San Francisco

Nicky was attending a conference for work in San Francisco for a week so Lyla and I decided to tag along for a few days and explore the coastline and redwood forests.  I had great ambitions to get three full days of photography with Lyla strapped in my backpack.

After 6+ hours of flying, the California coastline is in sight!! The anticipation is building.

DAY 1

We had one family day on Sunday, so all three of us cruised the rocky coastline and then headed for the Muir woods redwood forest.  Lyla was great the whole trip, but I realized quickly on Sunday that my ambitions were much to high to take Lyla on all day hiking trips through the California landscapes.

Over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the mountains...

What a refreshing shock it was when we went from mid-90 degree weather in Florida to mid-50's in San Francisco! Lyla enjoyed the cool weather...she could actually stay outside for more than 5 minutes without overheating.

We almost made it to Reyes National Seashore, but Lyla decided this was far enough so we explored this trail just on the outskirts of the Reyes National Park.

So after a quick bottle...

Across a few fields...

And through a few obstacles...

we came across some stands of Eucalyptus trees which offered some great photo opportunities

Then back on the road headn' south to the redwood forests in Muir Woods National Monument Lyla decided that it was time to stop again. I learned quickly that Lyla was in charge of what I was going to be photographing, which worked out great because I think that the best photographs come from those situations that you are not expecting.

So while Lyla napped at the car with Nicky I ventured down the rocky banks of the nearby coastline trails

I came across these coastal lily flowers that were growing right out of the dry, dusty, rocky terrain

Further down the landscape I finally got my first view of the California coastline

It was difficult to get the sunlit coastal images that I imagined capturing because of the low fog-like clouds that blanketed the coastline.

It would still be challenging to make it to the shoreline, but I made it this far...

I finally broke trail down the rocky cliff ended up with a great shot of the jagged shoreline.

On the way back up I got a little off track and came across this unique house on the hillside overlooking the ocean

Its not much, but I bet that whoever lives here is at peace

Well, its getting close to Lyla's bedtime (in Florida time) but we think she can hang in there for one more stop at the redwood forest since it would be Nicky's only chance to see it before the conference takes all of her time the rest of the week.

One more bottle on the go...

And Lyla is ready for the hike

We chose a good time of day to visit the redwood forests with the late afternoon sun beaming through the towering redwoods

As usual for me it is a race against the sun in photography.  When the sun is right I've learned to act quickly, because it can be only moments before the sunlight is gone, sometimes never to give you the same opportunity again. So we jumped right into it

This is probably an image that many people take, but I had to take it

I imagine that this is what the gates of heaven would be for me.

It was great to see Nicky get into the photography too and challenge me with this shot of her own.

After one quick family photo we wrapped up the day and got Lyla in bed on time.  All in all it was a great day.

DAY 2 - LYLA and I...SOLO

Well, Lyla slept in through the sunrise, so we will have to work with the late morning sun.

We headed to the coast but the near shore fog was still blanketing the coastline so we headed inland to see what we could find.

After going to the highest altitude we could find we had stop here for two reasons. First, I could not pass up this view, and secondly Lyla was giving me the warning signs that she has had enough of the car seat for a while.

And it turned out that there was a worn out hiking trail right here that we could explore.

All strapped in, we headed for the hills

Looking back at this picture, I wish I would have turned around and set up for a shot right here. But I knew that it was only a half an hour until Lyla would be hungry, so I rushed ahead...which I have learned is a big mistake in photography...you have to pay attention to every step of the way.

Although the coastal fog did not make this far inland it created a haze across the landscape that layered the mountains in the background

One quick shot for Lyla's scrapbook...

and time for a picnic

After a bottle time to pack it up and head back and call it a day

I think we are going to make a great team!

Time to head home and rest up for another big day tomorrow.

DAY 3 - Testing Lyla's Limits

It is Lyla and my last full day in California and still so much to see and photograph. The question is...is Lyla on board for a full day.

Well, the foggy coastal weather continues, but we have to head to the coast and make the best of it.

First stop was the Golden Gate Recreational Area

There were some great photo opportunities here, but the fog was too thick, so we moved on

It was amazing to see the fog flowing over the landscape like dry ice vapor...but tricky for photography

So there was no choice but to venture into the clouds

After two hours of driving Lyla finally woke up and let me know that we are stopping the car and I am going to have to work with what is here.

I usually don't photograph architecture but I am always captivated by historical ruins

This building was at the highest point of the area overlooking the ocean and was part of a battery built in the late 1800's to protect California from foreign vessels

Found a trail...let's see where it goes

Nice! made it to the rocky shoreline and this time with Lyla on board

There were probably many more photo opportunities if we continued down the beach but I did not want to put Lyla in danger. So I decided to stay put since the tide was rising and was reaching the cliff walls in places that would make our return impassible.

So we chilled on the beach for a bit where Lyla could play in the sand...

picked up a stone for keepsake...

Took a scrapbook photo...

Stumbled on a deer on the way out...

Shared the hillside with her for a few moments...

Lyla let me stop for one last shot...

And we headed back to the city... What a great day!

DAY 4 - The Fog Lifts...But We Have a Plane To Catch

Lyla was up and ready by 8:30am and we had to drop the rental car off and catch a ride to the airport and check in no later than 11:20am. But I had to get back to the Golden Gate Recreational Area for one last shoot... so we went for it!

and it was worth the gamble...

With my photography points already in mind from yesterday I ran through the park with Lyla in one arm and my camera in the other. We made it down the 750 ft grade in 15 minutes taking my photographs along the way.

We reached the bottom and then I realized we have to sprint all the way back up the 750 ft grade

And of course I couldn't help but notice the dune landscape along the way...

We made it to the airport at 11:20am on the dot...although Lyla had enough of the car at that point.  Twelve hours later we arrived back home to Florida. 

I realize that we only touched the surface of what the west coast landscape has to offer...it was hard to leave

Stay tuned for our next great adventure!