I took some shots with two classic ships moored at Mare Island for several years while the docks in San Francisco are being repaired. I love looking at these, and I’m in awe that both of these are from the 19th century! Shea and I were in the area for a meeting he had, so I ventured out in the light rain to take in the view. We also did a pit stop near the Quarters Cafe and Godfather’s Winery.
This unorthodox garage sale was in a very cool building and I found a couple of things with my hopefully increasingly honed eye for thrift goods. I used to hate shopping, but I love doing it when it’s my newfound FB marketplace, thrift stores in and around Vallejo, and situations like this, particularly as I’m imagining things in my home under renovation. It took me a minute to realize how gorgeous the building was. I love the sign that says that the crane has been immobilized!
Greg wouldn’t allow me to leave until he had me pose with this book. Maybe I should have read the title before I realized what he was doing? Greg!!!
The end of the tour was at Godfather’s Winery on Mare Island:
This beach was not accessible by car south of Kealakekua Bay. The road had long been impassable. I don’t think even with a 4-wheel drive vehicle it would be possible to get all the way down the street that we saw on the map due to the road condition. It didn’t appear anyone was in a rush to repair the road, in any event. It was tough enough getting to a safe parking space by the ocean with the road that was semi-functional, but definitely unpaved and neglected. The last stretch was surmountable only by foot. At least the walk was scenic. I just wish the GPS didn’t try to get us to keep driving to the actual beach that we ended up at.
In the distance for the first time, I saw the Captain Cook monument, not knowing for certain if we’d be near it to snorkel a few days later (but we were). There was almost no one else on the beach besides us and maybe four other tourists while we visited, plus maybe a few locals with their homes nearby. A few of them might have been vacation rentals. Either way, this was no tourist spot.
While I had been to this park a few times before, knowing it was expected that one treat the grounds as sacred, I had never ventured quite as far into the park as I did this time. Researchers were studying the freshwater ponds that had been created, which makes sense for the indigenous populations that lived here as a place to store fish near this ocean spot, a woman weaving traditionally and explaining to visitors her process. Shea did not wish to be photographed here, although he might be in the background of a video.
After leaving the park, in other parts of Hōnaunau Bay we got to enjoy an accessible beach where people were snorkeling. We didn’t see a place to rent equipment so I just went in for a dip while Shea read on the beach. Between the cultural center and the beach, near the parking lot, I took a picture of some of the wild goats.
This was a must-see. I spent hours there with another advocate from the Tobacco End Game Summit. We paid particular attention to the slave trade and its use of enslaved people for tobacco. I also loved the Afro-Futurism section that I told my daughter about. The building itself is gorgeous in the background in the one picture.
Shando and I finally got to check out the gorgeous Quarters Coffee House in an old officer’s quarters on Mare Island. What a cool spot with great indoor and outdoor seating. It’s dog-friendly too, so we brought a couple of our dogs and remained outside!
I regret that I didn’t take any long shots of the front of the building, since I love the architecture so much, but you get an idea of what the building looks like from the design of the one next to it in this first picture.
I forgot to take a picture with my friend Lisa Gutierrez-Wilson, but it was her idea to check this new place out. What a jewel in Vallejo and one of our many hidden treasures. Mare Island is full of surprises!
Featuring music that originated in Vallejo or from Vallejoans, we had a blast at this event, connecting with local volunteers and artists for a good cause and some important local history of inclusion and diversity. Fabulous Board President Liat Meitzenheimer is speaking during this portion.
Many events have drawn me to this organization, including the fundraising Trivia Night, the Vallejo Garden Tour, and various symposia. I’m glad to further entrench myself in this community by supporting this amazing institution with a long history here in town.
A day in San Jose with good friends.
