Angel Island

Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay is really a gem. It has quite a history and was used similar to Ellis Island in New York Harbor. In addition to bring immigrants through they quarantined sick people here and also used it as a detainee camp. There are several historic buildings on the island and many of them have fallen to ruins.

I love ruins just as much as I love historic homes and properties. It's always so interesting to see buildings going back to nature. There is a beauty in it and it also makes me feel a little like a voyeur in that I get to catch a glimpse of how the people who used to live in or use the building used to live. In my own home I often try to figure out what it was like before the remodel. I know the floor plan was quite different and knowing what it was like would give me a better appreciation for how people use to live here. Whatever the ruin or old building, it's always a mystery waiting to be pieced back together.

There are also the possibilities of rebuilding, restoration and repair. It always seem a little sad to really let them go. I always picture what would need to be done to make them livable or useful again.

Angel Island is intriguing because there are no cars on the island so the bike trails are really relaxing to be on with the boys. I can relax and enjoy the scenery and not worry about traffic. It is a trek to get to the main road that goes around the island as it's pretty high up. There was definitely some whining from my youngest who was not feeling up to making the climb on his very heavy bike. After you get to more level ground, it gets fun for everyone.

The ferry leaves several times a day (weekends only until Spring) from Tiburon which is a cute little area that warrants some exploration on it's own. The ferry welcomes bikes and is a nice quick jaunt across the channel. If you're lucky you'll see some sea lions and be able to watch the sailboats. It was a cold day when we went and we should have gone earlier in the day because we didn't feel we had enough time to explore. I'm looking forward to going back when the days are longer and it's a bit warmer.