San Francisco Postcards
iPhone shots from a recent journey across the San Francisco Bay on the high speed ferry to and from Larkspur.
Sitting on prime waterfront real-estate is California's oldest prison, San Quentin, which is also home to the
country's largest death row for male inmates. Not being the best informed traveller, I like surprises, it was only
later that I discovered this strange, suspicious looking building which might well have been San Quentin prison was
in fact SQP. And of course it comes with so much fascinating history.
My favorite fact is that it was home to country singer Merle Haggard who as a 19 year old was sentenced to 15 years for
grand theft auto and armed robbery. Merle was born in a converted boxcar in Oildale, the wrong side of the Bakersfield
tracks which ran across the bottom of his bare bones street. We drove down his street last summer but it doesn't take
more than a peek anywhere in Bakersfield to make you feel like the stand-out stranger in town. His final act of teenage
delinquency in robbing a Bakersfield roadhouse saw him on his way to San Quentin where he served 3 years.
I didn't come here to talk about Merle, I didn't come here to talk about much at all . . .
The houses, known as Arks, are part of an extensive floating community whereby the houses are lifted with the incoming
tide.
My grateful thanks to artist Mike Lipsey for the great conversation and guiding tour through this fascinating part of
Marin County. You can check Mike's great work out over at stoicmike.
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I do love the music of Merle Haggard, and your photos are very beautiful too.
Thank you so much Shimon. Do you have a favourite Merle Haggard track? He does such a fine bare-knuckle heartbreak ride through the ballads.
I especially love ‘the way I am’ and ‘It’s not love’, but there are many of his songs that I listen to. He is one of my favorite singers.
Oh .. Great post cards woman!!! This place is on my list
Hope you get there soon Kathy, so much to love. And thank you!!
Interesting story – I check the floating houses website and the houses look really nice! love the tone of the images that you took via iPhone – I would never guess they were taken by a mobile phone. Great images!
Thank you Indah! It’s such an interesting neighborhood to explore and I hope to catch the tide next time and see the houses floating. Imagine!
I think, there is a song with the title: Send me a postcard from L.A.
Please, send us more postcards! Great!
What a great song title and thank you so much Claudio for your most kind words!
Fascinating tour, Patti. A bit of history, trivia, and unique ARKitecture. 😉 That first photo is my favorite. It could have bee taken 50 years ago…
Well done on the ARKitecture Julie! As for trivia, well, I could get lost down that track and be quite happy . . . Amazing isn’t it how snappy and retro a man in a hat looks!
Wonderful series of images. My favorite is the first, like the men’s silhouettes.
Thank you so much Antonia!
The first one really caught my attention. Great series, very suggestive.
Than you so much Fernan!
I like the idea of living in a house that can float away. You would never know were one would land next. A bit like a message in a bottle and chucked over-board. Great fotos, Patti. Those poor people in jail! It doesn’t help you know!
An interesting neigbourhood for sure, thank you Gerard!
I like the top shot – it reminds me of Robert Frank’s New Orleans tram, but shot from the inside.
I know the one you mean, thank you DW!
Excellent, loved them all Patti…….I’m wondering are there three figures standing on boards near the wake of boat you were on?
They do look like three figures but I don’t remember seeing them at the time – now I don’t have a clue!
Very interesting, Patti. I was wondering why all the stilts. The grounded ark really catches the imagination.
Shivering timbers at work in this part of town, thank you Lignum!
Absolutely fabulous photos, Patti. I especially love the one from the back of the boat with the water trail behind it.
That boat was in a big hurry, thank you Angeline!
“My favorite fact is that it was home to country singer Merle Haggard who as a 19 year old was sentenced to 15 years…” = time to learn guitar playing…
I’m leaving guitar playing to the experts Frizz, you and Merle!
Great impressions, Patti! My favorite is the first one with the three persons in front of the window. Great!!!!
Thank you Markus, those three are certainly the stars of this post!
Great shots Patti 🙂 The arks are a very interesting part of your post and its the first I have heard of these.
Thank you so much Joe! Can you imagine the burden of knowing everything there is to know? 🙂
Excellent pictures.
And the first one on the train is a fantastic composition. It’s my favorite in this collection.
Most touched, thank you Rabirius! 🙂
So atmospheric! I absolutely love the first shot. Great set, Patti!
It’s a lovely part of the world, thank you so much Richard!
Fantastic, evocative shots. Oddly enough, the fourth one reminded me more of coastal Florida memories growing up, rather than San Francisco. 🙂
It’s the flamingo isn’t it Alison, thank you! 🙂
and i really love 1 and 7…another wonderful series and words Patti 😀
Great to hear, thank you so much Hedy!
Some fascinating subject matter captured in these images Patti – thanks for sharing 🙂
My pleasure and thank you Martin!
Great shots, Patti. The first is especially wonderful!
You are very kind, thank you Elena!
I never would have guessed that Merle was from that part of the States.
I know what you mean Allan, his parents came over to that part of the world from Oklahoma in the Depression
Excellent series, Patti, filled with great facts about SQP and Merle Haggard I didn’t know. Best of all, though, are your wonderful shots! I especially love the silhouetted passengers in the first. Spot on composition! And the tones in all?? Love them!
I think that first shot is as good as I’m ever going to get go the Golden Gate Bridge, thank you so much Stacy and I will always remember your fantastic morning GG shot. These are all from my iPhone.
Definitely fascinating! Even more than at the floating community I could stare at your foaming ocean for hours.
Paula, you would have adored the wind in you hair (I think!) – it was so strong, fresh and exhilarating!
You have found a fascinating chapter in SF, Patti. I must check it out sometime. You’ve made some unique images on your journey. Wonderful and interesting post.
Have fun out there Jane and can’t wait to see what you come up with – my visit was so brief!
My new home.