National Parks Closed(and so is the border)

Vanity | 10/04/13 | Vendome

[Vendome]

The National Parks are closed? Really? Like a Sieve?

Well, read on to learn about a place may go to this weekend and explore.

Even got some pics.

[Vendome]

 

So  I am thinking of going to one "Our Great" National Parks this weekend.

 

Wuz thinking Pinnacles, Point Reyes or maybe Big Sur.

 

Then I was thinking about one of my favorite spots "Point Bonita Lighthouse" on the other side of the Golden Gate.

 

 

You have to reach this beautiful light by way of a suspension bridge, which was rebuilt in 2012.

 

One of the most amazing spots on earth as you can stand on the western most side of the property and look out across the ocean or look back toward the city.  I love this spot.

 

I poured a friends ashes about 3/4 of a mile from here while on a boat.  I have some of the most amazing pictures with this lighthouse as a stunning backdrop.

 

What a great day that was.

 

But, I was curious if it were closed.  Yep, the National Park Service has closed it.

 

You see this lighthouse is still in operation, guiding ships and small craft away from the treacherous rocks and waters just below.

 

And you can see a great alternative shot from the signal tower just a bit north of the light.

 

 

 

There is a also a fantastic Nike Missile Base that is open the 1st Saturday of each month.  It is staffed by men who donate their time and explain all sorts of history, how it would have operated and how they maintain it.  These men sometimes stay past the closing time to accomdate those who linger and they do this for no compensation.

 

You can see a quick video of this really kewel site here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMtSt9tLRP8

 

 

 

A view anyone can appreciate and just admire is looking from a vista point back across the Golden Gate.  You take in breathless sights of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco and the Ocean:

 

 

Here is a site by a fellow who admires this place as much as I do http://frankbaiamonte.blogspot.com/2012/12/california-coast-road-trip-november_13.html

 

Now, here is the Piesta Resistance: all this is on and surrounded by abandoned military bases.  You can explore a time past when this land was a Nike Battery site prepared to rebuff the Germans by two 16" guns on this side of the Golden Gate and across the waters at the south side were two more of the 16" cannons.

 

Here is a shot of what one of these bad boys looked like:

 

 

There were also many AAA emplacements, housing, lookout posts and another battery that is located about 2miles north on the same site.

 

All the guns are gone now but the massive structures that held them are still in place as are barracks, mess hall, lookouts and much more.

 

This place makes your mind swim with thoughts about the men who served here, what the place was like and maybe....you could imagine yourself as one of them.

 

Here are few places I like to explore and you can go in each of these structures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you got 6 minutes to kill you can watch this fellow as he does a bit of underground exploring with his eerie music in the background

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdIyFl0hc9U

 

 

There are underground tunnels at this site and I like to explore them but, it they were shown to me by a friend who swore me to secrecy except it be to another person who isn't afraid and will actually go in to enjoy it.

 

You would need speelunking equipment to ensure your safety.

 

I'll go there tomorrow to explore a part I never got around to.

 

What are they gonna do if I get caught?  Tell me to leave?

 

WTF Evuh...

 

[GeronL]

That sounds like an awesome trip

[Paladin2]

Making both days of this and subsequent weekends "Go to your gov't parkland" days would be great.

Break/sneak-in if necessary and take videos to put up on YouTube.

[Vendome]

I love the place.

The views, the smells, the sounds and the surprises I find most every time I go.

Afterward, I make my way to the village of Tiburon and to a restaurant called “Horizons”.

I have a Bloody Mary or two, some fries and a bowl of clam chowder as I watch the boats go by and gaze at the city of San Francisco.

Love this place.

[Darksheare]

Thirty seconds into the tunnels, “Roll for initiative!”

[Vendome]

Okay.

I’ll try the Pinnacles National Monument too.

[Paladin2]

The NPS 0bamaholes have closed their website.

[bronxville]

Stunning pics Vendome. Thanks.

[nickcarraway]

If the government is shut down, do they have guards to prevent people from entering?

[Vendome]

All NPS websites are closed....

[Stand Watch Listen]

[Flycatcher]

I live near the remote east end of Lake Mead. Nothing there but a remote unmanned boat launch. Obama closed it down, of course.

I AM going to the lake tomorrow. Should be an interesting day...

[Don Corleone]

To Mt. Lemmon today. All facilities CLOSED. All barriers pulled down! Screw U Obama!

[Flycatcher]

I'll ping you tomorrow about my trip to the remote east end of Lake Mead. As I said, I AM going to the lake, using either my truck or my quad.

I'll be wearing clean underwear, of course, in case I'm arrested and have to spend some quality time at the Mohave County Jail. Ha!

[Vendome]

LOL

[Rio]

There is a back entrance to Pinnacles. Via Tres Pinos...

[steve86]

Careful if you’re launching a boat. Obots will be towing away boat trailers and towing rigs while you’re out on the lake. Not only that but they’ll be transported to Ray Nagin’s New Orleans school bus yard where you’ll have to claim them. /s

[Flycatcher]

That doesn't surprise me a bit. I can imagine these thugs towing away trailers. We're just going to drive down to the launch site, however. Just called up one of my buddies. He's calling some of his buddies too. We're trying to get a convoy of pickups entering South Cove tomorrow at 10am. I know there's a ranger blockade at the Mesa above the lake where I live.

We'll be driving past this blockade, no matter what.

They may just let us through. Or not. We'll find out tomorrow.

[Vendome]

I’ve gone through “A” back entrance managed by the park.

Is there another?

I’m guessing there is as there were many ranches within what is now the park and I think there are some that lease on the East.

I want go through the caves and this time of year would be great

[Vendome]

I think you said you had been there before.

The only way is via a tunnel by Tiburon.

If they don’t close that then I don’t see how they shut it down.