Gus West Island

A year or so ago I heard there was a photo in existance of one of the sea stacks west of the Mill Site that used to have a brothel on it. I asked around. Several people said they recalled seeing photos of it and finally, after making a pest of myself, I got a copy. As you can see there were two suspension bridges out to it. The upper one had a couple of supports to help cut down the "sway". The lower one might have been an earlier version. There are sheets blowing in the wind and one or two people, women? standing by the sheets. It is my understanding the brothel was located on this sea stack because it was out of the city limit but close to town! And I understand it was part of August "Gus" West's holdings. Hence the name. Mr. West owned many buildings in Fort Bragg including the Golden West Hotel.

The red arrow points to the "island" pretty much from the same direction the above photo was taken.

I'm sure a book could be written about those ladies and their existance on that island surround by sea, wind and waiting.

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I discovered another Fort Bragg blogger, biker, walker and photographer and she has been blogging longer than me!!

This Ain't Livin'

Great stuff and well worth checking out. I have added her to my list of favorite blogs links.

Alley Walk

My walking buddy "Shortlegs" has returned to Fort Bragg, her home town, for a week or two and suggested an afternoon walk through some of the alleys.

I must admit alleys are fun especially when the late afternoon sun is shining.

Final paint touch-up on the new Aquatic Center.

We found some weather vanes I had missed.

We ended our walk spotting another ill fated shopping cart. This one located on the south side of Cedar Street just upstream from Otis Johnson Park.

The Lights are on but Nobody`s Home

Except for the guy in the guard shack.

But there is, and has been, a lot of activity as you will see if you have the time to read the Georgia-Pacific Specific Plan which was presented to the City Council on November 26.

http://city.fortbragg.com/pdf/20071126_specific_plan_staff_report.pdf

Photo Opps

I enjoy walking around and taking photos of what catches my attention. I am inspired by various photo/blogs such as Norma's Squim Daily Photo and Larry's Wandering around Kansas.

November 25th Observations

Lovers and beggers.

Saving daddy from the incoming tide.

Recommended for twelve and under!

Contemplation and conversation.

West of West Street

I find it interesting how part of Fort Bragg, the part closest to the Pacific Ocean, is an alley beside the mill property fence just west of West Street. It runs three blocks from Pine Street to Spruce Street. It is a neglected and dismal part of the city.

Looking north.

It will be very interesting to see what happens to this area in the coming years now that the redwood era is over and "View" and "Location" become king.

Looking west.

The end of the Ten Mile track at the south end of the alley.

Looking south.

Oh Boy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Thanksgiving Day Walk

A beautiful day for a walk. Crossing over the Pudding Creek Trestle my eye caught the pattern of footprints in the sand.

A coastal visitor contemplating?

An American Kestrel enjoying Thanksgiving lunch.

I don't know my ducks and mud hens.

A rock picker.

Seals in the sun.

Lake Cleone.

Heading home on the Haul Road.

Frosty Walk

It was a cool and frosty morning. Bed gravity was strong but I willed myself out of the sack and did my walk and, as always, I saw things and learned stuff!

For instance it is exactly 1.1 miles from the Headlands Coffeehouse to the center of the Pudding Creek Trestle when you walk west to Main Street, north to Elm Street, west to Glass Beach Drive and north to the Trestle.

If you rather drive there is parking at the North end of Glass Beach Drive just before the Trestle.
The sea was loud and the sunrise muted. An E. John Robinson moment.

A Black Shouldered Kite high above the Cypress.

This two point buck almost got away. Not because he was all that quick but because I had my camera on the wrong setting!!

Photoshop saved it!

Nice. Not Nice.

One of my faithful readers (my sister) sent me this Photoshopped photo she did from one of my photos of the Pudding Creek Trestle. Nice! Thanks Sis! It would make a great logo.

This morning I noticed this weather vane. I don't know why I never noticed it before! Anyway, I have added this to my Fort Bragg weather vane photo collection. Nice!

In the not nice department, I photographed this fence October 27th thinking it is one of the nicest looking fences I have seen in Fort Bragg.
Here it is this morning. I don't know why some people feel the urge to be destructive but I hope they grow up. I did.

Views from The Trestle

Early this morning I walked to the newly opened Pudding Creek Trestle. Using my GPSr I discovered it is exactly 1.25 miles from my house to the center of the trestle if I follow the sidewalks. It is 1.1 miles if I cut corners!! This photo is looking down and east from the middle of the trestle!

Here is the view looking west from the center of the trestle out the mouth of Pudding Creek. This was the first time I have been able to take photos from this location. I am sure millions of photos will be taken from the center of this trestle in the years to come by both birders and scenery buffs alike. It is really quite spectacular!

Looking south..., obviously other early morning bikers, hikers and dogs had crossed over before me; their tracks in the morning dew.

While on the trestle I met a woman walking her dog who told me when she was a young girl her father worked at the mill. She remembers when it was possible to drive across the trestle in a car but it was really quite scary because there were no guard rails and only a few planks for the tires to ride on. "I could lean out the window and see Pudding Creek straight down between the ties"!

On Sunday they would sometimes go for a drive out the haul road. She remembers her dad driving across the trestle while pointing out things in the distance, her mom hollering, "Watch where you're going"!!

Photos from the Grand Re-opening

Folks walking north to the center of the trestle for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Cutting the ribbon.

Load testing!!

View from the north looking towards Fort Bragg.

View from the south end looking north.

Well worth the wait!