I woke up this morning, and it was just starting to rain in Oakland.  I had some work to do, but I could still see evidence of blue sky further north, so  I grabbed my camera, hopped in my car and drove off to catch up with the sunlight!  I drove up 580 to 80 North/East, and I thought I might get off the freeway at the Berkeley Marina.  But there was a car in the lane to the right of me, and I didn't feel like fighting to get in that lane, so I just kept cruising.  

I got off the freeway somewhere in Richmond, and drove around until I found the marina and the Kaiser shipyards.  I parked near the shore, and hopped out under some sunshine. Huge rain clouds were still parked over Oakland, so I was happy as a clam to be under blue sky.  All the Richmondites walking their dogs looked sad and chilly but I grinned like an idiot, walking down that path. 

When it did start to rain on me, I realized I didn't care too much.  I was just happy to be outside, watching the shorebirds, avocets and curlews and herons.  I found a sign that told me how to identify avocets and curlews.  The rain was scattered, so I was able to get some random pictures too.   The birds were too far off to shoot with my 135mm lens, so instead I took some landscape shots.  I came on an old pier falling into the marsh, and some neat mushrooms, and a long drain leading off to the north.

As it started raining harder, the few people on the pathway got friendlier. They were hunkering down under their hoodies, and yanking their dogs along.  One guy I passed asked me randomly, "Where did all this rain come from!"  I answered, "From Oakland!"  Another lady passing me by said, "What a bummer, huh!?"  Then there was a tough looking guy in a hoodie, and he had a very tiny little scot terrier with him, in a pink and purple little doggie jacket.  I grinned like hell passing them by, because they didn't seem to match up at all.  Seeing my expression, he turned to me and said, "Hey, how's it going!"  

I do a lot of solitary wandering, and sometimes it starts to feel surreal.  I wonder idlely whether my memories really exist, or if I am just made up sometimes.  Hearing people talk reminds me that I am, indeed, real, even though I'm just drifting along through life.

When I got back to my car, I realized how wet I was, and went home to get dry socks.  Dry socks are amazing!!!