Well, well, well. Look who’s back in town. First elephant seal sighting of the season in Point Reyes,

Switched it up tonight. Solid round of rain and we still get a nice sunset in Point Reyes, Limantour Rd lookout

If you got the WMF newsletter on Monday, there was a typo in the blurb below and it read "I would surf Salmon Creek". It is supposed to be "wouldn't". WMF does not want to be held accountable for surfing mishaps.

"A great article in the latest Surfer's Journal called "How to Reduce Your Shark Risk to Zero" interviewing local shark researchers Scot Anderson and Paul Kanive. "Are there places you wouldn't surf because of sharks? I wouldn't surf Salmon Creek, especially in October. In the prime months [August to January] I wouldn't surf Ten Mile Beach in Point Reyes, or Shark Pit by DIllon Beach, or any place around here that's way offshore with a rocky bottom and pinnipeds around." There you go. It's behind a paywall on the web but you can get a copy on the Point Reyes Bookstore. Totally worth it."

If you want to get the WMF newsletter, check it out and subscribe here:
https://thewestmarinfeed.com/w...

Another amazing day. Here is the moon setting over North Beach in Point Reyes early this morning and rising over Point Reyes Station this evening. (Thx TM and HS)

Mother bobcat and kit having a moment in Nicasio. Video by LM.

Just another beautiful night in Point Reyes. Big moonrise, booming wave sunset and cows on the lamb.

One of those days on Tomales Bay in Inverness. Have a safe and restful holiday weekend everyone.

Six kite surfers at Abbots Lagoon in Point Reyes today. Didn’t know that was a thing.

Coolest dude in West Marin with the coolest collection of t-shirts.

Possible bear scat found up near the ridge in Inverness. (Thx JH)

We were “fujiwharaded”.

Red in the morning, sailors take warning. Inverness sunrise. (Thx DW)

A beautiful sunset in Point Reyes tonight. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the fisherman who died in park today. May you rest in peace. (Thx MM)

Via Point Reyes National Seashore "Just after 9:00 am this morning, rangers responded to South Beach on reports of a missing fisherman in the water. Arriving units immediately deployed 2 rescue watercraft, 6 swimmers, 1 motor lifeboat, and 4 helicopters. The victim was located and airlifted to South Beach around 10:00 am where he was pronounced deceased.

Responding units include National Park Service, Marin County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol CHP, Coast Guard, Marin County Sheriffs Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s."

https://www.facebook.com/Point...

I was driving to Point Reyes Station with my son tonight when we saw a car upside down in the bushes on SFD by Love Field. Three people had stopped and were pulling the driver out of the car while others called 911. I stopped to help them. We got driver out. He was in shock but seemed unharmed. Minutes later the whole car went up in flames. The fire department arrived on the scene and put the fire out.

Car accident (car on fire) on SFD (Levee Rd) between Point Reyes Station and Inverness Park. Everyone ok. Expect traffic delays tonight.

“Confidence is increasing for a storm system to bring increasing chances for precipitation to interior NorCal. Exact details remain uncertain at this time, but be prepared for an active weather pattern early to mid next week!”

https://x.com/nwssacramento/st...

Anyone know what this guy was doing in the Nicasio Reservoir spillway? Cleaning? Measuring?

We all experience the grief of time change in different ways.

Saturday night Point Reyes sunset.

Folks getting excited about the opening of the recreational crab season today. Some got what they came for, others, not so much. (Thx SG and MM)

Lots of stuff happening this weekend:

- Last Farmers Market in Point Reyes Station from 9am to 2pm today.
- Local artist Nancy Stein has an opening today from 2pm to 5pm at Toby’s.
- Dennis Rodoni has a community conversation at 10am today in Stinson Beach.
- A Tomales Bay clean up today from 9am to noon at Nicks Cove in Marshall Cove.
- Heidrun Meadery hosts a benefit day, “Dine and Pour for Local Scholars,” tomorrow from 11am to 5pm with a portion going to the West Marin Scholarship Fund.

More events and news here:
https://www.thewestmarinfeed.c...

Art work by Nancy Stein

It was a wild sunset tonight in Point Reyes. This is the moody wind down after the intense glow.

There is a controlled burn in Stinson Beach today, no need to call the fire department if you see it.

A very extensive and impressive obituary for local resident and editor of the Point Reyes Light, David Mitchell, in The New York Times.

