated the shade of the tallest living things in the world, the Coastal Redwoods. This fog-drenched forest included many trees over 600 years old and very diverse undergrowth. We spent the afternoon hiking through this National Monument and one of the planet’s richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life. It was amazing to stand as the base of these massive trees and feel the history and strength they have. Their branches sprawled out creating a blanket of vegetation at the top of the forest. The smells of wet redwoods lingered in our nose’s, each moment gave us a sense how special these trees are.
The evening ended with a close up view and interpretation of Alcatraz. As we ate dinner, guests asked inquisitive questions and looked forward to another excellent day tomorrow. It was evident that it had been a spectacular first day in San Francisco Bay.
