Point Reyes Weekend

You Mon Tsang December 12th, 2009

As winter arrives, we’ll be seeing the Northern elephant seals (lounging in certain areas) and Pacific gray whales (migrating past the peninsula) return to the Point Reyes area. This wildlife also brings lots of visitors and the return of the shuttle bus system that takes folks out to Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse. The shuttle system will begin Saturday, December 26, 2009 and run through mid-April 2010. More from the Park Service.

Limited parking is available at prime viewing areas such as the Historic Lighthouse and Chimney Rock headlands. Bus service eases congestion in these areas and reduces green house gas emissions. The shuttle transportation system was identified in the Headlands Management Plan as an important tool to protect the fragile headlands but also allow access for visitors.

Bus service runs only on weekends and holidays in good weather. Ticket sales open at 9:00 a.m. at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach and close at 3:00 p.m. Children 16 and under are free, adult tickets are $5.00 per person and Federal Senior and Access pass discounts apply to the purchase. Sir Francis Drake Highway is closed at the South Beach junction when the busses are operating. Road closures begin at 9:00 a.m. and the road reopens approximately at 5:15 p.m. For more information, please call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100 x2 x5 or visit our Winter Shuttle Bus System page.

• Elephant Seals , Whales
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You Mon Tsang November 20th, 2009

I’ve been wanting to write about my tour of the Cowgirl Creamery for a while now, but now I can refer you to William Wong‘s account of his tour over at sfgate.com. This was a pleasant surprise since Bill is both a great writer and friend.  Some quotes and link to full story below:

Cowgirl’s “tour” is actually a misnomer. It’s more like a seminar or tutorial about cheese-making followed by a tasting.

… Our “tour” lasted about 90 minutes — an informative talk by Michael Zilber, retail manager of Cowgirl, and a tasting of Cowgirl’s repertoire of cheeses: four fresh and four aged varieties. Man, were they delicious! Yes, we bought one variety to take home.

… if you have a Friday available, go to Pt. Reyes Station to take Cowgirl’s “tour” inside a restored barn, where you will learn about cheese-making, see it being made, try a hand yourself at part of the process, and taste some scrumptious cheeses, to boot.

Read Bill’s entire account of his trip…

• Cheese , Food
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You Mon Tsang November 3rd, 2009

Good news: the threats of complete state park closures due to the extreme state budget shortfalls did not come to fruition. Bad news: there are service cuts this year.  Here is the summary of the service reductions of the two California State Parks in the Point Reyes area:

• Tomales State Park: Main park entrance, Shell Beach lot, and Millerton Point lot will only be open weekends and some holidays through June 30, 2010.
• Samuel P Taylor: Madrone Group Camp and Irving Group Picnic Day Use areas will be closed November 1, 2009 through March 25, 2010.  They will open and go back on the reservation system (through Reserve America) starting March 26, 2010.

Head to the CA State Park web site for the latest.

UPDATE (Jan 7, 2010) from reader Bruce Thomas:

Even though day use areas at Samuel P Taylor are unfortunately closed, the hiking trails are still open and still GREAT!!
http://brt-insights.blogspot.com/2010/01/hiking-at-samuel-p-taylor-state-park.html
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/576165533NAZsGs

• State Parks
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You Mon Tsang October 26th, 2009

UPDATED on 11/9: this event is SOLD OUT!

On Saturday, Nov 14, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm at Toby’s Feed Barn, the organizers of the Point Reyes Farmers Market will be hosting a fundraiser dinner to support the market and its farmers and vendors.

The dinner will be catered by Pam Ferrari, dessert by Sandra Wickholm, Wedgewood Organic Baker and music will be provided by Tim Weed and Friends

A silent auction of local artists’ renditions of autumn apples will be held. Bidding will take place at the October and November Farmers’ Markets, with final bidding held at the Harvest Dinner.

Tickets are sliding scale: $45 and up – as much as you can contribute to assure the continuity of the market.

Also available are reserved tables: $300 gets a table for 6; $400 for a table for 6 or 8; $500 for a table for 6 or 8.

Tickets are available at the Farmers’ Market and after November 7th at Point Reyes Books.

Also, it’s BYOB.

• Farmers Market
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You Mon Tsang October 18th, 2009

UPDATED 10/30/09: This project has been completed!

The Park Service has announced that the fence along the stairs at the Point Reyes Lighthouse will be repaired the week of October 19 – Monday-Friday. The stairs will be closed for this project as the rusting chain link is replaced. The work is expected to be completed within a week.

• Lighthouse
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You Mon Tsang October 17th, 2009

UPDATED 10/30/09: The planned prescribed burns for this fall have been cancelled due to the early rain; the combination of heat and damp can create damaging steam for seeds.

From the Point Reyes National Park Service:

Fire Management staff at Point Reyes National Seashore plan to burn 45 acres along Limantour Road and 130 acres along Highway One during 4 separate days over the next three weeks. One day of burning at Limantour is scheduled for the week of October 19, on either Wednesday or Thursday. Three days of burning along Highway One are scheduled for the weeks of October 26, and November 2, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday of those weeks. These burn dates may be delayed if conditions are too wet, dry or windy, or if the air will not provide good smoke dispersion. The burn locations are on the south side of Limantour Road, near Limantour Beach; and on the east side of Highway One, south of the Randall Trail. No trail closures will be necessary; however, there may be short traffic delays along Limantour Road and Highway One while burning is in progress.

