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Archive for Hiking

Feb
24

Sunday Gratitude

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Inspired by my Twitter friend Michelle’s (@RiteHereNow) writing prompt:

I am thankful for…

Friends

Family

Forgiveness

and

Food!

Thankful for my hike with Twitter friend Maria (@alembic) yesterday in China Camp.

China Camp

 

Thankful for the wonderful dinner shared with @ernestoadiaz and family last night. Also thankful for the opportunity to try new recipes. For instance, Mejillones con Chorizo prepared by Ernesto. This recipe will most likely show up on his new blog soon.

 

Mejillones con Chorizo

 

Thankful to my friends who have invited me to watch the Oscars with them tonight!

 

red carpet

 

Thankful for my mom who is open to going on a last minute adventure with me next week. She’s coming up here for a whirlwind 24 hour trip to attend one of Marilyn’s vision book workshops.

VisionBook

 

Finally, thankful for forgiveness, for those people who have stuck with me through all the ups and downs and drama over the last 20+years.

love

Thank you.

 

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Feb
20

Snow on Mt. Tam

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It snowed on Mt. Tam this weekend! This is a very unusual thing to happen. The few times we’ve seen snow on Mt. Tam in the past, it has melted away faster than we could get our cameras out. This snow has been here for the last 2 days!

When I woke up this morning and saw blue sky, the first thing I did was run outside and go to the top of my steep hill to see if there was still snow on the mountain. There was!

We grabbed our dog, got in the car, picked up a friend and another dog and headed up the mountain for a hike in the snow. We happened upon this snow person.

Here are some more photos from our fun in the sun today:

Mt. Tam also known as Mt. Tamalpais is located in Marin County. It’s full of beautiful trails for hiking and biking on.

More photos from others:

San Anselmo Fairfax Patch

Marin IJ

Categories : Hiking, Marin
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Aug
19

In Memory of the Mill Valley Mushrooms

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The other day I walked on the Mill Valley bike path and realized the mushrooms were missing.
I looked down in to the creek and saw them crumpled and wet on the ground.

:-(

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Dr. Michelle Gannon (aka @DrMichelleXO) is another Twitter friend turned real friend. She’s great! Michelle is very active on Twitter and Facebook, I love meeting professionals that “get” how social media works (ie. tools to build relationships, not just to broadcast yourself). Besides being a successful Psychologist, a wonderful mom & wife, and a super fun person, Michelle is a fitness freak inspiration. ;-)

Because of her expertise in relationships and exercise I asked her to share some fun fitness things to do around the Bay Area (with or without your partner). ~Sally

Dr. Michelle Gannon is a Psychologist in private practice in San Francisco working with individuals and couples for the past 20 years. She is also a founder of Marriage Prep 101, Award Winning Couples Workshops for Engaged, Newlywed and Seriously Dating Couples that she has led with her husband, Dr Patrick Gannon for the past ten years. The Gannon’s recently won the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay Award for Best Couples Counselor for the 6th year, and are often featured in local and national media. Michelle loves what she does, and she tries to practice what she teaches…

Below Michelle shares some fun ways to exercise in the Bay Area.

Hi Sally, It has been such a treat to meet you. As you know, I am a big believer that all of our relationships benefit from us taking good care of ourselves. For many of us, physical exercise makes a significant difference in our mood, and emotional and physical well being. For those of us who live in the San Francisco Bay Area or Marin, we have some great options for exercise. I am happy to recommend some of my current favorites.

Also, I wonder: If you are in a relationship, are you someone who likes to exercise with your partner? Or would you prefer to exercise on your own? I have tried both options. Since my husband and I both like to be fit, I thought it would be fun to exercise together. However, our different personality styles come up when we exercise. When we run or bike together, he actually wants us to be completely quiet. He likes his exercise routine to be meditative and introspective. No surprise to you that I like to chat if we are together. What’s the point of exercising together if I have to be quiet? Ha! So over the past sixteen years together, we have decided to do our regular exercise independently, and then come together for the occasional hike or bike ride. Also, since we have children, it has worked out well for me to get up early and exercise without him! When I spoke with the coaches at my current favorite gym, Tamalpais Cross Fit, they reported, “Exercise builds camaraderie with their spouses. Working out together gives new dimension to their conversations and how they spend their free time. They even felt closer after they exercised together”.

What about you Sally? Do you and Celia like to mountain bike together?  Um, no. ;-)

Or do you have better times hiking?  Exercise together or apart? I prefer to hike with my dog. She prefers to bike without the dog. We occasionally come together for a hike or a mellow bike ride along the bike path of Mill Valley & Sausalito. ~Sally

What are your favorite running, hiking or biking routes?

