(A place, if it isn't,
that sure looks a lot like Lone Tree)
One of my favorite trails on the
western slope of Mt. Tamalpais near
San Francisco is called Lone Tree.
Five years ago I was living in a town near
there called Stinson Beach in a cabin without
electricity.
I would ride over the mountain on my bicycle
or get a ride up the "hill", as the locals call it,
on the West Marin Stage(a bus) if I was feeling lazy,
to "Pantoll" campground/ ranger station
(Lone Tree starts west of there) and race down into
Mill Valley to do the laundry that was
in my backpack, get supplies, and
be social, as the cabin could seem a little
isolated at times.
I would usually take Lone Tree on my way back
home. The trail was pretty dangerous (especially
with a stuffed 3000 cubic inch internal frame
backpack with an extra compression sack tied on)
The trail is a quasi(?)legal single track that
turned into, in some places, two feet deep ruts
that were difficult to avoid going into. The
incline was so precipitous that it
was difficult to imagine any four wheel drive
vehicle, going the opposite direction, being able
to make the climb.
It was a nice long, pay-off ride down
to highway one, especially if you didn't "stack"
(California-speak for crash). The trail leg alone was
probably twenty plus minutes and once I hit
the road probably another 15 into Stinson
Beach.
I remember only "stacking hard" once. I won't go
into the details of why I wrecked; suffice it to say
that it could have been avoided had I been not doing
the "wrong thing". That's all that needs to be said
about that.
(this footbridge was a few minutes walk from the cabin)
Sometimes I would stay over night
on a friend's futon in Mill Valley
that was out on the
"three season porch" as they call them
in non-Mediterranean climates, that is
connected to the back of his house.
The futon was conveniently located
near my benevolent friends washer and dryer.
Depending on the time of year
there were pears, persimmons, plums or
apricots that I would enjoy in the mornings
before I would head back to the beach,
or before hanging out in the downtown
"square", or heading over to work in
the east bay.
Long Time Gone Crosby, Stills & Nash
At Home He's a Tourist Gang of Four
Flowers on the Wall Statler Bros.
Northern Sky Nick Drake
Games Without Frontiers Peter Gabriel
Even Better Than the Real Thing U2
Love is the Seventh Wave Sting
Modern Love David Bowie
Low Cracker
Soul Kitchen The Doors
Your Song Elton John
I'd Like That XTC
The Edge of Forever The Dream Academy
I Would for You Jane's Addiction
Just Like a Woman Bob Dylan
Wasted on the Way Crosby, Stills & Nash
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