Day 135: Dead End
Day 135: May 15, 2014: Somewhere in Golden Gate Park
A dead end, somewhere near Crossover, snapped on the run.
(Kodak Portra 400 in the Canon Sureshot A1 SLC P20)
Day 132: Re-Integrating
Day 132: May 12, 2014: Upper Market
Re-integrating in to the real world (AKA the work world) today after vacation. The work waiting for me when I got back was more than enough to wear me out, so I didn’t get to far from the house for a photo today.
(Arista Premium 400 B&W in the Canon Sureshot A1 SLC P22)
Day 131: Goodbye, Backyard Jungle
Day 131: May 11, 2014: Pink Orchid, Roatan, Honduras
It’s been fun, Roatan. As we head back to the airport, I’ll leave you with one last shot of the jungle from our behammocked back deck. (Also, the long airport line that we were warned about was a lie. We could totally have spent another hour on the deck)
Kodak Portra 160 in the Canon EOS 3)
An Ode to the GhettoVan
The GhettoVan: Our trusty steed.
Sometimes, hearing about the recent string of rental cars being robbed at machine gun point might just get you thinking about a less conspicuous means of transportation. That kind of thinking might just lead you to the GhettoVan.
It may look like just a run of the mill Plymouth Voyager, but oh no, this van had it all: power sliding doors, an ever-present “Brake Problems” warning light, non-functioning rear suspension, a tinted windshield* (Srsly, WTF?), and a state of the art ceiling-mounted entertainment screen, which, though unable to actually display anything, had the fantastic habit of dropping down like one of those airplane oxygen masks every time something dangerous happened.
We traversed this island of hills and dirt roads in our overloaded Voyager with it’s questionable brakes and unquestionably dead suspension, seven grown ass adults inside, shifting weight around at every bump in hopes of preventing the loss of a tire. At one point we all had to pile out of the van to take some weight off the suspension and get the chassis high enough to dislodge from it’s position, high-centered on the crest of a hill. At times, it was only natural to wonder: Perhaps we should have taken our chances with the machine gun bandits?
Judging by the local girls on the east end of the island stopping to take iPhone photos of us as we drove by, I can only assume Operation “Don’t Look Like Gringo Tourists” was a failure, anyway.
All “features” aside, somehow you didn’t manage to kill us. For that, I thank you, dearest GhettoVan.
*Have you ever driven a car with a tinted windshield at night on streets with no lighting? If not, I recommend that you don’t try… Pretty much every privately owned car on Roatan seemed to have a dark tinted windshield. I have no idea why, but it certainly makes driving at night an adventure of the sort that I’d prefer not to do again for a long time.
(Kodak Ektachrome E100SW in the Canon Sureshot SLC P19)
Day 134: This One Didn’t Quite Work Out
Day 134: May 14, 2014: Presidio
They can’t all be winners.
I was out on late night motorcycle cruise through the Presidio when I came across the bright lights of the new Presidio Parkway overpass construction. I just couldn’t pass up unusual lights in the night, so I stopped for a shot. However, wIth only one of the Sureshot snow leopard cameras and no tripod, the result wasn’t quite what I envisioned. Next time.
(Arista Premium 400 black and white (Kodak Tri-X 400) in the Canon Sureshot A1 SLC P22)
Day 137: Motel
Day 137: May 17, 2014: That Motel
The American Motel. Anywhere USA.
Actually, this is Beck’s Motor Lodge on Market Street in the Castro. I’ve never seen the inside, but am quite curious what it is like in there. Hopefully the inside of this delightfully retro motel is every bit as stylish as I would expect from such an establishment found in the Castro.
(Kodak Portra 400 in the Canon Sureshot A1 SLC P20)
Day 136: La Rondalla
Day 136: May 16, 2014: The Mission
La Rondalla is back! The margaritas are still strong, and the food is…um, did I mention that the margaritas are still strong? That second round (or was it the third?) was probably ill-advised. Oy.
(Kodak Portra 400 in the Canon Sureshot A1 SLC P20)
Day 130: Just Another Day on the Island
Day 130: May 10, 2014: West End
Continuing the apparent trend of still blue seas and docks, here is the neighborhood discoteca. We didn’t make it over here, but the place was bumping on Saturday night, and most likely would have been a fascinating scene of vacationers and expats. Not a bad location, for sure.
Also: Lizards!
(Kodak Ektachrome E100SW in Canon Sureshot SLC P19 and Kodak Portra 160 in the EOS 3)
Day 129: Here, There Be Hammocks
Day 129: May 5, 2014: East End of Roatan, Honduras
A day on the East End of Roatan, well beyond the usual tourist circuit. We came out here for some underwater caves, some jam and other tasty things, and just to see what happens on the other end of this 5 mile wide, 48 mile long island. Most people stay on the far west end of the island, not venturing too far to the east, so it tends to be a bit quieter out here. The roads get a little iffy past a certain point, then non-existent at a point past that, with the far end really only accessible by boat.
The dive shop out at the end of this dock had a second story deck, complete with shaded hammocks. While the rest of the crew dove and snorkeled, we napped. Oh what a splendid nap it was.
We even met a friendly turtle up at the restaurant while cooling off with a Salva Vida.
I like turtles.
(Kodak Ektachrome E100SW in Canon Sureshot SLC P19)
Day 128: Sittin’ on the Dock
Day 128: March 5, 2014: West End/Bay, Roatan
Another day, another dock, another view unto the sea. Day snorkeling, night snorkeling, rum drinks, and an elusive maracuya. Now if only that daquiri shop were ever open…
(Expired Kodak Ektachrome E100SW slides in the questionably waterproof Sureshot SLC P19)
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