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Grateful for mischievous Karl -- Week #3

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

Many of you know about the San Francisco fog. It is such a presence in the city that someone (a deep, dark secret) gave it a name, "Karl the Fog." Karl has been visiting us a lot more than usual this November, more of a summer pattern than one of fall.

He doesn't stay all day, and doesn't visit every neighborhood equally, but he's had fun lately playing games with us - will he appear or won't he? Will he swoop down close to the ground, causing us to pull up our collars and plunge our hands deep in our pockets? Will he stay aloft and let us peek underneath him? Will he retreat back beyond the ocean breakers? Will he allow the sun to say 'hello?'

After a week or more of foggy, foggy nights and mornings, today dawned beautifully clear. I enjoyed views across San Francisco Bay to Marin County, Mount Tamalpais, Sausalito, Tiburon and more. Soon sail boats dotted the water and the morning sun glinted off windows of buildings to the west.

I think of Karl as a mischievous young child - annoying at times, charming at others, always slightly unpredictable, keeping us on our toes. He skips quickly (like in the Golden Gate Bridge pictures below, taken within 5-10 minutes of each other) or falls down in a tantrum and won't budge for hours (see first photo - can you even find the bridge?)

Grateful for Karl who keeps things fresh and unpredictable in our City by the Bay.

Golden Gate Bridge 10.13.19

Golden Gate Bridge 10.13.19 partial fog

Golden Gate Bridge.10.13.19.Sun

 

Comments (42)

Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - I like the fog, too; at least when it is sporadic. 

Nov 19, 2019 08:25 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland - glad you enjoyed reading about the fickle nature of our fog here. 

Nov 19, 2019 08:27 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Lottie,
Karl is, indeed, a mischievous character.  Some of my most white knuckle times have been driving through the San Francisco and Sacramento areas when Karl is heavy over the area.  It is beautiful when Karl rises and lets the sunshine through. 

Nov 19, 2019 10:10 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Carol Williams - the Sacramento fog is often dense and at ground level--horrible driving on freeways in that. Our bay fog is not quite so grueling, but it does happen. I prefer Karl in his hide-and-seek mode.

Nov 19, 2019 11:53 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Hi Lottie Kendall - I don't know if it's the mystic law of cause and effect when fog is present or just a natural phenomenon but I think the fog has been an inspiration to many artists. I had to come back to look at your photographs. The San Francisco bridge looks so different depending on weather conditions, lighting, and fog. 

 

Nov 19, 2019 03:54 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

This first picture, where the bridge is almost completely obscured was taken from a nearby bluff. The next 3 were taken from the deck of a ship within a matter of minutes, facing different directions. The fog is amazing, Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP 

Nov 19, 2019 07:19 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lottie, too cute, never knew your fog had a dark and secret name.   Hope Karl disappears now for fall.

Nov 20, 2019 01:53 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Joan Cox - I'm thinking Karl has decided to go on a vacation for a while!! These last days have been sunny and warm. I sat at a sidewalk cafe this afternoon, in the shade, no less.

Nov 20, 2019 05:59 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

It does seem to dit thw miachieious child personality !

Nov 21, 2019 01:54 AM
Maria Gilda Racelis
Home Buyers Realty, LLC-Manchester, Bolton. Vernon,Ellington - Manchester, CT
Home Ownership is w/in Reach. We Make it Happen!

Lottie... I love how you describe some positive attributes in a fog. I didn't even know that it gets unpredictably foggy in San Franciso. Thanks for this.

Nov 21, 2019 05:04 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Sally K. & David L. Hanson - Karl the Fog is a little imp!

Nov 21, 2019 06:55 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Maria Gilda Racelis - our fog is legendary, and our natural air conditioner. Usually October & November have very little fog; this year is different.

PS: I'm glad to see you back here at Active Rain!

Nov 21, 2019 06:56 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Lottie Kendall - Karl came by when I was visiting.  He makes for some very good pictures at times.

Nov 23, 2019 06:05 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Was Karl fun-loving or sullen when you were visiting Grant Schneider ?

 

Nov 24, 2019 09:12 AM
Grant Schneider

Hi Lottie Kendall - I think I would have to say fun loving.  It was a good time overall.

Nov 24, 2019 08:09 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Those are some great shots of this iconic bridge - always keeping you guessing.

Nov 29, 2019 03:15 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 - the fog is quite tantalizing - I never know from day to day when I wake what I'll see out my window. I hope you're enjoying a beautiful weekend on Maui. No fog here, but cold, with more rain expected Saturday and Sunday. I'll take it!

Nov 29, 2019 05:02 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

WOW! I never heard that story but, Karl is amazing, Lottie - the difference in the photographs is remarkable. 

Great shots, as always, Lottie!

Dec 08, 2019 08:42 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Karl made a big appearance this morning in San Francisco and on the Peninsula both, Debe Maxwell, CRS . The fog was very dense--more like a tule fog than our typical ocean fog--likely due to the rain-soaked ground. 

Dec 09, 2019 11:57 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Lottie:

I have certainly experienced the SFO fog many times and seen some of its antics, but that story about Karl is new to me. Loved this entertaining post! While we get the marine layer, and at times it becomes ground fog it is nothing like Karl.

Jeff

Dec 11, 2019 08:35 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Happy Thursday, Jeff Dowler, CRS - I suspect you'll be hearing more references to Karl the Fog in the future. It's hard to tell if he's present here today with our drizzle and low clouds.

Dec 12, 2019 07:35 AM