I was wondering why Chris wanted me to pose opposite the San Francisco ferry terminal until a cowboy crept up on me from behind and caught me in a lasso.

Unaware of a Texan presence in San Francisco, we investigated the area to find “Texas on Tour,” a promotional tourism effort resembling an eccentric circus. The cowboy and the sand sculptor pictured above were two of the featured charismatic Texans with assorted talents.

Cattle Segway

The Texans rode segways with cattle horns to round up the unsuspecting tourists and San Franciscan commuters.

*We are now in San Francisco but will be blogging on previous exciting destinations including North America’s largest sea cave and the Redwoods.

Intertidal Zone

The tidal pools of Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary at Salt Creek Recreation Area are among the best in the Pacific Northwest. When you stand beneath the Douglas firs on the coastal edge at low tide, acres of intertidal pools lie between you and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. If the fog isn’t obscuring your vision, you can discern the outlines of passing cruise ships and Vancouver Island in Canada. We camped at Salt Creek for four days while exploring the local marine life and the abandoned fort and pillboxes nearby. Chris’s parents joined us on this first leg of our trip.

Intertidal Zone

Accompanied by two marine biologists, Chris’s parents, we set out every morning to Tongue Point to explore the nearby intertidal zone at one of the lowest tides of the year.

Zone 4 Tidal Pool

We started at the low tide fringe where the waves were breaking as the tide rose. The range of marine critters within the tidal pools varies from the littoral to subidal zones. In the zone 4 tidal pool above, you can see purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), green sea anenomes (Anthopleura xanthogrammica), and kelp. The anenomes recoil upon human touch and blossom beautifully when submerged.

Sea Life

Limpets, horse barnacles, and red encrusted algae can be seen in this tidal pool. We also found tide pool sculpen, clingfish, sea cucumbers, gumboot chiton, and various species of starfish nearby.

Gooseneck Barnacles

When you pass by the gooseneck barnacles, you can sometimes hear them whistling.

Island at Salt Creek Campground

This island is accessible at low tide only. We explored its perimeter for octupus in vain but instead found robin eggs among the island’s ferns.

Bald Eagle

From the island, we sighted a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) being harassed by a throng of shorebirds.

Lugworm

Lugworms (Arenicola marina) are responsible for the coiled sand castings that surround the colorful kelp.

VIDEO

Red Sea Urchin Walking

In the video, a red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) uses its spines to crawl across Chris’s hands. One of the longest-lived species, the red sea urchin has radial  symmetry along five planes.

*Special thanks to friends Anne and Dave for securing a much sought after campsite at Salt Creek and offering invaluable advice for our southbound journey.

Salt Creek Campground

Before heading south, we explored the tidal zones and old growth forests of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.

Rainy Day Records

If you wish to find where the 1960s hippies settled down, Vashon Island is supposedly the resting ground. But if you ever wondered where the hippies are still being grown, Olympia is the place. Amplifying the relaxing Seattle cafe attitude, Olympia has an eccentric kick to its culture emanating from the local art and music scene and Evergreen State College’s youth and KAOS Radio. Alongside the mainstream political and business culture of Washington State’s Capitol, this eclectic but niche downtown Olympia skate shop features album and film collections rivaling the trendiest shops of NYC, converse high-tops, incense, and custom skateboards.

Ford Econoline 350

This summer, Chris Hooper (Webb Class 2011) and I are journeying on a road trip from Olympia, WA to southern California. My objective in blogging is to convey what it is like to travel by RV down the West Coast. I will be posting infrequently due to limited internet access. Above is our 27′ C-class Bravo Econoline 350 under preparation to leave.

Summer in Xi'an

My sister, Preeta, is in Xian, China. Visit her blog at www.preetawillemann.com

Eyeglasses

About a month ago, Ms. Jocelyn Gibbons, the marketing director of Just Eyewear, contacted me requesting data on the cost of prescription eyeglasses in Shanghai. The most relevant statistic I witnessed was this bucket of non-prescription glasses. The going price was 2 RMB (0.30 USD) each in the old markets. I also asked around for prescription prices and determined that the most economic option would be to purchase rims in the States and lenses in Shanghai. Prescription eyeglass prices in Shanghai start at around 80 RMB (11.72 USD). Some market stalls even do eye exams themselves and can have the glasses ready within 30 minutes.

Forbidden Palace

Jonathan Shaller, a fellow traveler from the Red Lantern Hostel in Beijing, rendered this pavilion using Autodesk Maya. Jonathan is a professional 3D Environmental Artist with an impressive background. Notably, he’s worked on the graphics for The Chronicles of Narnia, Madagascar, and Transformers. He modeled this pavilion after visiting the Forbidden City’s Imperial Garden, where the Emperor once chose women for his harem.

Sparrows in Qibao

I must admit that I am now back in New York with my parents and Chris. I will continue to post occasionally, as I still have many places, foods, and cultural oddities to share. Above are impaled sparrows being sold in the Qibao marketplace in Shanghai. It was disturbing to watch children ravenously gnaw these popular snacks off the wooden skewers.

Recital Replay

During the Spring Festival, only one music store near the Shanghai Music Conservatory was open. It had the floorspace of a typical shop window display with about 20 violins crammed inside. A teacher clapped expressionlessly to a practicing student’s rhythm. The student was excellent for a ten-year-old and practiced five hours a day, according to the teacher. One quirk about this dealer was that all his violins seemed to have excessive resonance built into them. I played this piece four years ago at my last recital with my violin teacher, Esther Slonczewski. The resonance problem can especially be heard every time I hit the A.  Again, sorry for the lack of practice.