Thursday, November 19, 2009


I found this glorious Great Horned Own in a grove of non-indeginous Eucalyptus trees in the Marin Headlands. I see they are cutting down all sorts of trees in the Presidio. I know the Great Horned Owl is frequently seen in the groves there. I can not really imagine who is thinking cutting down all the trees along Doyle Drive is a good idea. Sure is a nice clear vision of the highway now though (thanks) and it sure is making a pristine place more and more urban. I think it is really really important to understand that the Presidio has afforded us a natural refuse in the San Francisco. I can just imagine the Urban planner proudly saying "We will make more views of the Golden Gate Bridge". I bet they would not have gotten that through say the Sausalito Planning Department and I don't really understand how anyone can think deforresting that area is a good idea.

I am one of those "problems" who goes through the Presidio on a regular basis. They apparently find the traffic to be a problem. My grandparents are buried in the cemetery there and I often stop to reflect. Yes, I know, I have to share and I am happy about most of the developments on the Presidio, but when they cut down the Monterey Pines and left that wide open swath directly looking at the freeway my heart sunk. I really was at odds with myself the next few days succumbing to the idea that it might be time to move from the Bay Area.

As they say "It is just not cool guys".

_____________
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.

Individual Great Horned Owls range in length from 18-27 in (46-68 cm) and have a wingspan of 40-60.5 in (101-153 cm); Females are larger than males, an average adult being 22 in (55 cm) long with a 49 in (124 cm) wingspan and weighing about 3.1 lbs (1400 g). Bergmann's Rule generally holds: larger individuals are found towards Polar regions, smaller towards the Equator.
Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish, brown or gray face and a white patch on the throat. The iris is yellow, except the amber-eyed South American Great Horned Owl (B. v. nacurutu). Its "horns" are neither ears nor horns, simply tufts of feathers. The underparts are light with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown. The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons. There are individual and regional variations in color; birds from the sub-Arctic are a washed-out, light-buff color, while those from Central America can be a dark chocolate brown.Their call is a low-pitched but loud ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo; sometimes it is only four syllables instead of five. The female's call is higher and rises in pitch at the end of the call. Young owls make hissing or screeching sounds that are often confused with the calls of Barn Owls.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

SFBayImages.com provided aerial and marine HD film production to capture this event.



Chris Martin and Mick Dawson aboard "Bojangles" row under the Golden Gate Bridge making history.
They are the first to row successfully row across the Pacific Ocean. They left Japan in May of 2009 and rowed under the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday the 13th, November 2009. For more on their trip visit www.GoldenGateEndeavour.com

Arrival:
Friday 13th November
16:25 GMT
189 days, 10 hrs, 55 mins


MUSIC: "TIME FOR TEA"
Composer: Toast a Ghost

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VIDEO MAY NOT BE RE-USED IN PART OR WHOLE IN ANY OTHER WAY THEN REPOSTING IN IT'S ENTIRETY AS A YOUTUBE.com VIRAL VIDEO. THANK YOU.

Filming and Editing by SFBAYIMAGES.com
Category: Sports
Tags: Golden Gate Endeavor Mick Dawson Chris Martin Bojangles San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge SF Bay Sandra Cannon rowing rowers row pacific ocean water sports adventures boats aerial helicopter sfbayimages.com SF Bay Images open water transpacific extreme sports GG Bridge GGE

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Golden Gate Endeavor Food Drop

Monday, November 09, 2009


Golden Gate Endeavor Food Drop November 8, 2009

Chris Martin and Mick Dawson on the "Bojangles", a 20 foot row boat, in their Golden Gate Endeavor to cross the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the San Francisco Bay. Photo taken during a food drop just over 100 nautical miles off Santa Rosa, California. November 8. 2009. The pair aim to become the first to row unsupported across teh North Pacific Ocean finishing in San Francisco under the Golden Gate Bridge. Their estimated time of arrival in San Francisco is within the next week.

You can follow Chris and Mick in their voyage at GoldenGateEndeavor.com

Helicopter provided by:

Wayne Lackey
WINE COUNTRY HELICOPTERS
Napa, CA
707-226-8470
winecountryhelicopters.com
Aerial Photograph Canon 5D Mark ll SFBAYIMAGES.com
The Boat
The vessel specifically designed and constructed for this challenge is ‘Bojangles’. At 23ft long and 6ft wide, ‘Bojangles’ is the most technically advanced ocean rowing vessel ever constructed. Manufactured from a Carbon-Kevlar composite woven material (by Woodvale Challenge), it is incredibly strong and durable, whilst at the same time being the lightest material suitable for the construction of an ocean going vessel. The woven construction increases the impact resistance threefold, while the method used to cure the resin ensures that the strength of the boat is not limited by the strength of its joints. In addition, renowned yacht designer John Shuttleworth was employed at the design stage to highlight and implement specific structural requirements for this vessel and her particular voyage, all of which have been incorporated into the final build.

Thursday, November 05, 2009


San Francisco Bay Bridge is actually a beautiful bridge even though it is played down by that other bridge, you know, the gold one.

Aerial San Francisco Bay Bridge. Sci-Fi affect brought to you by filtered sunlight at sunset. Aerial San Francisco Bay Photography by SFBayImages.com


Sunrise behind the San Francisco Bay Bridge, Fall. SFBayImages.com, Ode de Bay Bridge Series.

Rainbow over Angel Island. So this photo was taken in the spring, but there was a full rainbow over Richardson Bay about an hour ago. Complete arch. Thats is one wide angle lens you would need.