Good morning Tash Appreciators,

It’s been a while!

Back when TF was in everyone’s mailboxes at 5am each Friday, it was usually drafted while I was on a minging, over-priced, Scotrail train on the way back from Edinburgh.  However, this edition, for the first time ever, is being written (Sierra Nevada in hand) from TF’s spiritual home: the tiny bit of coastline midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles called San Simeon.

Mr Tash Friday Senior (aka Dave-Dawg) likes to check in with me every now and again to make sure I haven’t done something stupid.  Earlier this week, he text to ask where I was and that I wasn’t dead in a ditch somewhere.  When I explained that I was in Yosemite and that I was going stargazing at Glacier Point that evening his reply was:

“…you always find the great add ons…”

I should first mention that if you’re ever in Yosemite overnight you must go stargazing at Glacier Point.  Glacier Point (as mentioned in previous TFs) is where John Muir (a serial Tash) persuaded Teddy Roosevelt (he of “Daring Greatly” fame and also a serial Tash) to make Yosemite a National Park.  It looked like this the other night, as the sun set and moon rose:

It’s a long drive to get up there at sunset and it seems even longer when you’re going back down in the dark but it’s inspiring stuff: no photo can do it justice.

I hadn’t thought of the trip to Glacier Point as an add-on.  I had just thought: “I’m here – let’s do it“.  Now I think about it, I wasn’t always like that.

A few years ago, I’d have said “it’s too long a drive” or “it’s too dangerous to drive those roads at night” but I’m more inclined to have a go at things now.  I think a lot of that stems from people’s reaction to TF.  The positive reaction to TF (and Operation Zorro in particular) was a real boost at a time when I was swithering about what to do with my life.  I think that’s why my attitude to things now is to think “let’s give it a bash and see what happens“.  Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement, you know?

This week’s Tash has to be John Muir.  If it wasn’t for him, I might not have had the chance to see the Yosemite which I saw the other night.  He said in 1912, about “The Yosemite” that: “[e]verybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”  Having seen the place, I know exactly what he means.

TF might not be as regular as it once was but the question on my mind is the same as ever:

What’s next?

Have a great weekend folks – hope you’ve got some time off coming up.

Post-script

While I’m talking about fun add-ons, I should share what I’ve found this trip:

(1) Kirby Cove – San Francisco

This is only really do-able because of the wonders of Uber.

Kirby Cove is on the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge (i.e. the far side).  There are a couple of ways to get there: either get an Uber all the way there or (the more fun way) get the ferry from Pier 39 to Sausalito and then an Uber from Sausalito.  You’re then heading for the first observation point on Hawk Hill (overlooking the Bridge).  Once you’re there, there’s a path which runs down the hill to a small beach.  On the beach, there is a swing over the sea…

It’s not a lot to look at in this photo but the views of the bridge are the best you’ll find and there’s no-one else there.

(2) Moonstone Beach – San Simeon

I’ve banged on about this before.  If you’ve never been (and, if you haven’t, you really need to take a long, hard look at your life choices), it looked like this tonight:

I’d rather spend a day here than anywhere else in the world.