“It is one of those romantic Ben Hecht, Ring Lardner or Horatio Alger stories,” the columnist James Reston wrote in The New York Times in 1979. “Young struggling couple out of Stanford University, David and Catherine Mitchell, buy little rag of a paper, defy the powerful interests in the community, and win the big prize.”

Can someone explain this? WMF supporters want to know more.

Halloween sunset south of Stinson Beach. The magic glassy nights continue.

"Larger portion of the Bay Area now included in the critical fire danger this weekend. All of the North Bay, the Inland East Bay, Santa Clara Hills, Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Mateo coastline. Our ridge tops could gust up to 60mph. Stay aware"

https://x.com/DrewTumaABC7/sta...

Lots of great Halloween events this weekend. For all the details, news and more, check out the WMF Newsletter then subscribe:
https://thewestmarinfeed.com/w...

- A Day of the Dead altar at the Inverness Library is open for photographs of loved ones until Oct. 31. Also, pick up a free pumpkin on the porch and take it home for your festivities or return your jack ‘o lantern to register for a contest. The winner will receive dinner for four from Café Reyes.

- A West Marin Day of the Dead celebration takes place from 4 to 7 p.m., starting with a procession from the West Marin Pharmacy to the Toby’s parking lot. A ceremony will be followed by pozole and hot drinks. Come with faces painted and bring a bowl, mug and flatware. A ceremonial altar will be on display through Nov. 3 for your offerings.

- An MC Yogi Halloween Party takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Toby’s Feed Barn. $35 for adults, or $15 for youth. Family-friendly, alcohol-free. Come dressed as a mystical animal. All proceeds benefit a local art mural by Michael Garlington celebrating Point Reyes. Tickets at www.pointreyesyoga.com/events.

- A Halloween Costume Ball with El Radio Fantastique starts at 7 p.m. at the Tomales Town Hall. Doors open 6:30 p.m., music starts at 8 p.m. $20 tickets at the door. Full bar, warm food and desserts available for purchase. Ages 21 and over.

- DJ Raven spins for a Halloween party and costume contest at 9 p.m. at the Western, in Point Reyes Station. $10.

If you are interested in keeping our local community healthy, this would be a good meeting to attend.

“You don’t need new clothes. You’re just bored of the clothes you have.”
- Aja Barber

Stop by the Inverness Library today for a clothing swap from 3-5 pm, right before Mending Circle with Sherry Baty from 5-7. Breathe some new life into your wardrobe through alterations & repair.

Unsettled weather on the way makes for an amazing sunset in Point Reyes.

Passing in no pass zone in Inverness with bicycles on shoulder. What could go wrong.

The burn is happening today. "Point Reyes National Seashore fire managers, in collaboration with the Marin County Fire Department, are monitoring conditions for an opportunity to implement a 12-acre prescribed burn west of the cypress tunnel and north of the lighthouse. This burn may begin on Friday October 20, and is expected to last one to two days.

Smoke from these activities may be visible from areas in the Seashore and in west Marin County, including Dillon Beach, Tomales, Marshall, Inverness, and Point Reyes Station. Fire managers are working closely with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to carefully monitor air quality before and during the prescribed fire and to minimize the impacts of smoke. "

"On Saturday morning, a surfer happened upon an alien-looking sea creature washed up on Kehoe Beach on the Point Reyes National Seashore. It had a nearly 6-foot-long oblong body with a fin popping out on each side, it had no tail, and one of its enormous googly eyes faced upward, seemingly saying hello.

Turns out the specimen is not a Mola mola but its close relative known as a Mola tecta, or hoodwinker sunfish. It’s an easy mistake to make. Mola tecta are extremely rare in California — so rare that there have been only a handful of living sightings here and about the same number of strandings."

The waves are absolutely massive today in Point Reyes and getting bigger, these photos don’t do it justice. I told these people with their dog and little child to please get away from the water. It is so dangerous. Be safe everyone!

Anyone else get the earthquake alert? I think it was for this earthquake in Isleton, CA.

“The California Department of Transportation has defeated another legal challenge against a bridge project near Point Reyes Station.

The bridge was built in 1929 and sits near the San Andreas Fault. About 15 years ago, Caltrans determined the bridge does not meet safety and seismic design standards. It also determined that retrofitting was not a viable option because of the structure’s advanced age, according to court filings.

Caltrans proposed a bridge replacement project and began its first community meetings in 2015. In 2018, a group called Friends of the Green Bridge filed a lawsuit alleging that the project violated the California Environmental Quality Act.”

