For our final gasp or blast of September, let’s go back to last Saturday night’s sunset that signaled the end of summer 2007. These shots were taken in a little park that overlooks the arroyo along Western Drive. It had rained that morning and the scent of the flowers and the eucalyptus trees was just magnificent. A visually brilliant and satisfying way to end the summer of love.

Here are some events that have occurred throughout the years in the month of September that I thought were worth mentioning. On September 19, 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote. On the September 22, 1776, Nathan Hale was executed during the American Revolution without a trial after he was caught spying on the British in Long Island. His final words, “I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country.” Also on the 22nd back in 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in territories held by the Confederates as of January 1, 1863. Now that’s a fairly mind-blowing concept.

Back on September 25, 1690, the first American newspaper was published. A single edition of “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick” appeared in Boston. However, British authorities considered the newspaper offensive and ordered its immediate suppression before they could include any Red Sox game stories or box scores. On this same day in 1960, the first ever televised presidential debate occured between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard “I am not a crook” Nixon. Many who watched said Kennedy won the debate as Nixon, who declined to use makeup, appeared somewhat haggard looking on TV in contrast to Kennedy. At least that’s what Marilyn Monroe told Entertainment Tonight. And then just four years later, after a ten month investigation the Warren Commission Report was issued stating a lone gunmen was responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. They’re still laughing about that one over on the grassy knoll.

And finally, belated birthday wishes go out to American folk legend Johnny Appleseed, who was born on September 26, 1774. For 40 years he traveled through Ohio, Indiana and into Illinois planting orchards. He was regarded as a “great medicine man” by Native Americans and all lovers of applesauce. Johnny Appleseed (born John Chapman) never married and when asked why, his answer was always that two female spirits would be his wives in the after-life if he stayed single on earth. And I bet they were golden delicious.

So that’s it for our final look at September 2007. Coming up on Monday I will give you all the details on the upcoming Open Studios Art Tour that yours truly is participating in for the first time. I don’t want to say I’m excited but I already have my clothes picked out for all six days. And congratulations go out to Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees for clinching a postseason playoff berth for the 13th straight year. I knew all along they would do it. My giving up on them months ago and badmouthing their pitching all season long was just reverse psychology.

Enjoy the colors and have a great sports weekend.

An hour and a half drive north of Santa Cruz along the Pacific Coast Highway is perhaps the most beautiful and certainly the most photographed bridge in the world, the Golden Gate. We stopped in the Marin headlands to take a shot of this magnificent structure on our ride down the coast a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day so the photo doesn’t really capture all the surrounding beauty. The bridge was designed back in 1930′s by engineer Joseph Strauss to withstand brutal winds, surging tides and persistent fog. For his efforts Strauss received $1 million, a lifetime bridge pass and two backstage passes to a Grateful Dead concert.

The Golden Gate is the strait that connects San Francisco Bay to the ocean. It was given its name by Army Captain John C. Fremont in 1846 because it reminded him of a harbor in Instanbul named the Golden Horn. For many years the crossing of the strait was accomplished by a ferry running between San Francisco and Sausalito. When it was completed in 1937 the Golden Gate was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is currently the second longest in the US after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City.

Despite its red appearance, the color of the bridge is an orange vermilion called “international orange”. The color was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow because it blends in well with the natural surroundings yet enhances the bridge’s visibility in the fog. If the US Navy had its way, the bridge might have been painted black and yellow to assure greater visibilty for passing ships. During construction, a safety net below the bridge saved the lives of 19 men who became known as the “Half-Way-to-Hell-Club.” Unfortunately, 11 missed the net.

Since its completion, the bridge has been closed five times due to windy conditions, the last being in 2005. In 1982 the wind was so severe that it set the bridge in visible motion. The Golden Gate is also notorious for suicides as there is an average of almost one suicide attempt every fifteen days. And just in case you were wondering, the fall takes only about four seconds and jumpers hit the water at 75 MPH.

On that happy thought, the second shot is a half hour drive south from the bridge along Highway 1 where the road winds thru the precarious Devil’s Slide. Then as we head south we see the lighthouse as Pigeon Point, low tide at Waddell Creek, the wildflowers at Scotts Creek and finally the Monterey Cypress trees on the cliffs of Davenport. This is one truly spectacular drive and for those of you who haven’t experienced it you’re in for a real treat.

So that’s it for today, next time we’ll discuss the Golden Rule, the Golden State Warriors and my favorite geometric structure in Southeast Asia, the Golden Triangle. And feel free to leave your comments on the bottom of these blogs. They cannot and will not be used against you in any court of law. Enjoy the cruise down the coast and have a great Monday.