Racing with a full moon - East Brother Lighthouse

There is a lighthouse that sit on a rock island straddling the waters between San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The East Brother Lighthouse was built back in 1873. There used to be a number of these lighthouses in the Bay on the little known islands here. The East Brother lighthouse is the only one that survives. As a way to preserve this remaining bit of history, the Lighthouse is now a Bed and Breakfast. Glenn and I were gifted with a night at East Brother Light house by our daughter Katie last Christmas. Saturday was our day to head to the Island.

The lighthouse if off Point Molate (on the other side of the Chevron refineries in Richmond). The long road hugs the shoreline as you make you way past old Government buildings that have long been abandoned... or are they? There are some very curious white pickup trucks that follow your progress, chatting on walky talkies letting other white pickup know where you, the intruder, is at every moment.

Eventually you are at parking lot of the Point San Pablo Harbor, which is on its own a little bit of Twilight Zone.

Glenn and I arrived early, since we bought a "Day Pass" to get our ride over to the Island. The Vallejo Sailing Race was scheduled to be sailed and the course take the boats right by the island. Since Glen had sailed this race around 25 times, we were making good on his personal promise to be on the island one time as they sail by.

We waited for the launch to arrive, looking over a harbor that had a collection of "interesting" boats, many abandoned. There are also a group of house boats.

Eventually another three couples came by each of them were using Day Passes as well but not staying on the island. The launch can take 6 people or so. We headed off first while this Harbor dog barked at us on our way off.

The weather was simply spectacular. We landed, climbed the ladder to the island then the ramp to the top.... where we settled in to enjoy this beautiful day.

Had we not arrived the islands would be like most of the other ones on the Bay, a bird sanctuary.

The Island would normally we pretty wind swept. It often is cool... and blustery on the bay here. But to day, there was little if any breeze.

You and see seven counties Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Sonoma and Napa, and of course SF from this island.

The boats were gathering getting ready for their start beyond the San Rafael Richmond Bridge.

The lighthouse has been beautifully restored. It had been used by the coast guard and much of its beauty had faded and been covered up with years of piece meal repairs. Things like asphalt shingles topping the old wood siding. The volunteers who turned this into what it is today should be thanked.

The water here is naturally collected. The power is cabled over from the mainland.

The old fog signal is pretty LOUD. They now only sound it as a demonstration.

During October through April there is a much quieter automatic signal. We didn't get to hear this signal since it is May.

The machine works to make the fog signal work is a series of compressors, gas engines and several back up systems.

In the fog signal house is a sample of what an old lense woudl have looked like. This isn't the same one from the original Lighthouse but this is the same size and age of the original.

Glenn and I were on a multi media mission. He had his cellphone, small camera, and his I-pad. I had a small camera and my 35 mm Camera with 3 lenses!

We had brought a picnic and enjoyed it while we waited for the boats to arrive.

The remaining day trippers arrived.

The Vallejo Ferry

If you are planning a day trip there is a lot of time to relax, read a book or play horseshoes. It would be a mistake not to take your camera!

One of the first boats to arrive was a cat names Adrenaline.

This orange hulled boat, Bridge Runner, ended up winning the race. Glenn knew the skipper on board Urs.

We shared a little local knowledge with the day trippers, and Glenn explained some about the race that was entertaining us.

Here are some photos of the race....

We came across a couple of Geese who were guarding their two eggs.

A gull sitting on top of the fog signal....

The island was covered with poppies on this trip.

Us.....

J101 with Pat....

Wing on Wing....

Glenn with his Ipad...

Boats that went between the Island and east shore were close enough to yak at... or take a picture.

I offered to throw them a beer...

Boats on their way... Glenn and I took some more pictures as we waited for the night time guests to arrive.

This is West Brother with Mt Tam beyond.

Detail that has been recreated at the house.

The guests arrived and we ended up to be quite the group. We were all pretty well different. There were two couples, they both worked for "tech" companies. All very nice, interesting and young. There was a couple of young lawyers. He had come originally from Alaska and worked on boats for a long time with his family. There was a Pediatrician and a Geo tech Engineer around our age. Everyone lived in the Bay area now.

This was a full moon night. That added to the temperate weather made our evening spectacular.

The Inn keepers Peter and Deana were on their 18th month as the keepers. They told us the average stay is 24 months. She is a phenomenal cook. He is a great host. She will be moving on to Cater in Marin and he will be teaching at Marin Catholic HS in Kentfield. He used to teach at Tam HS in 2002, and he is going back to teaching Physics and Math.

After a good nights sleep we headed back. I had bought 2 day passes to auction off at Pinktini and Popcorn, because this is one trip everyone should do. Thanks Katie.

If you'd like to bid on this wonderful adventure, please click on the link...

http://www.pinktiniandpopcorn.com/

You could decide to stay overnight too (not included)

If I knew I was speaking......