From the West Marin Residents for Housing: "CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF HOUSING IN WEST MARIN? In the past five years, the number of Short Term Rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Marin has almost doubled, from 480 in 2018 to the current 873. The negative impacts of STRs on available housing have been well documented in the County’s plan to address the housing crisis: the Marin Housing Element. Yet, the County’s newly proposed would allow the licensing of an additional 108 short term rentals (STRs), increasing the number in coastal West Marin from 568 to 676 — almost 20% of our precious housing stock!"

There is an urgent need for community members to express their views on the draft STR ordinance. This has to happen by this Thursday morning, 10/19 in order for comments to be included in the board packet.

West Marin Residents for Housing have created a letter template that can be found on our website:
https://westmarinresidentsforh...

And even better, attend the Planning Commission hearing on 10/23.

Definitely getting lots of clicks in Inverness the last few days, glad someone reached out to PG&E.

Prefect morning light and dew for October spider web. Nice to get a picture before I walk through it later tonight in the dark and freak out

Found this poor expired mola mola at the beaches today in Point Reyes.

Great shot of the eclipse in Inverness by KB.

Bike bike ride going through West Marin on Saturday (Oct. 14). Share the road, be safe everyone.
https://www.bestbuddieschallen...

Lots happening this weekend:

- California White Shark Project talk in Bolinas tonight (Friday) from 5pm to 7pm

- "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse tomorrow morning

- Shoreline Harvest Festival on Saturday at the West Marin School in Point Reyes Station from 10am to 4pm

- Hog Island celebrates it's 40th anniversary in Tomales on Sunday with a big party from 2pm to 5pm

Get all the details plus more news, events and photos in the WMF weekly newsletter:

https://thewestmarinfeed.com/w...

Then subscribe!

Photo from the CWSP IG account:
https://www.instagram.com/cali...

A beautiful day capped off with with a beautiful sunset in Point Reyes. Also, does anyone else see an alien face in that first pic?

There is a controlled burn in San Geronimo today.

Saw these in the park this evening, is it the baby spider webs people have been seeing floating around?

Before the internet, they made macrame parks.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx...

WMF has thought about trying to 'crowd source' guides. So let's try one today. Please put your input into the comments and I'll compile into a guide. What pumpkin patches and/or corn mazes in the area that you recommend? I'll start with a few:

- The Tomales Pumpkin Lot

- The Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch

- The Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze (legendary, especially at night)

Also, the WMF email newsletter is out for the weekend. Lots of news, events and weather to get caught up on:

https://thewestmarinfeed.com/w...

Photo from this drone video of the Petaluma Corn Maze:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Sounds like a vegetation fire in Fairfax, approximately two acres. Hopefully stays contained.

A touching profile of Felix N’jai, the swimmer who went missing in Point Reyes this weekend: "When a crowd of friends were asked if they thought Felix was their best friend, a large majority would raise their hands.”

https://www.latitude38.com/lec...

This is a tragic story. Please help support this local family navigate this terrible loss if you are able.

Via PRNPS: "On Thursday Oct. 5, the National Park Service (NPS) will remove trash and chemicals from a former illegal marijuana grow site operation near Laguna Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore.

The operation will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Helicopter activity will be visible from Limantour Road and other nearby areas.

The historic marijuana cultivation site was first reported to park rangers on March 8, 2023. The site is located within the park’s 33,373-acre Philip Burton Wilderness."

One of those amazing calm, warm nights on Tomales Bay in Inverness.

Beautiful light over Tomales Bsy in Inverness this morning. Have a great day.

Yay.

“Drakes View Drive in Inverness is undergoing much needed repaving from October 2-20 with intermittent road closures. October 2 from 8:00 am-5:00 pm is closed. Check http://invernessridge.info for updates.”

“A person was reportedly attacked by a shark at the Point Reyes National Seashore on Sunday, prompting a multiagency search and rescue operation.

The Coast Guard received a report at around 10:40 a.m. Sunday that someone appeared to have been attacked by a shark and pulled underwater in the Wildcat Beach Area in the southern reaches of the Marin County park, according to Grace Patton, a public information officer for the Coast Guard’s San Francisco sector.

Four agencies deployed first responders to look for the missing person, searching by air, land and sea, Patton said. But as of 3 p.m. Sunday, they had still not located the missing person.“

Anyone have more details about the car chase and hit and run on SFD in San Geronimo and maybe Lagunitas yesterday? Lots and lots of police out there.

