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I Promised You Pictures Of Apple's "Mothership" Headquarters... And Here They Are!

I Promised You Pictures Of Apple's "Mothership" Headquarters... And Here They Are!

To get to Apple's headquarters from the San Francisco airport, you drive south on Highway 280 or 101. Highway 280 is much prettier. You see lots of stuff like this.

I Promised You Pictures Of Apple's "Mothership" Headquarters... And Here They Are!

I was curious to see whether my Google Maps apps (on an iPhone) would recognize Apple's famous address — "One Infinite Loop" — or whether Google's engineers would have disappeared Apple or something. Google Maps is quite aware of the location of One Infinite Loop. And it wasn't far away.

I was curious to see whether my Google Maps apps (on an iPhone) would recognize Apple

The local road to Apple is a hell of fast food and mass-produced junk shops. Steve Jobs would have been appalled. Halfway down it, though, you hit the town line — "Cupertino" — and your excitement continues to build.

The local road to Apple is a hell of fast food and mass-produced junk shops. Steve Jobs would have been appalled. Halfway down it, though, you hit the town line — "Cupertino" — and your excitement continues to build.

And then, another mile or so farther along, you first see that world-famous logo...

A right turn off the main drag and.... Mecca.

A right turn off the main drag and.... Mecca.

They have a parking lot for "visitors." It's jammed, of course, but if you wait a few minutes, you might get lucky. The parking lot is close to the main entrance to the mothership: 1 Infinite Loop.

They have a parking lot for "visitors." It

They're renovating it right now. So it's covered with white plastic wrap. But you get the idea.

They

Unless you have a source on the inside, you can't actually go in. But there's nothing to stop you from walking around. It's an "infinite loop," after all. No matter which way you go, you'll end up back where you started. A couple hundred yards to the east, you'll hit "2" Infinite Loop.

Unless you have a source on the inside, you can

Then "3."

Then "3."

And so on. Each of these entrances have their own separate lobbies. And, like most famous Silicon Valley companies, they all have bike racks, as well.

And so on. Each of these entrances have their own separate lobbies. And, like most famous Silicon Valley companies, they all have bike racks, as well.

Leave those cigarettes at home, by the way. Apple doesn't even let you smoke outdoors.

Leave those cigarettes at home, by the way. Apple doesn

In one of these Infinite Loop addresses, of course, is Jony Ive's secret lab where he cooks up all the products. Most of the first floor windows are frosted up, though, so they leave you guessing which one.

In one of these Infinite Loop addresses, of course, is Jony Ive

REALITY INTRUSION: It turns out Apple produces boatloads of garbage, just like the rest of us.

REALITY INTRUSION: It turns out Apple produces boatloads of garbage, just like the rest of us.

And worms occasionally slither off the grass onto the sidewalks, where they get fried.

And worms occasionally slither off the grass onto the sidewalks, where they get fried.

But, otherwise, the place is as well-polished as an Apple product.

But, otherwise, the place is as well-polished as an Apple product.

Finally, after Infinite Loop 5 (which, by the way, I'm guessing is the general area in which Mr. Ive's secret lab is hidden), we get some intrigue. There's a chain link fence with ivy growing on it. And there are some gaps in the ivy, which allow us to see through...

Finally, after Infinite Loop 5 (which, by the way, I

Behind the chain-link fence is... a volleyball court! With astroturf.

Behind the chain-link fence is... a volleyball court! With astroturf.

And behind that, there appears to be a basketball court. Perhaps Mr. Ive and co. shoot some hoops when they emerge from the lab?

And behind that, there appears to be a basketball court. Perhaps Mr. Ive and co. shoot some hoops when they emerge from the lab?

After the volleyball court, it's a final curve around some cedar trees....

After the volleyball court, it

...past Infinite Loop 6...

...past Infinite Loop 6...

... and back to Infinite Loop 1. At Infinite Loop 1, by the way, there's another treat: The Company Store. Apple employees get a discount in The Company Store. And they sell t-shirts in there that, I am told, they only sell at this store.

... and back to Infinite Loop 1. At Infinite Loop 1, by the way, there

Those t-shirts have a simple logo on them, like this. Naturally, knowing that they're only sold here, you're going to buy one.

So that's the mothership. I'm glad I went. I'm also glad I went to the site of Apple's new "Spaceship" campus, which is only about a mile away. I'll have photos of that one soon...

So that

In the meantime, you should weigh in on an important debate...

In the meantime, you should weigh in on an important debate...

Is it really appropriate to wear shorts while flying?

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