Yesterday was the day I was scheduled to do my J-Lo thing in San Jose at the Adobe Headquarters for their Karaoke for the Cure. But it was also the day I was set to have lunch with Jim Hillman (the Jim Hillman of 14 event, 3 dayer fame). Glenn and I debated about how much time it would take to get to Palo Alto on a Friday and he suggested it would take 2 hours with about 5 minutes for a cushion. Well, it took an hour and 10 minutes. I got there so early I could sneak in a walk. So I walked a loop around the Eichler filled neighborhood. 

We met at the Green Elephant. I would know this bright eyed - lean - purposeful man anywhere. We have exchanged emails and facebook messages in the past, but had yet to meet face to face.  Jim has become an invaluable asset to the 3 day world. The passion which drove him to walk in all 14 3 days last year defines the reasons why we walk. To put an end to Cancer. I have written in this blog before the story of finding a little girl on Belmont hill in Boston holding a sign that said, "My Mom died from Breast Cancer, keep walking for a cure." Jim started walking in memory of his Mother who had died from Breast Cancer, and he continues to walk for many many more. That is one thing the 3 day does for you, it deepens the resolve you have to end Cancer but reminding you how many people it has taken.

Our lunch was great. We were able to share stories, talk about our attitude about sweep vans and blisters, about the 3 day staff and camping. He said he was surprised about all the attention he had gotten for his achievement. I told him I understood that completely but that I was proud that he had become a leader in the effort. I totally understood the drive he felt on Belmont Hill when he saw Zoie that took him through all 14 walks. I also understand how healing the collective power of so many walkers can be to someone who has suffered loss or to survivors who are taking back their lives.

I totally forgot I was planning on taking at least one picture of we two together. That may have to wait for the SF walk in September, unless I can convince Jim to come for Pinktini and Popcorn! He would be a welcome 3 day celebrity !

I drove down to San Jose with more time to kill once I arrived. At Adobe I went in to get my name tag where Brett our host met me, and showed me where I could drop my box of PINK. An hour to kill equals at least 3 miles... so I asked him where I might be able to get in a little walk. He suggested the river walk along the Guadalupe River.

This very LA style river has banks that have been tiered with concrete for the many floods that have been known to happen along its banks. Also a long the banks were some seemingly homeless folks, a few bike riders, ducks and birds.

It was great walking weather so I took off at a quick clip to get it in before Karaoke for the Cure. Along the way I practiced my "Hey dog!" and "They're in it to win it!" comments.

Mommy duck and baby ducks weren't very impressed with me...

The old "Italian village" along the way.

I had gotten a little warm on the walk so I took off the hat to "air" out!

I had on my 3 day pink, with mardi gras beads and survivor shirt. When I got to the event location, I was pointed to a table where Melissa (of the 3 day) and I would be. I pulled out some of the pink I had brought, boas, leis, pompoms, bracelets and waited for Melissa to arrive. Adobe set up a computer we could use for credit card donations. The purpose of the event was to help their employees who are walking in these events raise their minimums. What a fun and supportive thing to do! Besides us there were two walks which benefitted Leukemia lymphoma and a table for the Crohns and Colitis walk.

We set up and decorated a 3 day tent....

So I was able to show how we do it 3 day style!

People started to come in grab a drink and some food. The DJ set up his equipment for the Karaoke.

People would pay money to sing and their $$ would be donations equally divided among the participants.

Somewhere along the way Brett came up to me and Melissa and said, after the next person I would go up on stage to talk to the group of about 130 people about the 3 day and me. WHAT?! I thought I was judging. I couldn't really do my J-Lo and talk about losing a breast could I? Or "Hey dog! guess what? I'm in it because I lost it?"

Melissa turned to me and said "I thought you knew?" I told her I didn't mind, I was pretty good on my feet but I hadn't planned anything.

So when I got up I told the group about what it was like to find out about my Cancer 17 years ago. How it had taken 14 years to accept the fact I had survived. I went into some detail about each... and explained what it means to walk with my daughters and know what we are doing, this powerful thing we do, can help to change the world to be one where there is no more Cancer. I think it went over pretty well because one lady in particular came to the table and wrote a sizable check and said my story had touched her. I did have the attention of most of the room.

But you know how it is, in hindsight I would have said more, or said it differently. I would have said, my mother had died from Lung Cancer, my grandfather from Colon Cancer. I had lost a couple of  friends to Breast Cancer and I had just attended the memorial of a colleague who had passed from Esophageal Cancer. I would have said, research from any of these organizations will benefit other Cancers. I would have told folks about the people in the circle with me in DC. I would have said, walk if you haven't before... it will be the most incredible thing you never thought you could do.

But I didn't. I just did what I did and I was glad to be able to do that. THANKS Melissa for the privilege!