Saturday scenes and scenery: Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

Would you believe that spit of land is within San Francisco's city limits? It's Candlestick Point, out behind the aging football stadium. Though I've lived here nearly 40 years, I'd never been there until I learned that it was one of the 70 state parks slated for closure because California Republicans refuse to pay taxes to maintain the state's well-being.


It's not a very developed place as the motley typography on the entrance sign reveals.


Not surprisingly, there are shorebirds.


A lone egret stalks an inlet.


Mostly the ground squirrels seem shy. They haven't learned to beg from picnickers.


That is, they were shy until they met this guy. He played the pied-piper of squirrel-land on his walk.


The park has breathtaking picnic sites -- note each comes with a windbreak. Candlestick Point is where a sort of wind tunnel from the ocean blows across the peninsula's narrowest point.


The prevailing semi-gale is just right for the board sailers who launch here -- drivers can see in them surfing the Bay when driving Rte. 101.


Many people are here to fish in the Bay, toting their gear in carts. I don't know why they wanted the masks, though I would not be surprised if at times the adjacent garbage company facility puts out a stink.


At the far end of the point, there's a newish and much used fishing pier.


Others fish from the steep shore.


This fellow was hanging out near the pier, perhaps waiting for someone's rejects.


Inland, there's an interesting musical installation.


Some of the "drums' have interesting tones.


The north side of the point is remarkably sheltered. Who'd have thought you could do this within sight of the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard?

The park closures will begin this fall. People will still get in, of course, but I have to wonder what corporations are salivating over this land, especially once the football stadium moves to Santa Clara.