In partnership with
Experienced Coaches in a Boutique Gymnastics Facility
Golden Gate Gymnastics is a new, locally owned gymnastics facility in San Rafael, created by a Marin mom and former Head Coach of UC Berkeley’s Youth Gymnastics program. We’re excited to bring experienced, high-quality coaching to Marin in a welcoming space where we can really get to know our gymnasts and their families. We offer classes for ages 6 months–18 years, with programs designed to help kids build skills, confidence, and a love for gymnastics. We’d love to welcome your family into the gym!
Learn more here: GoldenGateGymnastics.com | 415-306-7072
The famous Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, the “Crookedest Railroad in the World,” was at the top of the world for decades. July 2, 1929 wasn’t the official end, but the fire on that day was the beginning of the end.
From the Wikipedia page:
The last train down the mountain carried sixty-five passengers to safety through the smoke. Snakes sought refuge from adjacent flames on the railway and were crushed under the train wheels, making the rails slippery and requiring liberal use of sand to prevent excessive speed.
Excuse me? Snakes? On a train… track? So many were crushed it made the rails slippery.
I had to know more. The citation: “Stam & McClure 1975, p. 3.” A pamphlet called Reflections of Mill Valley's Past, compiled by Michele Stam and Marie McClure with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Mill Valley Association of Volunteer Firemen. Long out of print. I found a copy on eBay.
Calling it a book is generous. It’s 31 stapled pages of typewritten clippings, assembled in 1975 — Mill Valley’s 75th birthday — from the library’s local history file.
And I found the quote, all the way on page 30 (not 3). It’s credited to Hills Afire by Battalion Chief Fred J. Bowlen, SFFD:
T.J. “Jake” Johnson, veteran engineer of the Mt. Tamalpais-Muir Woods Railway emerged a hero, with sixty five passengers. “Jake” piloted the last train down the mountainside — down a winding, blazing trail, smoke filled, and bordering an inferno, as thousands of rattlesnakes, driven from cover by the flames to the haven of the railway right of way, made the rails slippery, necessitating a liberal use of sand to keep the train under control.
So thousands of rattlesnakes and nothing about getting crushed. That gruesome detail was added by Wikipedia.
And who was Bowlen? As the fire descended towards Mill Valley on July 2, 1929, Battalion Chief Fred Bowlen led the San Francisco relief — four pumpers and fifty men, rolling within twelve minutes of the call. He directed the defense of downtown himself, hosing rooftops to make artificial rain. He was there. On the ground. But not on the train.
After the fire, a New York mother asked him to write some firefighting stories for her 12-year-old son. He obliged, but the boy wanted more. So Bowlen kept digging to learn more about the history of the department. And he kept going the rest of his life: 22,000 typewritten pages compiled.
But how much of this is embellishment for the sake of a good story? With each telling, there are more snakes, whether told by Johnson or Bowlen. Never mind the ash that surely coated the rails — it’s the snakes. All rattlesnakes, not the more common gopher snakes.
Sadly, we’ll never know. My hope was that the very official Wikipedia reference would tell me more. Ninety-seven years later, a stapled pamphlet off eBay is the best we can do, but at least we tried.
Ring Mountain in Corte Madera by Kaitlyn Melo, @bewellwithkaitlyn on Instagram
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Because leaving Marin might take more planning. Look for our Marin events in the Wednesday email.
This is all weekend at the Moscone Center. The finals are Sunday at Chase Center, which is an add-on to the ticket. My limited research says 3 of the 4 competitions are video games, and the other is a card game. It says sold out, but check resale options.
Fishing games, crafts, and the largest portable aquarium around. Probably not a big draw in and of itself, but we went out that way recently for the oldest waffle shop in America and Pacific Pinball Museum, so combine it with other stops. Free, 10am-4pm.
This is held outdoors at the Rio Nido roadhouse under the redwoods. Kids $41, adults $72.
Panel discussions, “The First Cat in Space, Live!”, shopping, and more. Free, 11am-6pm.
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Please note that this property isn’t associated with the banner sponsor above or Marin Buzz in any way. It is just a unique home you might be interested in seeing, for entertainment purposes only!
$3.3M Spaceship House Compound in Novato
The first time this unique property has ever hit the market. The main attraction: a home that rotates 320 degrees!
Sam Harkleroad was a poor farm kid with a high school diploma and an odd assortment of jobs: cobbler, fruit picker, truck driver, ship rigger, and tree surgeon. (Your guess is as good as mine on that last one…)
He started buying land in Novato in the 1940s, which would make up this 2.25 acre compound. It must have been cheap back then because he didn’t have much money: in the early 1940s he built a $122 home on top of a flatbed truck frame for his wife and newborn baby.
This compound came later, which includes seven detached buildings. One is called the Potato Chip House due to the roof shape. Another, his personal workshop, had a homemade wind turbine on the roof made from old 55 gallon oil drums.
The wind turbine was removed in 2021, but I show some pictures in this video:
Elvis is a 3 year old King Charles Cavalier!
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Mable’s by Tomales Bay Now Serving Breakfast Daily
Some mornings start with fog still resting on Tomales Bay, and a plate of brioche French toast to match. Mable’s, the restaurant at Lodge at Marconi, now serves breakfast daily from 7 to 10am, right on the water. Two eggs any style, a breakfast sandwich with crispy potato hash, or a West Marin yogurt bowl with wildflower honey, best enjoyed slowly as the bay wakes up around you. View the Menu, then come find a seat. No reservation needed.
Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!
