Category Archives: Travel

Movie Crew on location in the Desert

I have not been great at blogging lately. My job as a movie medic took me to the desert and my Internet connection was not very good. It was also very dusty and hot and my computer preferred to stay in its case. Our hotel was about an hour away from this location. We would load up in trucks and busses at the beginning and end of the day to head back and forth to the hotels. When a movie crew enters a small town, we kind of take over. Many times we fill all the hotels in the area. The good side is we spend lots of money in those small towns, so I guess it is good for all of us.

Out in the desert my office or medical center is under a portable cabana. This being said, I have to be ready to pick up my gear and move it fast. Sometimes the camera shot changes and you will be right in the shot if you don’t move. I also need to be ready to move my gear and load it quickly into a truck to be transported to the next location. The transportation team has to work efficiently and in a coordinated manner to get all the gear and equipment, as well as the crew to the next location. It still fascinates me how fast we can move enormous amounts of equipment and people. It really takes skill and team work. The transportation department can really make a difference on how your day goes. I feel very privileged to work with some of the best in the business.

This is the kind of terrain that movie crews have to contend with. It was around 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit on this day. Portable bathrooms are approximately 30-minutes down a bumpy road. Behind this serene scene are many trucks, trailers, and crewmembers. I can’t disclose where these pictures were taken as I was sworn to secrecy. I will tell you that I was working on the movie Transformers 2. As far as I can tell this movie is going to be action packed and spectacular. I am glad I had the opportunity to be a small part of it.

Bodega Bay

On a recent visit to Sonoma we decided to check out the famous Bodega Bay in California. Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “The Birds” was filmed here in 1963. The bay is about one-hour N. of San Francisco. The drive to the coast was easy and beautiful. We decided to find the hiking trail we heard about and go for a nice walk. The trail is well kept and not to difficult. There were some mild hills to climb so I suggest good walking shoes. Sandals were not the best choice. The trail winds along the coast with spectacular views

There are many places to stop and take pictures. The trail had many walkers but it was not crowded. It was nice to see all the children walking with with their parents. We walked and enjoyed the view for a couple of hours.

After our hike we decided to get a bite to eat. We did not have a place in mind so we drove until we sited a little outdoor dining spot called Spud Point Crab Co. It is a small family owned business that sits across the street from the Bodega Bay Marina. We tried the clam chowder and the crab cakes and they were fresh and delicious. I would definately eat there again.

Our trip to Bodega Bay was a fun adventure. If you are ever in the area and looking for things to do I would recommend taking a drive to Bodega Bay.

Tamara