Friday, April 10, 2009

San Francisco Bay Area Trip - March 20 - 29, 2009

In March, the Langley Middle School Adventure Education class made its maiden voyage to the San Francisco Bay Area. The group of twenty students and three adult chaperones used public transportation throughout the entire journey. Everything that was needed was carried on the backs of each individual involved.

The trip began at the Clinton ferry terminal on Whidbey Island. The group walked across the ferry, caught the Sounder commuter train to Seattle and boarded the Amtrak Coast Starlight train at King Street Station bound for Emeryville. The ride down the coast took approximately twenty-three hours total.

The Bay Area offers an exceptional public transportation system for those willing to delve into its array of schedules. After arriving in Emeryville, the group walked to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and took the subway into the heart of San Francisco. From there, the group navigated the city streets using the Muni, Golden Gate Transit System and the West Marin Stagecoach.

Highlights for this trip included joining an optional war protest which ended at San Francisco's city hall, camping at Mount Tamalpais State Park, summiting Mount Tam, hiking Muir Woods, two nights of camping and hiking on Angel Island and exploring the following districts in San Francisco: Tenderloin, Mission, Chinatown, Castro and Haight.

- - - - -

Many thanks to Charlie Snelling and Roc Gianni. Your quick wit and rock-solid leadership made this Adventure Education trip another success.

Sincerely,

Nels Bergquist