Ring Mountain is a delightful place, often eclipsed by the brighter stars of Mt. Tam and Pt. Reyes. I discovered it this morning, making a commitment to scale the top by lunchtime.
I didn't quite get all the way around to the Tiburon side, but upon making it about halfway up the hill, sat down to admire the view and wolf down my Safeway Signature sandwich. Within my line of sight, I discovered the fascinating juxtaposition of institutions in the photo above.
The buildings in the foreground are those of the Marin Country Day School, an K-8 private school with a sixteen million dollar endowment. It's pure stereotyped Marin; elite(ist) with hippie frosting.
http://www.mcds.org/
The longish building on the shore of the lagoon in the background of the photo, to the left of the bridge, is none other than San Quentin Prison. No explanation needed.
http://www.corr.ca.gov/Visitors/fac_prison_SQ.html
I like this photo because it really seems to capture what I've been discovering about Marin: the paradoxes that are right before our eyes, yet that so many of us just blissfully ignore. It's unlike in SF, where the less desirable (affluent?) elements of society are there with you on the bus, the street, in GG Park. Over there their existence is acknowledged, if only through condemnation. Up here, it seems to be a different story.
Ah, white liberal bliss.
Post-tirade suggestion: get yourself over to Ring Mountain. Bring a sandwich and a digital camera.
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/mcosd/os_park_24.asp
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