Bring Back Those Rainy Days...Even to the Sundial Bridge: Machines Without Screens #2

It has been raining non-stop here in the Bay Area, and even though we might mope and complain about a little dampness, it is a much-needed blessing in a time of complete drought in California. I just got back from a visit to the Sacramento River, where a beautiful piece of architecture called The Sundial Bridge stands as a celebration of human creativity and ingenuity, displayed across the 300 acre Turtle Bay Park.

Wool tights and tweed are important staples to keep cozy in the rainy months.

I felt a little disappointed that I couldn't tell what time it was just by looking down at the shadow cast from this beautiful monument, but it was nice to imagine the way it is supposed to operate during sunnier times. No batteries required, the shadows cast by the sun would fall across numbers like this on the ground:

In addition to being a functional work of art, the Sundial Bridge is a technical marvel. The cable structure has an "inclined, 217 foot pylon constructed of 580 tons of steel. The deck is made up of 200 tons of glass and granite and is supported by more than 4,300 feet of cable."* 

217-foot mast that points north

The tiles are semi-transparent - walking on it and looking down I experienced a slight sense of vertigo...aka a mini thrill at the thought of it's structural stability and how we are just hovering over the river as it rises back up with the flow of the rain. Keep it coming, I think the bridge can hold up.

Hope you're staying dry as the winter months settle in. If you find that bone-chilling cold start to wear on your soul a little, grab a cup of chai tea from your local coffee shop like this one from Samovar Tea Lounge in the Mission District. I had the lucky experience of tasting one today after meeting a friend and was amazed at how the spices, so expertly brewed warmed me up from the inside out.

The interiors were slightly reminiscent of an old apothecary shop

Chai Tea with almond milk

Let me know if you are out west and get a chance to visit one of these places. Curious to hear what you think! Ping me here or on social media.

-XO Julia

Thanks for reading! These opinions are all my own. Follow live updates on my Instagram and Twitter.

*Refernce: www.turtlebay.org/sundialbridge