By Lisa Alpine
The BATW travel writing tribe gathered recently at Hopmonk Tavern in Novato, Marin County. It was a classically tawny fall afternoon in Northern California. Warm sunlight graced our table of a dozen members sitting in the Tavern’s spacious outdoor patio. Along with their standard menu and Happy Hour there was a special seasonal Octoberfest-style menu that added a real biergarten feel to the atmosphere. (new member Gil Zeimer is holding it up in the photo).
To avoid the thick commuter traffic on Hwy 101, I beat it north and went for a two-hour hike just a few miles north of Hopmonk. The tavern is located near several hiking trails in and around Novato. Some skirt the Bay marshlands and others climb up Mt Burdell and nearby valleys on the West side of Hwy. 101. The VisitNovato website has a detailed list and maps of nearby hikes including the trail I hoofed along.
The Bahia Trail in Rush Creek Preserve is an easy hike winding along the edge of the Bay. This is one of the best locations for bird watching in Novato with over 190 regularly occurring species to view, including Red-winged Blackbirds and Sandpipers.
I was ready for a pint, a comfortable chair, and convivial conversation when I switched from my dusty hiking boots to street shoes.
Several members were already gathered at the tavern. The main topic being bantered around the table was—you guessed it—past and future travel adventures. Gil spoke about his speciality which is scuba dive-focused travel. Laurie King and Jim Shubin took a trip to Namibia this summer. Tales of remote tribes and swimming with manta rays swirled around us as we clinked glasses and shared stories.
This group definitely covers the globe. Closer to home, Brandy Collins was ready to hop on a plane to a rural area of Ohio for a press trip egged on by Bob Cooper.
Everyone also discussed how to wrangle the words onto the page that capture the magic of exploration. And we write even beyond travel. Russ Johnson has ventured into humor with his new book Gone Astray, illustrated by the whimsical cartoons of Pat Meier-Johnson.
As we sat there spinning the verbal globe, a couple sat a table near us with their two well behaved Australian Shepherds. I had seen them on the Bahia Trail just an hour before so decided to meander over and ask if they enjoyed the hike and were they also enjoying dining and decompressing at Hopmonk. “Yes, what a perfect way to relax after an energetic walk with our dogs. And we love their Doggie Menu!” Those lucky pups were treated to salmon burgers. Very Marin!
I agree, Hopmonk is the prefect gathering spot for chatty writers and doggie hikers. See you at the next gathering. Bring your stories and maybe… your hiking boots.