The Limantour and Highway One projects are both part of a series of small burns along major road corridors designed to create strategic fuelbreaks in the park where a wildfire will be easier to control. Limantour Road and Highway One have increased potential for wildfire caused by vehicle-related ignitions. Fuel reduction along these roads will strengthen them as lines of defense to protect surrounding communities, as well as structures within the Seashore.

A 5 to 10 year burn rotation is targeted for the burn units in the Limantour fuelbreak to keep the coyote brush low and widely spaced where fire will move more slowly. The target burn rotation for the Highway One burn units is every other year to reduce the invasive French broom population and maintain open grasslands in between large areas of dense forest on Bolinas Ridge and Inverness Ridge.

• NPS
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You Mon Tsang September 20th, 2009

The tule elk is a subspecies of elk that is unique to California. Nearly hunted to extinction during the Gold Rush, the tule elk received federal protection in 1971. Pierce Point, the north point of the Point Reyes peninsula, is now a 2,600 acre reserve for the tule elk. In the fall, it is a warm, beautiful hike with the opportunity to see the elk rut season. You are likely to hear bull elks bugle, spar and try to form their harems of females.

Some facts from the National Park Service:

Female elk are sexually mature by two years of age, although they may be able to breed as yearlings. Nearly all female elk will reproduce during their lifetime. A female is likely to have six to ten calves in her lifetime. Males are sexually mature at age two, but usually aren?t able to breed until they are strong enough to compete with other bulls to defend a harem of cows. Half the male population will remain bachelors; most breeding is accomplished by ten percent of the male population.

Videos by the NPS:

This video was created by the National Park Service’s Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center as part of its 2004 “Science Behind the Scenery” DVD.


Tule Elk: California’s Legacy of Wildness chronicles the fascinating and inspirational story of the tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) which are native to California and can be viewed at the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve. Since pre-historic times, large herds of tule elk roamed California’s central valley and coastal plains. Unfortunately, they were hunted to near-extinction by the late 19th century. Tule Elk examines how the dramatic rebound of the tule elk population at Point Reyes National Seashore and in California at large demonstrates the success of threatened species protections and conservation laws.
Continue Reading »

• Nature , Tule Elk
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You Mon Tsang September 14th, 2009

The Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that works to expand housing in the Tomales Bay area for people of low and moderate income. CLAM can acquire property through donation or purchase, then rent or sell the housing on it at below-market rates. The housing remains permanently affordable for future generations.

On Sunday, October 4, 12:30pm – 5:00 pm, CLAM is organizing their 3rd Annual Point Reyes Green Home Tour, which showcases Carbon Footprint-Reducing Techniques, at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes Station.

The 3rd Annual Point Reyes Green Home Tour is a rare chance to tour homes in the Point Reyes area built with eco-friendly practices and green materials. Homes showcased this year include a deep energy retrofit using Passive House methods, a mini eco-farm, windmill, living roof, recycled and reused materials, and many more affordable ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

The program starts at the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station on Sunday, October 4, at 12:30p.m. with a tour orientation. The guided tour of four homes, in Inverness and Point Reyes Station, leaves promptly from the Dance Palace at 1:00 p.m. and concludes at 5:00 p.m. Straus ice cream served at one of the homes.

Tickets for this educational and fun event are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. They are available online at www.clam-ptreyes.org, at the CLAM table at the Point Reyes Farmers Market, or by mail to CLAM, P.O. Box 273, Point Reyes Station, 94956. Proceeds support the work of the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM), creating affordable, eco-friendly homes in the communities surrounding Tomales Bay.

Support this great cause and pick up great ideas to green your house!

• Giving , Green
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You Mon Tsang September 10th, 2009

One of my favorite sights on the beaches of Point Reyes, captured perfectly by Stephen Fischer.

• Birding , Nature , Photos
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You Mon Tsang August 27th, 2009

For many in the Bay Area, the first day of school has already happened, but you can relive the summer this weekend as the Point Reyes Farmers Market has its first ever Kids & Families Day. This Saturday, August 29, head to Point Reyes Station for the freshest and most local produce as well as enjoy the special activities designed for the children.

9:30am-1pm: Music by Peter Franklin with child-size percussion instruments for all ages to play. Kids get involved in the music for the morning’s market, and dance and sing along to Peter!

1 am: Kids Cook with Jennifer Carden, author of Toddler Café. Jennifer engages kids in the fun of cooking. She teaches fast, healthy and fun ways to feed even the pickiest eater!

11:30am: Instrument-making with WM musician/author Bart Hopkins, in the Gallery, with Robin Goodfellow. Adults and kids alike will be welcome to try their hands at easy musical instrument making at this event taking place in the back room at Toby’s. The event celebrates the publication of Making Musical Instruments with Kids by West Marin author Bart Hopkin. Bart will be joined by one of the key contributors to the book, Robin Goodfellow.

• Farmers Market , Kids
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