SSF to Brisbane - Mar. 18, '12

Walking Distance: 3.8 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 57 min. (9:42 - 11:39 a.m.)
Start and End Point: Public shore parking spot, behind Marriott Residence Inn, South San Francisco, CA

From the small public shore parking lot, I headed north on the paved (asphalt) stretch of Bay Trail (shown as a solid red line on the Bay Trail map), and across the bridge toward Brisbane.

Relatively early on, there was a fork in the trail, where the paving ended, and there was a packed dirt stretch (shown as a yellow line on Bay Trail map). I followed the path that curved right/east, which joined up to another paved (asphalt) section soon thereafter. This path then curved north toward Brisbane Marina, passing a small playground area along the way.

It was a blustery day out at the north end of Sierra Point today. A lone fisherman was hunkered down at the end of the fishing pier being buffeted by gusts of wind. To avoid getting blown around myself, I kept my head down (except for a brief look up at Candlestick Park/Point to the north) as I headed west; and in so doing, I lost the trail for a minute. Note: one needs to cut left/south through buildings/near Tsing Tao bldg., to continue on paved trail, otherwise you'll end up in a packed dirt no-man's land, save what looked to be a make-shift dirt bicycle stunt hill.

When I reached a stoplight with Marina/Sierra Point, I turned right, and walked under the Highway 101 underpass to Sierra Point Parkway (shown as double red lines on map). Note, there are no real sidewalks here, so proceed cautiously if you're on foot, when crossing freeway on-ramps and off-ramps. Once on the other side of the freeway, I walked northish along Sierra Point Parkway -- parallel to the lagoon on right/east/tree and bush side of road. Gusts of wind were blowing dust and pollen around, which was not that fun. But, traffic was light, except for two different pairs of Canada geese that were sitting near the road on the lagoon side, a group of willets (shown), and one or two cars.

I turned around just beyond the intersection of Sierra Point Parkway and Lagoon Way; and I walked back on the opposite/west/Brisbane Lagoon side of road (pollen allergies were less bad). I walked back under Highway 101 again (snapped a picture of a few pigeons), and turned right toward the Radisson and Homewood Suites/Hilton hotels. I stopped briefly at Homewood Suites to pick up some information, and then returned to the trail and where I crossed from Brisbane back to South San Francisco; crossed the bridge, and arrived back at the car -- just as a light sprinkle of raindrops started falling. Good timing.

Wildlife Sightings: 155 ducks; 12 coots; 42 Western/Clarks grebes; 3 UFO grebes/divers; 19 sea gulls; 5 crows; 1 hummingbird; 2 cormorants; 7 pigeons; 4 starlings; 4 Canada geese; 1 tern; 14 little brown jobs (LBJs); 10 willets; 1 partly deflated basketball

Brisbane Lagoon - Nov. 23, 2009

Walking Distance: 2.29 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 49 min. (2:22 - 4:11 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Parking lot near Brisbane/Sierra Pt. Marina(s), near fishing pier; Brisbane, CA

I started today's walk at the parking lot near the Brisbane fishing pier.
Today I spotted even more ground squirrels -- feeding, sitting in the sun, and dashing around -- than yesterday (on the strips of lawn around the fishing pier).

From the pier area, I walked West on the paved trail, as far as I could go before an arrow directed me back toward the Sing Tao Beer building, where there was a paved trail heading South. I saw (in the middle of the current economic downturn and lots of commercial for lease signs) full parking lots at Sing Tao and Walmart.com.

I walked South until I hit a point near the Bay (near intersection of red and yellow lines on the map shown), where I'd been walking a few days ago.

I then went North and then West (under Highway 101) then Northish along Brisbane Lagoon, on Sierra Pt. Parkway. (See Bay Trail map image above.) The map indicated, with broken red lines, this trail segment by the Lagoon was along paved roads (bike lanes); and, true enough, car and truck traffic whizzed by me at high speeds. (Note: Use caution when crossing the freeway off- and/or on-ramps, where Marina approaches the Highway 101 underpass. Highway 101 is shown as a thick white line on map.) In another example of urban coexistence, you also may get treated to a few trains going by, which I enjoyed. However, if you're staying at one of the nearby hotels it may not be so fun.

Along the Brisbane Lagoon, there is a small area for fishing with a few parking spaces. It was also a reasonably good bird watching area. There were a few pelicans crash-diving into the water, lots of ducks lolling about, and at least one egret. Several small birds were perched in the wild anise/fennel bushes. The rest of this area is marked private property. There are limited areas to stop or park if you're in a car. I walked a little past the end of the Lagoon (toward the Highway 101 South on-ramp) before turning around and heading back.

Wildlife Sightings:
11 ground squirrels; 110 ducks; 10 Western grebes; 57 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 sea gulls; 1 great egret; 3 coots; 1 grayish blur in grass (fat lizard?); 1 feral cat near freeway; 3 pigeons; 3 brown pelicans; 1 snowy egret.