An Angel Island “Odyssey” Hosted by Angel Island Conservancy

Angel Island Conservancy hosted a very special evening in honor of the current production of Homer’s “Odyssey” on the island. The event, held in partnership with We Players, a Bay Area-based participatory theater company and Angel Island State Park, began with a voyage from Tiburon to Angel Island’s Ayala Cove. From the cove, guests were transported to Civil War-era Camp Reynolds now transformed into the home of Aeolus, king of the Winds. The weather, which was ‘picture perfect,’ provided breathtaking views of the Bay while guests were serenaded and fed a god’s feast prepared on the Quartermaster Warehouse wood-burning stove by the inspired “local cuisine” chef Paul Plotkin.

As the sun set, guests made their way back to Tiburon in time to dream of myths, journeys and splendor! One guest, Robert Eves, has shared his experience with us.

(click on images to view larger version of photos)

We had the very best adventure last week, and I want to tell you about it…

: It all began in Tiburon. We were told to go to the Angel Island ferry and wait for a group of people to assemble. We were 5 minutes late, but we had plenty of time to say hello and soak up the extraordinary, warm weather. We were very excited.

: Soon it was time to board a little shuttle boat parked on the pier in Tiburon. “Ayala” was its name.

: With lots of other folks, mostly strangers to us, we pulled out into the Bay.

: We looked back and spotted two of Tiburon’s most popular local eateries.

: We cruised into Ayala Cove at Angel Island, which we learned was named after a Spanish naval officer who first anchored there in 1775. I remember that it was called Hospital Cove for many years, but it was named Ayala Cove after the island became part of the California State Park system.

: Some of the local residents greeted us after we disembarked from the ferry. We didn’t speak their language, but we appreciated their friendly chatter.

: Friendly guides loaded our group into two open-air shuttles, and we motored out of Ayala Cove and up into the island’s hills. The flora was lush, and the grounds were natural and spotless.

: As we cruised along at a top speed of 15 miles per hour, the views were spectacular. We tried to recognize familiar landmarks on the “mainland” as we moved toward the top of the island.

: We saw charming Victorian era homes and some more spartan military-style barracks along the way, each settled into place without disturbing its surrounding environment.

: Over a rise, down a hill and around a wide bend in the road, we saw a sign announcing Camp Reynolds, Quartermaster’s Warehouse ahead, and there it was, glimmering in the warm afternoon sun. It was constructed only several feet away from the Bay shore with stunning views out to the Golden Gate, the southern Marin County peninsula and the western edge of the City of San Francisco. That was our destination, someone said.

: We unloaded from our shuttle and strolled down to the old brick building. There our crowd disbursed, some walking straight to the Bay to take in the view, some to examine the huge succulent plants that dotted the shore and some to the warehouse interior where we were told wine and snacks awaited us.

: Some of the cactus-like plants are absolutely immense (I’m not a botanist so I don’t know what the heck they are called), and it was clear that they enjoyed their fertile soil and climate. Skinny trees sprung up here and there with all their carbon dioxide nutrition limited to a few scrawny, but shiny green leaf-like growths at the top. Did I mention that I am not very knowledgeable about plants?

: As many of the guests picked up glasses of red or white wine inside the warehouse, a pair of guitarists started to perform at the water’s edge. These two have obviously performed together for a long time as their voices were perfectly synchronized.

: Everyone spoke about the amazing, uncharacteristic weather and the fabulous views. I snapped away with my little pocket camera hoping that a few of the shots would capture the scene for future viewing.

: As our entire group gathered out in front of the warehouse, the leadership of the event welcomed us and told us about the evening ahead. A theatre group had been assembled to entertain us with an Odysseus theme recounting the 10-year journey of the King of Ithaca after the Trojan War that was memorialized by Homer’s epic poem the “Odyssey.” The two women on the left (Lauren Chavez and Ava Roy) are partners who run We Players, a theatre company. The woman in the uniform (Amy Brees) is the Superintendent of Angel Island. She runs the day-to-day operations of the island and its visitor facilities. It’s a big job. The woman on the far right (Gail Dolton) is the Board President of Angel Island Conservancy. We learned that evening that the State of California funds very little money to maintain and preserve this treasure, and it is the job of this lady’s organization to raise the funds, sponsor events, preserve this wonderful resource, restore and maintain it and oversee its transformation planned for the coming years. And all of this is to be accomplished under the leadership of this extraordinary woman and her team of volunteers.

: After the welcoming speech, we strolled around to take in more of the views. We could not get over the weather. It was perfect!

: Here are some more of those strange trees I mentioned earlier. I don’t think we have these in Mill Valley. Pretty cool shot, huh?

: Inside the Quartermaster’s Warehouse were long tables beautifully set with tan and white table cloths and white flowers. Marcine knew what kind they were, but you know me and plant names. Anyway, the place looked terrific. In the back, right corner is where they had all the wine set up, and there was lots of it.

: I told you about the actors’ troop, and this was one of its stars. He was a proper British fellow – I talked to him for a while – and he was the Greek god Hermes for the evening. What a get-up! He had winged shoes and a shiny gold, skin-tight outfit. He even wore a golden life preserver suitable for a waterfront location. He was quick witted, not-at-all shy and all the guests enjoyed him.

: Here we find Hermes enjoying a glass of white wine while the guitarists were entertaining outside Quartermaster’s.

: A quick view out the Quartermaster’s door. That’s the City in the distance across the Bay.

: This is one of the women who run the acting company, and her husband is seated in front of her. I sat across from them during dinner and thoroughly enjoyed their company.

: This is the theatre company founder, and she is always “on stage.” She speaks with a thespian’s tongue and also sings.

: Here we see the two big bosses overseeing their evening event. We thought that they were having a great time. We all sure were. Note the anchor on the boss lady’s skirt. How appropriate! That woman never misses a beat.

: Before dinner I took a look at the plan for Angel Island’s future. It looks wonderful, really wonderful. What a gift to over two hundred thousand visitors a year!

: As dinner was starting, we got a few more words from “the management.” The actors’ group has aligned itself with the State Park system, and Angel Island in particular, in the hope of attracting visitors, donors and benefactors to implement Angel Island’s goals for the not-too-distant future.

: Here’s that good looking boss lady I mentioned above. She’s the head of the Conservancy, and she orchestrated a spectacular evening for us all.

: We had a wonderful, multi-course dinner served by volunteers dressed in god-like garb and catering to our every wish. The meal was prepared in an adjacent room by a prominent local chef who came out once or twice to tell us about the dinner and his involvement. Yum! After dinner, we moved outside and prepared to end the evening at sunset.

: Always on duty, Angel Island’s fearless leader inspected every detail.

: The views at sunset were even more dramatic than a few hours earlier, and the weather was still relatively warm.

: Here’s those gnarly trees again, this time in a different light.

: As we assembled under the brightly colored evening sky, we heard calls from the hill above. There, perched on a natural ledge, were three gods, each of whom protected the renowned journey of Odysseus to Ithaca, and so they protected our group of visitors to Angel Island. They joined to bid us farewell.