Supreme Court Turns Down Drakes Bay Oyster Co. Appeal

Tomorrow may be the last time that we'll see oyster farming during our annual Bull Point Hike.

On Monday, June 30th, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of Drakes Bay Oyster Company in its efforts to overturn the decision of the Department of the Interior not to renew the company's lease at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Video clips in this report by the Marin I-J show DBOC owner, Kevin Lunny and his lawyer vowing to continue his fight to stay in business, although neither clearly stated what steps could be taken to require the federal goverment to permit the oyster operation to continue in the Seashore.

Bull Point Hike (7/1) Preview

This week we head through Inverness to hike on the ocean side of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Here's Wendy's description for this hike: "A beautiful but soggy (in places) walk timed to see the Coast Lilly blooming in its only site in Marin!

"Other endangered flowers we've seen other years include the Swamp Harebell, Large Flowered Lianthus, and Point Reyes Checkerbloom. We may also see Yellow-Eyed Grass, Tinker's Penny, White-Flowered Bog Orchid, and Hooker’s Evening Primrose. Some off-trail walking but little elevation gain." (Click here for the recap of our Bull Point hike on July 7, 2009.).

Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Highway 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past the road to Park Headquarters (stop here for a restroom break; there are no porta-potties at the trailhead) and go left when you hit Sir Francis Drake again.

Go through Inverness. Go left at the "Y" (right takes you out to Pierce Point) and pass MCI and RCA stations on your right. The Bull Point parking lot will be on your left.

(Click here for a MapQuest map of the trailhead location and to get driving directions and times from your location.)

Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:50 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, June 27th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 61.. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "H11 Bull Point and South Beach Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows this as 4.0 mile out and back hike. Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, pegs it at 3.6 miles as does the park's North District Hiking Map.

The Google Earth image below shows the area where we'll be hiking. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

Dick Jordan's "A Range of Light Spring" Airs Tonight on MarinTV.

If you live in Marin and are a Comcast cable subscriber, you can watch, "A Range of Light Spring," the third in Dick Jordan's series "A Sense of Place" TV "shorts," tonight, Wednesday, June 25th at 7:00 pm, or on Sunday, June 29th at 6:30 pm on channel 26.

The program is based on his trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in May. It will be available for viewing on YouTube on June 30th.

Dick's blog post on the parks ran yesterday on his Website, Tales Told From The Road.

You'll find his photo essay, "Sierra Spring: May in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks" on Exposure.co.

Bear Valley to Arch Rock Hike (6/24) Preview

We head out to Point Reyes National Seashore again for our weekly outing. (Click here for photos from a past year's hike.)

 
Here’s Wendy’s brief description of the trek:  “This is longer than our usual hike (about 8 miles), but it's easy walking with fire road much of the way and not much elevation gain. Be prepared to get back later than 1:45 pm.”

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west from Fairfax. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. From Bear Valley Road. turn left to the Visitor’s Center.

(Click on the black #1 on this MapQuest map for driving directions and time from your location.)

Time: 50 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax at 9:10 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead, outhouse at Divide Meadow.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, June 19th, the National Weather Service forecast for the time of the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 69. (Click here for an updated forecast. You can also check the real-time weather at the Visitor Center).

More on this hike:  Hike “F4 Bear Valley Trail to Arch Rock” in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, shows the route from we’ll take.  (You can find the Bear Valley to Divide Meadow Trail on the park’s South District Trail Map).