I live in Marin, and like to hike with my golden retriever, Max. The loop around Phoenix Lake in Greenbrae is one of our favorites.  It only takes an hour to walk around the lake so you can easily squeeze it in no matter how busy you are. You can also make the hike longer by following any of the uphill trails. My office is located in Presidio Heights in San Francisco. One of my favorite running routes starts with a jump over the Presidio Wall, then a twisty run through the Presidio and along the Marina Green and Chrissy Fields. I enjoy passing by the Palace of Fine Arts, beautiful Pacific Height homes, and finishing by running up the Lyon Street Steps. It is indeed a challenging San Francisco route rewarded by breathtaking views of the city.

In terms of biking, we like to bike out to China Camp along San Pedro Road in San Rafael. In San Francisco, one of our favorite routes is to bike from the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and up the Marin Headlands. Of course, biking in Sonoma or Napa from winery to winery is another good way to spend an afternoon.

What is your favorite yoga studio?

I have a Sunday morning ritual of yoga and coffee date with girlfriends. We really like the classes taught at Yoga Works. Originally, I went to The Yoga Studio, and was hesitant about the change in ownership. The Yoga Works studios in Larkspur and Mill Valley have both kept their commitment to offer excellent yoga instruction in an inviting setting for all levels.

Any other exercise recommendations?

Every couples of years, I like to try something new for fitness. Two months ago, I began the most challenging workout program ever: CrossFit. Coaches Michael, Corey and Meshelle at Tamalpais Cross Fit encourage, motivate and support us in small group classes. They deliver an hour long high intense, constantly varied workout utilizing weights, gymnastics, plyometrics, running, rowing, kettlebells, pull up bars, and more. My fellow cross-fitters are the kindest, most encouraging fellow exercisers I have ever met. The coaches are also available for personal training, but I like the group support. We can moan and complain out loud here, and not get in trouble for talking!

Please consider making time to exercise as an intentional way to become more physically and emotionally fit. As an intentional way to work on your relationships, please consider Marriage Prep 101 or call Michelle at 415 905- 8830 for therapy, workshop or reading recommendations. You can also follow her at Twitter.com/DrMichellexoFacebook.com/MarriagePrep101 or read her blog at DrMichelleGannon.com.

Thanks Michelle!

Jul
29

Great Escapes in Northern California

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I was immediately fascinated by Laura Del Rosso when I met her at the Pearltrees blogger lunch at the Waterbar in San Francisco. She wrote a book titled Great Escapes: Northern California and has created some travel apps for San Francisco. She agreed to be interviewed!

What exactly do you do?
I’m a longtime journalist and author, Bay Area native and 30-year resident of San Francisco. My book, Great Escapes: Northern California (Countryman Press 2008), covers 30 weekend getaways and day trips in northern California. I have a blog on northern California and recently wrote and photographed two travel apps that can be downloaded on iPhones and Ipod Touches — one on San Francisco’s Chinatown and the other on San Francisco’s North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf. They are guides that include interactive maps, website links and suggestions for restaurants, bars, attractions and historic sites to visit.

What do you love most about the Bay Area?
I love the great diversity of everything: the natural landscape, the people, the cultural activities. We’ve got such a wide range of choices for things to do, from hiking along the coast or in forests, to eating in some of the best restaurants in the world and visiting museums, shopping or exploring a small town like Pescadero or an urban neighborhood like the Mission. Even the weather is diverse. In the summer, you can go from cool fog on the coast to blistering hot in less than an hour’s drive.

Where is your favorite place to hike/bike in the Bay Area?
I love to hike on Mt. Tam and Point Reyes, but I live in San Francisco and, almost on a daily basis, I find myself taking long walks on Crissy Field, in the Presidio (on some of the wonderful new hiking paths that have been added there), or on the Land’s End trail, which, on a clear day, has got to be one of the most amazing walks on the planet. They’ve really done a great job sprucing up that trail lately.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?

I love so many, but I’m partial to Delfina in the Mission because the ingredients are so simply prepared and high quality. I also love inexpensive little neighborhood places. La Taqueria in the Mission is my favorite for tacos and Shanghai Dumpling King in the outer Richmond is my top Chinese spot.

What is your favorite place to get coffee or tea?
I normally don’t recommend chains but it’s a local chain so I don’t mind as much: the La Boulanges around San Francisco. I love their almond croissants with a latte. When I’m in North Beach, I head to Cafe Puccini or Cafe Greco for good espresso.

