Going to the Battery to Recharge

The last day of January, the last day of our month-long adventure in the bay area, I drove over the Bay to the Marin Headlands. We’d been there before, but we hadn’t taken these exact trails before; hadn’t experienced it from this perspective.

Rather than park at our usual spot by Rodeo Beach, we kept driving up and over the hilltops where once the military stood guard, staring off into the abyss, ready to shoot down any invaders.
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The trail was unshaded (you can’t very well launch a canon from deep within the forest), but the breeze kept us cool as we headed north along the wide trail.

To the south was a new vista to behold.

In the distance to the north, we could see Rodeo Beach, our usual parking area, and the trails that led up to some of our favorite spots.

Taking a turn on the trail to the east, we headed back down the loop to the battery.

We stood atop the mound, and I wondered if the battery had been dug into the hill or if the hill was made on top of the battery.

We took in the views, finished the loop and continued south to the a path toward the beach.

It was a long, wide path through the hillside.

And eventually the packed dirt turned to sand, where at one time, it was ocean floor.

We had the beach to ourselves.

If it had been low tide, we probably could have walked along the beach all the way to Rodeo Beach; high tide would be impossible.

As we were somewhere in between, I decided not to try the venture and just enjoy the view.

Tucker climbed the rock outcroppings for a new perspective.

After we got our fill of the sea up close, we climbed back up the hillside trail.

And took in the view again.

We headed further south, which was actually uphill, past a school, to the end of the peninsula overlooking the bay and ocean.

Tucker was not allowed to see the lighthouse at the end of the peninsula up close, so we veered right to take the path to Battery Mendell.

Some of the best views are reserved for cannonball launch sites.

In the distance, Tucker and I could see the forbidden lighthouse.

We turned our attention northward again, and walked along the bluff to Bird Island Overlook, which, as you may have guessed, overlooks Bird Island. (We didn’t see any birds, but it was a large rock not attached to the mainland, which I assume is where it gets its designation as an island.)

It also overlooked Rodeo Beach.

Turning around to head back, I espied the other batteries along the hill, further island. I wondered how hollow all of this land was. Perhaps there was no dirt, but just catacombs beneath our feet.

And of course the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, and the city beyond.

We walked back along the road for a spell, taking in the sights and smells before our exit and taking our farewell of this stunning place.

That night we went back to a bar we called home every week for Trivia Night (which was actually Trivia Bingo, a delightful mash-up of both games). Tucker always had a seat, and everyone knew his name.

Kicking off 2023 in the Bay area was what we needed. I had hoped the cancer treatment would have worked. It’s disappointing that it didn't, but it's not devastating. It caused no harm, and it was the catalyst for us to spend a few weeks exploring and enjoying our beloved Bay area. We’ll continue to manage the condition as we always have, and above all else, we'll continue to keep on living. Which means hiking from the forest to the sea, taking in the beauty of nature, and experiencing the kindness of people who welcome us into their neighborhood bars and make us feel at home.

Live every day as if it's your first day, not your last. Explore with the wonder of a child, and experience the world in all its beauty. Essentially, Go Where the Dog Takes You. You'll never be disappointed.