All That Glitters

All That Glitters
            The phrase, “All that glitters is not gold” has endured since Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (though “glitters” was “glisters” in his version).
            We are reminded that shiny objects may not live up to their advertised preciousness.
            Yet appearances can be deceiving in both directions.
            Sometimes a humble entity, perhaps with apparent imperfections, belies hidden riches.
            People who look and act differently from the general populace—for our family a quirky autistic son, but there are countless different examples--may have wonderful facets that take time to see.
           And yet again, it is quite possible that a sparkling outer shell does contain wonders. And that an object with a duller patina may in fact not be concealing a treasure.
            In either case, facing a new person, object, or place with an open heart offers more opportunities to appreciate.
            I’ve driven across the Golden Gate Bridge countless times, and walked across it more than once. It’s a thrill every time. When the offer came up to walk on the new span of the Bay Bridge, however, I felt a little dubious. I was pleasantly surprised.
            This week’s Hike Notes lead us on a Bay Bridge Walk. Showered with less adoration than its iconic sibling, the Golden Gate Bridge, the post-earthquake updated east span of the Bay Bridge is not only a visual improvement, but has an official walking path from the Oakland side up to Vista Point on Yerba Buena Island.
            Please feel free to share. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photos!
            The list of hikes is getting long! Please check the Quick View Hike List or scroll down the main Hikes page to see the current list of hike notes.
New this week:
Hike Notes 40: Bay Bridge Walk