Prepare yourself for a looming government shut down which will have an impact on the national parks (Point Reyes National Seashore), park workers and visitors.

"The lack of information has frustrated some business owners and workers as the government’s funding deadline of Sept. 30 ticks closer. Parks that were shuttered under President Barack Obama during a 2013 shutdown were largely left open but unstaffed by President Donald J. Trump during a shutdown five years later.

Now, businesses and mayors say they have little idea what to expect."

WMF drove out to see a mellow sunset over Point Reyes and on the way back a beautiful almost full moon came up over Tomales Bay

Looks like a serious structure fire in Lagunitas.

“The Inverness Foundation volunteers are removing highly invasive acacia from their property between the tennis court and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness. Acacia are a terrible fire hazard, and many people are allergic to them. The branches will be chipped. Free firewood is available in the tennis court parking lot and at the intersection of Vision Road and Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Bring your chainsaw: some of it is pretty big. Once the acacias are removed, native trees appropriate to the area will be planted.”

Lots of sirens heading up Rt 1 but nothing on pulse point, anyone know what’s going on?

End of the weekend sunset in Point Reyes. Rumor on the street is we might see some rain tomorrow. If so, drive safe everyone.

Tree down on Vision Rd in Inverness. Road closed.

An injured hiker was airlifted from Wildcat Beach to Five Brooks for transport to hospital this afternoon.

Smoky sunset in Point Reyes tonight.

The Inverness Fire Dept. said the smoke we’re smelling and seeing today is from Oregon coming in off the ocean. (Thx NB)

Not sure what happened here but I suspect there will be some traffic issues on SFD by White Hill in Fairfax due to this. (Thx CB/MB)

"As most you know the beautiful being that is Kevin P. Clarke left this plane of existence. This fundraiser was originally thought of by their niece as a way to help support Zelda's education. Please share far and wide and celebrate their life by helping to care for the future of Zelda, the absolute most important person to Kevin." Our hearts go out to Kevin's family, friends and community.

Found on a beach in Point Reyes this week, anyone know what it is? Person who found it doesn’t know. (Thx PF)

“I overheard a guy at the palace yesterday bragging about how he moved out of WMarin and now gets same day delivery from Amazon.”

Hi, if you get the WMF email newsletter, I made a big mistake today and said the Shoreline Harvest Festival at the West Marin School is this Saturday. It is not. It is actually October 14. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused (or will cause).

Parent, staff and community member volunteers have been working diligently since last February to bring together a beautiful event to celebrate all that our local land and waters have to offer -- from its natural resources to its people. This is meant to be a celebration and a coming together of our community. Good times! Fun interactive learning! Celebration! Whether or not you have children in our schools -- and whether or not you have children, come!

Saturday, 10am to 4pm at the West Marin School in Point Reyes Station.

Among other things, community members will be showing up to teach and share about:

butter churning (organized by Loretta Farley and our local libraries)
corn husk doll making (Kerry Livingston and Colleen Conley)
botanical drawing (Molly Brown and local artists)
cider pressing (hosted by West Marin Climate Action and others! Apples wanted!!)
tortilla making (by Aracely Rodriguez)
barley tea making (by Table Top Farms)
sun print making (by WM-INV PTSA)
seed balls (Inverness Garden Club)
weaving (with Travis Meinolf)
a touch table of pelts and skulls of omnivores and carnivores found in our local Seashore (hosted by the Point Reyes National Seashore)
tule cord-making and other place-based activities (by Theresa Harlan and the Alliance for Felix Cove)
local non-profits such as Point Blue Conservation Science (birds! watersheds!) and Taira Restar's Emerald Heart and In Place presenting skills, information and place-centered nature education
face painting!

and a hay bale maze (by Tomales High School AG department and students)

PLUS vendors selling lunch
Kinoko Japanese!
Elote prepared by the high school soccer team!
Tacos by Gilo Rodrigues and co!
Cute Coffee!
Pies!
Plus more in the works!
PLUS farmers and local makers
AND live music (The Coastal Scrubbers, Seamus Tomkins and much more!)

“A PG&E truck has overturned at 45 Drakes View Drive completely blocking the road. Residents are asked to take the Limantour Fire Road.”

Reminder, the Inverness Park Market is closed today as they prep for their big community party this afternoon. Music, food and more from 4pm to 8pm. See you there!
https://invernessparkmarket.co...