Snaps from the Bay

Snapshots from my California sojourn.

Thank you for reading The Gargoyle – my newsletter on authenticity, creativity, and curiosity.

This week I’m sharing snaps from recent trip west. More longform writing soon!

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West Coast Photos, Vol. II

In West Coast Photos, Vol. I, I shared how in early March I had the opportunity to travel and recharge amidst what has been an ongoing, several-month process which I can best describe as a “sea change” in my life.

The first half of the trip was to Arizona (Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley), where I could feel my creativity opening up in the bright sunshine and especially the cool morning and evening air.

The second half of the trip was just a bit further - a short flight from Sky Harbor to SFO, where I spent several days in and around The Bay. This is a special part of the country in the story of my life, and I always appreciate the chance to see it with new eyes.

Below are some snaps I shot in San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County. Hope you enjoy. Thank you as always for allowing me to share my writing and images with you!

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Morning sun over the Bay Bridge, shot from the open-air deck of the San Francisco Bay Ferry.

Jack London Square at the Oakland docks, where I boarded the ferry.

Bay Bridge seen from closer to SF, with tugboat.

The Ferry Building, from outside and within.

Pier 23 restaurant along the Embarcadero, the roadway running along SF’s eastern waterfront.

The iconic Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill in SF’s North Beach neighborhood. Shot from the Embarcadero.

The Greenwich Steps (entrance L, midway R) snake through directly through North Beach residential streets up to Coit Tower.

Coit Tower observation deck - 210’ high, 13 flights of steps.

SF skyline, facing south from the base of Coit Tower.

San Francisco Bay, seen from the base of Coit Tower.

Downhill after Coit Tower to Columbus Ave., passing iconic churches. SS Peter and Paul (R).

City Lights Bookstore - Beat Generation mecca and one of the more famous bookshops in the United States.

Obligatory cable car pic, before catching the BART at the Embarcadero Station.

Oakland Docks (L) and Oakland Coliseum (R), snapped from BART.

Back at the ranch in Castro Valley, after a great day of sightseeing.

Next day, driving through Alameda County.

One last great porch sunset in Castro Valley before heading home the next morning.

No idea what mountains these were… but they were fantastic.

Bonus Pics

Thanks for letting me share these photos with you! If you’ve scrolled this far, here are a couple of vertical pics which didn’t fit earlier in the post.