After the less than easy time Paul and I had getting me to my rental car at SFO (I think from now on I'll try another airport cause SFO is a MESS!) I had a nostalgic drive 'home' to my Aunt's in Alameda. SFO is about 26 miles from my Aunts, all Freeway. It should take less than half an hour. Well, I got my car at around 3:00. Actually, more like 3:30 thanks to the fact that there are virtually no signs to indicate where somebody is to drop off a passenger with lots of luggage -- and even then, we ended up passing luggage over a railing... Anyway, enough with the complaints. Once I got on the road I was happy, but toward the city I hit a bit of traffic... About two hours later I made it to Alameda. Next time I need to remind myself to not go through the city during rush hour! Especially in the rain. Once again, I'm glad I now live in Indiana! Just too many people living here in the Bay Area.

As you can see, My Aunt's place is rather cozy ;-) Actually, this is what was once a garage, then a lath house, then my 'lab' / workshop and now has been converted into a room like thing. Not bad!

The 12th of January was a beautiful day. After dropping off 114 rolls of film at Costco (yes 114 rolls of film!) I headed north and then west across the San Rafael Bridge. Kinda cool taking bridge pictures while driving ;-p

	Today I was headed for the Nakai Pack, but first a little detour. Maybe not so little. I decided that I wanted to explore the Marin Headlands. I have never really done that before. I got a little lost, well, took a wrong turn anyway, so I took this photo of Tiburon? And then this one of Angel Island. Angel Island is by far the biggest one in the Bay. Then, finally, the Marin Headlands. San Francisco is just across the way. Also, it was so clear I could easily pick out the Farallon Islands which I believe are something like 14 miles out to sea. Of course we can't forget 'The Rock' -- Alcatraz. Oh, and there is this little bridge too...

This whole area is also spotted, well, honeycombed actually, with batteries. No, not the kind you put in your camera, but military ones -- the kinds with big guns, well, once had big guns anyway... This was in fact once a strategic point for all kinds of long range guns and missiles and such. Never a shot fired, but there was a lot here, and now is a lot of really cool ruins of stuff which was once here.

Right on the Golden Gate is Battery Spencer. Here is what the little plaque has written on it:

For over half a century, this was one of the most strategically important sites guarding the Golden Gate. Completed in 1897, the battery was named for Joseph Spencer, who had been a Major General in the army during the American Revolution. It was armed with 3 rifled guns having 12" diameter barrels. The fortification saw continuous service until 1943, when it was declared obsolete and its guns scrapped. To guard the Bay, brick and masonry fortifications were build on both sides of the Golden Gate. Huge Rodman cannon mounted here in the the 1870's could set up a lethal, overlapping cross fire with similar guns at Fort Point. Some of the brickwork from the 1870's guns emplacements is still visible along the path path.

 

This looked really old

These buildings were in the process of restoration

The inside was small, but even had a fire place

Here is the view from a bunker

And here is the view from outside the bunker

No guns now, but their supports were still there.

 

Notice anything in the background of that last image?
				Yes the Golden Gate Bridge. I just had to play 'tourist' and take a few snapshots ;-)