Stairways are Heaven
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Stairways are Heaven

McLaren E W

3/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Off the bus at Visitacion and Mansell, headed northwest on a trail near University Ave. (Portola 'hood). Passed two etched images-and-words granite musing stations (first two pix) right away, then down 48 or so widely spaced steps to a rustic footbridge not visited in a while. 

Heading west, past Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, soon reached the upper reservoir (third pic), with the usual wet dogs, taking the inner trail next to the water partway round: ducks in residence. A short stairway at the reservoir's north end took me to a third musing station (this a map, fourth and fifth pix) and a Philosopher's Way plaque near the parking area and trail up to the blue water tower (sixth pic). 

The westside water tower is encircled by a paved walkway with big rocks to sit on and to-die-for views. Here I came to my fourth, and favorite, artstation of the day (seventh pic), part of which says: "The highest part of the park looks out over a neighborhood of immigrants." Besides the cityviews, you can also look down into  backyards in the upper Excelsior neighborhood (eighth pic). 

Circling for a while on some isolated middle and southwest-ish openspace and forested trails (pics 9 through 13): Wildflowers, including yellow mustard and California poppies … tall grasses, bees and butterflies … various kinds of beautiful trees. So many inviting trails in this park it's difficult to choose which to take. 

On a forested trail just above Mansell near Brazil came upon a fifth mounted infotablet: a 1929 photo of Visitacion Valley residents at "Sandy Beach" … "A collection of moments … " 

Have I now seen them all? More about the art stations:

http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Art-nature-converge-at-Philosopher-s-Way-4074553.php

Near the bus stop at John F. Shelley and 1700 Mansell is now another of those colorful new park infosigns (last pic: an old bench here). 


Picture
1. One of the musing stations
Picture
2. Another musing station
Picture
3. The Upper Reservoir
Picture
4. Musing Station map near the Water Tower
Picture
5. Musing Station map near trail to Water Tower
Picture
6. Philosopher's Way Plaque near trail to Water Tower
Picture
7. Clifftop Trail near Water Tower
Picture
8. Clifftop Water Tower Trail overlooks upper Excelsior 'hood backyards
Picture
9. Midpark Trails
Picture
10. Midpark Trails
Picture
11. Midpark Trails
Picture
12. Midpark Trails
Picture
13. California Poppies on a Rocky Trail
Picture
14. Old bench at John F. Shelley near Mansell
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.