A Golden Gate New Years walk – Travel Photo Mondays
How does one spend a new day in a new year without being to cliché? Surprisingly, it didn’t come as a surprise that I had never walked across the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco to greet 2015….and what an amazing morning it has been. Clear and bright blue skies greeted me when I arrived – I was here with a group of runners to run across to he bridge, excepting a few that were walkers. Fortunately, I opted to also walk since I really wanted to enjoy the morning, views and of course take some fun shots of the stunning panorama of the bay and skyline views of San Francisco.
Morning view of the Golden Gate Bridge
I’m in awe – the views of the entire bay and city are spectacular this morning, why haven’t I done this before, I wonder? The combination of sunny and blue skies, crisp and clear views of the bay – it really is California lifestyle at its best – an it is New Years day. I’m truly hoping that the year starts off so effortlessly and positively in the right direction and I’m very optimistic about 2015.
I make it through booth spans of the bridge and take some interesting detailed shots that I’ve never noticed before, but having a new camera to play with made it more fun to experiment and capture things different that pop up in front of you and really make an interesting composition. So many interesting details make this a wonderful study, especially all the deco inspired designs.
Photo highlights from the Golden Gate Bridge:
Original visitors center at the Golden Gate Bridge
Deco details at the Golden Gate Bridge
Fort Point from the Golden Gate Bridge
Looking from above down below is Fort Point, one of the oldest and well-preserved forts protecting San Francisco Bay since its creation in 1853 to 1861, during the Gold Rush Era. The fort had never been under attack and was later converted into military housing, detention barracks and turned into a National historic site and museum in 1970 under the National Parks Service. There are many programs, tours and events at the museum and grounds, you can check the calendar on their main website here for more information.
Fort Point and the Golden Gate Bridge
Lamp detail at the Golden Gate Bridge
Funny, I’ve never noticed these bright yellow boxes before, but suddenly the color pop made me check the signage and how appropriate, they are painted in a bright yellow color so you notice it right away. Also, if you are one of those questioning in a moment of hopelessness, there is help available just on the other line – what a fantastic life line this is don’t you think?
Emergency box at the Golden Gate Bridge
Cyclists at the Golden Gate Bridge
Why the orange-red color you wonder, I had to Google this since I had forgotten the reason for the iconic color of the bridge. The official color of the bridge is ‘International Orange’ after intensive color studies by the consulting architects, engineers, artists and planners to have the bridge be a distinctive color but yet blend in well with the natural environment of the Golden Gate headlands. They also considered black, grey and aluminum and finally settled to the International Orange hue. Not surprisingly this same color is used for many engineering and aeronautic/Nasa projects to separate them from the landscape.
Bronze placard at the Golden Gate Bridge
There is so much recreation and activity buzzing around the bridge and even below. Ocean side is reserved primarily for bikers, while the bay side-walk ways are mostly for walkers and runners. Far below is an ongoing parade of sail boats, Ocean liners and cargo ships coming and arriving into the busy port of Oakland.
Between the railings at the Golden Gate Bridge
Between the railings at the Golden Gate Bridge
Bronze details at the Golden Gate bridge
Along the coastline on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge is Fort Baker, an area that has been preserved through the park service and remains intact from its charge as a fort built to protect the Marin area and headlands. Beyond is the small and scenic town of Sausalito – a very picturesque town with a beautiful downtown, great restaurants and stunning views of the Bay Area and San Francisco skyline.
Views to Fort Baker at the Golden Gate bridge
Thanks for visiting and reading about my A Golden Gate New Years walk – Travel Photo Mondays. Hopefully it has been a wonderful day for you also, meanwhile I wish you a fantastic and healthy 2015 New Years ahead and thanks for joining me today. Please do check out the other bloggers contributing for Travel Photo Mondays on the links below.
looks like I am a couple of weeks late to post my link there. Never mind. Is it possible to date your Travel Photo Monday posts?
Anyways, I loved seeing the close up detail and info on the bridge. I think all my previous views have been from afar. So thank you.
What a brilliant way to start the new year! I always appreciate your photos and creative ways of looking at things. Well done!!
Happy New Year, Noel. You chose a fabulous way to begin 2015. I never get tired of the Golden Gate Bridge no matter how many times I’ve crossed it, on foot or in a car. Gorgeous shots from some of the best vantage points as well as very interesting, creative photos — excellent!
Beautiful shots! Happy new year Noel!
What great shots of everyone’s favorite bridge!
Last summer I’ve visited Portugal. There’s a large (but not this large) brick-red bridge across the Tagus River there. Strangely similar structure…
It’s called the 25 de Abril Bridge.
Ah yes, I’ve been there and it is interesting that they use the same brick red color and two tower span. I don’t know that much about the history of that bridge, but will investigate any similar history
We have driven over the Golden Gate several times, but it looks like we should leave the car behind next time we get the chance.
It’s true: “on a clear day you can see forever” in San Francisco. Loved the bridge details and sighed in remembrance when Sausalito popped up. Ah, Marin. Truly a magnificent beginning to a promising new year.
Definitely a symbolic way to “bridge” from 2014 to 2015! Your photos are beautiful and I’d love to see both Fort Baker and Fort Point and its museum. As for the “crisis counseling” signs – I read recently that there is a surprising number of people who jump off the bridge each year but I imagine the signs are about as useful as the warning on cigarette packages…
What a fab place to begin a new year. The Golden Gate Bridge is spectacular and your photos are as well. Love the deco look on the building marquee and those red posts for lack of a better word.
Wonderful images of Golden Gate bridge.
What a beautiful metaphorical journey, crossing over a bridge to see the New Year in –
Particularly starting afresh with a new camera – What exciting images I wonder will it capture for you in 2015?
All the best for the coming year Noel 😀
Fort Point is a new tidbit for me. Neat add Noel.
I also dig the idea of the crisis hotline.
We have quite a few jumpers off of a tiny local bridge here in NJ; if a call box and message were posted there I know the # of deaths would drop.
Wonderful images!
Ryan
Great photos of Golden Gate. The information about the selection of the orange colour is really interesting.
What a wonderful idea to walk across the bridge rather than drive as it allows more time to appreciate this feat of engineering and the stunning views. How interesting too about how the architects and designers came to choose “International Orange” for the colour..I’d never heard of that but it certainly suits the name Golden Gate Bridge as well. Great post!
Really missing living in San Francisco when I look at these. Lovely shots. My favorite is the one of the yacht between the rails of the bridge. Really clever shot.
Happy New Year! This bridge I wanted to see when we were getting our son off the plane, or leaving for Holland. Had not much luck. It was raining cats and dogs the first time, and the second time we had only time to visit the Japanese Tea Garden in the Park, before I suddenly became ill! So, am hoping for a next time soon.
Have a question: last year you displayed a garden where they also had cool sculptures (they were round, looking like balls – in which town was that? Sonoma, or …?
Yes, that is called Cornerstone, just outside of the city of Sonoma and a wonderful art/garden/design center
Noel you did have a gorgeous day to walk the bridge. I bet there are lots of people who are envious of that, having walked it in the rain! I like that there is a crisis help line on the bridge. The photos taken from a low elevation are quite different to what I have always seen in the far distant shot.
What a great way to start the new year Noel! I haven’t walked across the bridge either…I will one day! Happy New Year!
Thanks Corinne, hope you have a wonderful New Years also and Happy travels for 2015