Captain's Report Catch-up pt 2 ~ ExGld
Hello Explorers!
For our second batch of Captain’s Reports we have the Steeplechase and High Sights reports. These expeditions were co-captained by Belle Cunningham and Lark, so it made sense to ask them to write out these reports. A big thank you to Belle for taking the lead on these and creating the record of events.
Steeplechase 2024
The annual Steeplechase is a treasured tradition of the Explorers Guild, and this year’s outing marks our 7th spin on the city’s carousels. This time, we were determined to go the distance and finally make it to the fabled 4th carousel.
We gathered at Pier 39 to begin our journey among the carousel’s fanciful steeds not too far from over a thousand sea lions loudly lounging on the docks. We rode carousel 1 with our usual flair and then embarked on our journey along the Embarcadero. While riding the F Market we recounted the legendary story of San Francisco’s streetcars. Movingly, our two field guide readers matched pace and read in unison, their intonation rising and falling together like, well, you get the idea. Arriving at the Yerba Buena carousel we paid tribute to Steefin Claark and their spirited contribution to our Guild. One lucky rider even got to enjoy the dedicated Steven Clark horse at Yerba Buena, thanks to a generous donation by Explorer Seg. Joyfully we rededicated ourselves to the spirit of kindness and generosity for another year at least.
Onward and downward, we traveled to the third carousel underground on the Muni Metro, taking the N Judah as soon as it eventually came. With lunch on our minds we wandered the streets of Haight-Ashbury, and reconvened, sandwiches in hand, at our penultimate carousel. We noted the flag had not yet been lost! Nor any explorers! So far, our trip was a stunning success. After a beautiful turn on the Koret carousel a band of us decided to reach for that distant brass ring and venture out to the 4th carousel.
We are delighted to report that the fourth carousel does in fact exist. It is secreted away inside the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, a menagerie within a menagerie. And it’s a beauty! Wooden animals carved and painted by hand exude charm as they await their riders. With 50 animals of 9 different species to choose from, Explorers made the most of this last ride, trying to pick the animal that would suit them best. Horse, pig, tiger, rabbit, or cat? Lion, reindeer, ostrich, or giraffe? Some chose their ride carefully, while others had their steed chosen for them. Either way, we grabbed hold of the pole one last time and buoyed our whimsy to new heights in our enjoyment of this final carousel. Will we journey this far again next year? A spirit of possibility suffused throughout our group as we dispersed to explore the Zoo. Many Explorers were soon seen riding the Zoo’s mini steam train as well as peeking at the variety of real live animals on display. The whimsical spirit of Steeplechase is alive and well, ready for us to find it again whenever we next look.
High Sights
The hills of San Francisco are one of the city’s most iconic features. The steep hills add a sense of adventure to any walk around town, challenging us as we ascend them and charming us as we admire the views from their peaks. For this outing Lark and myself, Belle Cunningham, designed a route of 11 hilltops over just about 12 miles, taking us from the Ferry Building to Dolores Park the long way around. Hail and hearty explorers came prepared to trek across town at the speed of exploration, wandering, wondering, pointing, and pondering as we went. Lark even provided a demonstration of how to make an observation while continuing to walk, in hopes (soon dashed) that our walk might proceed at an efficient pace.
Efficient we are not, but thoughtful, perspicacious, and imaginative. This walk would exercise all of those aspects as well as our legs. We set off, across the stepping stones of Levi’s Plaza and up, up, up the Filbert Street Stairs. We paused to admire Califa, the queen of California, depicted in a glowing mural on the Malloch Building. Climbing Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower we hit upon some topics that would become themes of the walk: local history (textbook and personal), roman concrete (made by dinosaurs?), and ranking the available restrooms (full marks at Coit Tower). Back down Greenwich and around to Jack Early Park, where we debated its qualifications as a peak. We headed north to the new Francisco Park and waved to the cable cars on Hyde Street. By the time we made it to Lafayette Park we were picking up the pace, if only to make it to lunch a little more quickly.
After lunch in the Fillmore our numbers began to dwindle. It was getting late! We pressed on, Lark even at one point exhorted us, “Stop exploring!” Reader, we did not, could not, stop exploring. But we did travel a little faster onward to Alamo Square, Buena Vista (named before trees shrouded its view), Mount Olympus, and tankless Tank Hill. With but 7 Explorers remaining we traveled to Twin Peaks, where, unfortunately, we were detained by explorbs cleverly disguised as port-a-potties. Future Explorers are hereby warned of this trap. Our determination was our greatest ally and we did manage to press onward to our final peak at Kite Hill and our destination, Dolores Park. We had completed our journey, and though only 7 of us made it to the finale we celebrated with the spirit of all who participated along the way.
At Dolores Park we learned that Doctor Professor had a rare commemoration for us to witness. It will not surprise many of you to learn that Lark has demonstrated all the skills of a Captain and has rightly earned that title. Congratulations, Captain Lark! You lead with a full-hearted joy and the Explorers Guild is lucky to have you.
As noted by Belle in her report of High Sights, we now have a new Captain in our ranks, Captain Lark! Over the last ten years, Lark has made expeditions like Berkeley Stairs, Albany Hill, Portola Train Museum, and the Hoghead badge, come to life with her whimsical touches. Over the years she has also been instrumental in Caravan Rally (Here be Dragons & Rescue Opportunity), our events council, the establishment of some of our more musical traditions, and is the current board treasurer. On our various adventures she is also reliably one of our most consistent stellar cartographers, never shying away from a chance to document our adventures. Her wit and charm is undeniable, and we are lucky to have her in our guild.
Lark, I’m so happy to have you join the ranks of Captains, along with eXmarksthe, co-captains Rowena & Sebastian, and myself.
Once again, welcome Captain Lark and Semper Explorandum!