Warning Signs: Angel Island & the Point Bonita Lighthouse
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit two very scenic bay area attractions.
Saturday morning, Natasha and I went to the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco to meet up with three other friends for a trip over to Angel Island. Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay. It used to be the largest immigration station on the west coast of the U.S., serving as a sort of purgatory for mostly Chinese immigrants. The island has a large (almost 800′) hill in the center and is a few miles across. Nobody lives there, but you are allowed to camp with a permit. We just went there to hike and have a picnic, which was fun but extremely hot and half the trail is very sun-baked.
As you can see, the National Park Service takes the threat of wildlife very seriously.
The view from the top is spectacular.
Today’s adventure didn’t involve a ferry, but there were more warning signs! Natasha and I went to the Marin Headlands to go birdwatching and took a short walk out to the Point Bonita lighthouse. This lighthouse marks the mouth of the San Francisco Bay and has been in continuous operation since 1855. It was working today, as was the foghorn, because of the extremely thick fog that was hovering over the exact location we decided to look for birds.
Please note that this photo was taken when the fog started clearing.
This warning sign was one of my favorite parts of the lighthouse experience. Upon walking across the bridge, where you can actually see down between your feet and feel the entire thing sway in the slightest breeze, I would definitely not put I third person on there.
It’s a short walk, but memorable. None of the wood looks like it has ever been replaced. Hopefully the bridge isn’t from 1855 too.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 am
I always liked the rattlesnake warning signs in San Diego. If you don’t know what a rattlesnake is, I’m not sure I want to spend tax dollars to keep you from finding out.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 am
Warning: raccoons and other wildlife may be hazardous to your health. guys bite, but i don’t know if something that bites is hazardous to your health - i think more of eating lead when i think of things that are hazardous to your health.
more liek hazardous to the integrity of your outer dermis. It would be better if the sign said “look out, we bite” - that would imply that you shouldn’t touch or feed.
the bridge up there looks more hazardous to your health…i picture ghosts chasing you across it in a sequel to the Ring or soemthing. Eeeeek.
All of that sign and bridge stuff aside, it still sounds like a fun trip.