A Dog's Life

Tromp any trail in Marin and you're bound to run into a dog. Ears flopping, tail wagging, exploring and snuffling, Marin's dogs love the outdoors even more than I do. They can certainly smell more of it than I can. For several years I had a dog, an extremely spirited, smart, and strong shepherd husky mix named Dingo. Like so many other canines in this county, he was a rescue from the Marin Humane Society. Dingo did many a mile with me on fire roads and trails, until a leg injury and a divorce meant I could no longer give him the miles of exercise he needed, and he found a new home. I missed my furry companion (though I'm sure legions of traumatized squirrels breathed a collective sigh of relief that Dingo wouldn't be terrorizing them again; he had a way of yanking the leash out of my hands--I said he was strong--and he could do a pretty good job of climbing trees).

But now I have a new buddy, Dre, 40 pounds of tongue-lolling happiness. That's him in the picture. Technically, he's my friend Catherine's dog, but I kinda think of him as mine too, since I see him several times a week. He trots along beside us as we ride or run all over the county. Lucky dog. Like us, he is allowed on acres of Marin County Open Space lands, so long as he is either on a leash or under voice control (click here for rules). While he would love to run in China Camp, that's a doggy no-no, since that and Mt. Tam State Park forbid pooches from its trails (click here for general details on dogs in CA State Parks). But there's plenty of acreage to go around: he can take to the fire roads and trails all over Mt. Tamalpais, so long as he stays within the Marin Municipal Water District acreage and is on leash (here are the rules and a map). He can run on some of the beaches (Rodeo and Muir beaches, and Stinson's North Beach is always dog heaven) and some trails within the Marin Headlands (click here for the rules). Happy trails, Dre.

Beers, brats, and bikes at new Fairfax hangout

Remember when you were a kid and liked to build forts? I specialized in a simple toss-the-old-quilt-over-the-card-table approach, then climbed in with a book, a pillow, and a flashlight. My brother took a more elaborate tack: He and his buddies (I'm not naming names) would scour nearby building sites for "spare" lumber, then use it build a multistory tree house with extension cords strung across the fields, eventually finding an elicit plug in an unsuspecting parent's house. (That they never burned down the hillside with their activities is still one of Marin's mysterious secrets.)

This week I had a chance to check out Marin's latest fort for grownups: Gestalt Haus at the Beat, in Fairfax. Wearing the tagline "Beer, brats, and bikes," it's a magnet for both mountain bikers and road riders (roadies) in search of a place to chill after a ride, especially night rides in the surrounding hills. (Again, no names named here, but I hope they stay on legal fire roads.) Mud-spattered Lycra and lithium-light-topped helmets are the preferred fashions.

Guys (and gals) sit at long polished-wood tables, beer-hall style, inviting conversation. We walked in and immediately recognized friends. On the walls? Bikes. Patrons roll them right through the door and hang them on wall-mounted racks. Great way to promote gear envy (and not risk getting your ride stolen). Kids bounce around in the place on weekends, while their parents talk trails, sip a brew, and check out guides and magazines. Need a dog to pat? There's usually one or two hanging out by the door.

The minimalist menu offers not quite a dozen kinds of meat and vegan sausages, plus optional sauerkraut. (Sophia behind the counter says they focus solo on brats because "that's just what you want when you're done with a ride.) More items will come soon (think pickles and chips--this place will never be haute-cuisine.) As for drinks, the focus is on quality California microbrews and bottled German beers. And note the bottles of Coke: they're from Mexico (cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup as in the US batches, notes manager Jeremy Wright). So while Gestalt Haus wouldn't claim to sell health food, it's at least quality food.

A recent Marin IJ review caused some headaches: local health code guys noticed what they considered infractions, so there are some minor changes being made but no long-term impacts predicted by management. So c'mon down to the fort. Just bring your bike, your dog, and your mud.

Gestalt Haus at the Beat (in former Book Beat site)
28 Bolinas Rd.
Fairfax
gestalthausfairfax.com/index.html

Go chasing waterfalls...

Mill Valley's Cascade Canyon , Cataract Falls near Fairfax on the east side of Mt. Tamalpais(shown at right)--Marin's got its share of impressive waterfalls. But here's one you've probably never heard about. Which means its totally undiscovered. Just you, the woods, and water pounding so hard you can scream and not make a sound. Very, very cool. Just pack the waterproof hikers, since this one can be pretty soggy during big rain events like the one we're having now. (I can personally confirm this fact, having stepped on what looked like ground and was actually Marin's version of quicksand. I think my running shoe is still down in there somewhere.) Come back in March to spy uncommon and beautiful red monkeyflower.

San Pedro Ridge Falls (top left). This sweet spot is like a trip to Kauai without the 6-hour flight. The falls are within the San Pedro Open Space Preserve, west of China Camp State Park. From 101 in Terra Linda (N. San Rafael), take the N. San Pedro Rd exit east, toward China Camp. In about 1 mile you'll hit a stop sign (Oxford Dr to the right, Meadow Dr to the left); turn right. Turn right again just ahead onto Granlee; park in the huge Jehovah's Witness parking lot, on your right (park on the far south end, near the chain link fence). Walk around the fence and toward the creek, on the right side of the parking lot.

Now is when you might start getting wet. Jump the creek and pick up the faint trail heading into the forest, away from N. San Pedro. Follow this along boggy flats, the creek roughly on your right (it meanders a bit here) and start to climb. The falls kick in right about here. Keep scrambling (just be careful on slippery rocks) and keep climbing as long as you can, depending on water level. Cross the stream whenever needed or possible. In high water you can't get up very far; just stop and enjoy. And why not...go ahead and scream.