What is your favorite place to shop for clothing?
There’s a little place called Alaya in the inner Sunset that I like. If I’m downtown, I’ll go to Zara and Loehmann’s.

If you had an out of town guest coming to visit that had never been to the Bay Area where would you take them?
I’d show them around San Francisco, starting with the top of Twin Peaks if it’s a clear day. People love that and it gives them the lay of the land. I’d make sure to show them the Victorians on Liberty Street in the Castro, take them through Golden Gate Park (people always love seeing the buffalo and the Conservatory of Flowers), the Ferry Building and walk around downtown a bit — Union Square, Chinatown and Yerba Buena Gardens. Then I’d cross the Golden Gate Bridge and go up to the headlands for a view of the city and the bridge from there. If there were time, we’d go to Sausalito, Muir Woods and drive to Point Reyes to see west Marin.

Favorite winery?
Bartholomew Park Winery in the eastern hills of Sonoma, which has beautiful gardens for a picnic and a very interesting, small museum of the area.

Favorite bar?
Tosca in North Beach. You can’t beat the atmosphere. I love sitting in one of the red booths along the back wall, talking with friends and watching people. On a chilly night, have one of those house specialties with steamed milk, hot chocolate and brandy.

Thank you!

Visit www.greatescapesnorcal.com to learn more.

Crab Stands at the Wharf - by Laura Del Rosso

Jul
28

Hiking in Marin

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Early morning hike in Marin.

More sunny-foggy Marin days.

I think Mill Valley should officially change its name to Fog Valley.


This is what happens in Marin when you put a McDonald’s next to a trail.

Thanks Wordless Wednesday!

More info about hiking in Marin.

PS. Please become a fan of Sally Around The Bay on Facebook.
Thank you!

Categories : Hiking, Marin, Mill Valley
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May
14

Heckle and Jeckle

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Ever wonder what happened to Heckle and Jeckle after retirement?

They moved to the Bay Area!

Categories : Hiking, Marin, Random
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Last week I was in Phoenix, Arizona attending the IVAA conference. On the last day my friend Yvonne and I and our new friends Janet and Mike decided to play hooky and go out on the town. For a whole $1.75 we had transportation for the day thanks to Mike who knew about the awesome light rail public transportation system that Phoenix has to offer. Our first stop off the rail was the Hard Rock Café to get a t-shirt for Jan but of course when I saw they had a purple blingy one I also had to get myself a t-shirt. We then headed to Alice Cooper’s restaurant Cooper’sTown and had very large glasses of lemonade.

After drinking our very large glasses of lemonade we headed back to the train and made our way to Tempe.  Yvonne was on a mission to see a desert and a cactus. I was going with the flow. When we arrived in Tempe there just happened to be a little mountain or desert hill in the middle of the town and it had cactus on it! It was called the Hayden Butte Preserve. Yvonne and I asked Jan and Mike if they were up for a hike. Being the easy going fun people they are they said sure! Off we went, me in my flip flops, Yvonne in her semi-high heeled flip flops and up the trail we went.  I’m so glad we were the adventurers that we were! The view from the top of that desert mountain hill was beautiful! (Please note I am the short one in this picture for some reason ALL of my virtual friends have the idea I am tall. I’m not.)

After our desert hike I was craving a beer. Mike said let’s get one then. (My kinda guy!) We strolled in to town to find a plethora of pubs. We had pub choices! We decided upon the one called The Library (being on a business trip and playing hooky it seemed appropriate). The place was great! The walls were lined with nice old books. It made us feel smart. I got my cold beer and was very pleased. I also had a chicken caeser salad that was huge and quite delicious. I’m thinking this could be my new office.

The waitress uniforms were… well let’s just say I wouldn’t work there. Seriously how do businesses get away with this kind of dress requirement? I guess because the women put up with it… You can take a look for yourself here.

The Library Bar & Grill
www.thelibraryusa.com
501 South Mill Avenue, Suite 101
Tempe, Arizona 85281

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Apr
03

Hidden Hiking Gems in the Bay Area

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One thing I love about the Bay Area is it is full of surprises. I’m always discovering new, fun things to do!

Today I went on an adventure on Mt. Tamalpais (known as Mt. Tam to the locals) and hiked up ZigZag trail and down Tenderfoot trail in Mill Valley!

ZigZag is an intense technical uphill trail (all uphill) that starts right off of Cascade Dr. in Mill Valley and ends near the Mountain Home Inn.

When we reached the Mountain Home Inn we headed toward Tenderfoot trail and took that down. At the end of Tenderfoot we spotted this guy.

__________________________________________________________________

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Feb
23

Mill Valley

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Wordless Wednesday
Mill Valley

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