Cherry St., Continued - July 14, '11

Walking Distance: 2.8 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 10 min. (6:41 - 7:51 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Near intersection of Smith Ave. and Manzanita St. (off Cherry St.), Newark, CA

This evening I continued my journey south along Cherry Street, a relatively major street (shown as double red lines on the Bay Trail Map) with a sidewalk running along the east side. I've caught no glimpse of the San Francisco Bay the last few days, but this long, straight stretch of road looked good for bicyclists. I saw what looked like a training ride in progress whizz past me, before I had the chance to photograph them.

From my starting point near Smith Ave. and Cherry St., I first walked north up to Central Ave., then turned around and walked south to Ohlone College, before walking back to Smith Ave.

There wasn't much in the way of wildlife in this urban stretch. A few birds fluttered by overhead. But, there were flowers growing by the roadside and over the wall that bordered the sidewalk. Nice landscaping: citrus fruits (lemons in this case) flowing over the top of the wall alongside pink roses. And purple blossoms littering the sidewalk.

Wildlife:
3 sea gulls; 1 hubcap; 7 crows; 1 starling

Newark - Willow St. - July 11, '11

Walking Distance: 4 miles

Walking Time: 1 hr., 37 min. (6:50 - 8:27 p.m.)

Start and End Point: Willow Place and Willow St., Newark, CA

This evening I walked through an industrial park/commercial area (depicted as double yellow lines on the Bay Trail Map). I figured out later I could have walked this as a loop, had I filled in the gap on Central Ave. (between the Railroad tracks and Cherry St.). Ah well.

From the intersection of Willow Place and Willow Street, I walked up a short distance to Thornton Av. and proceeded West on Thornton to Peachtree/beginning of the divider or island on Thornton, then I turned around. I walked back (east) on Thornton, and turned right on Willow St. When I got to the end of Willow, I turned left on Central Av. to just past the railroad tracks (in front of Henry Pocket Fences, 6995 Central Av., Newark, CA). I retraced my steps and walked back to the car from there. 

On the drive over to Newark it seemed pretty warm; however, during this walk it clouded over and cooled off. I didn't think I was cold, until I stopped to log some birds in my logbook; then my fingers were so stiff, that I could barely write/scratch out some numbers.

Wildlife: 

10 ducks (8 = ducklings); 1 turkey vulture; 3 doves; 2 swallows; 13 starlings; 5 crows; 3 mockingbirds; 2 rusty screws; 1 snowy egret; 16 sea gulls; 6 brown snails

Central Ave. - June 8, '11

Walking Distance: 1.8 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 21 min. (5:56 - 8:17 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking, 4th Street, near intersection with Central Ave., Alameda, CA

Today was a short walk, with many stops in the Central Ave. area of Alameda -- looking at books on the San Francisco Bay at Wilmot's Books on Central Ave., and wandering down 4th Street and looking for places to eat in Ballena Bay. I didn't do much walking. In fact, my 1,000 mile amble may be the slowest walk around San Francisco Bay on record. Some days are like that. I get out late, and then it's dark. But, whatever time spent walking in between is wonderful.

After walking the short segment of Central Avenue (from 3rd Street to Crown Drive) that I had missed on Monday due to rain showers, I walked southish on 4th Street into the Ballena Bay residential and marina area.

Technically, the Ballena Bay area (shown as a gray dotted line on the Bay Trail Map) may not be a fully developed/included part of the Bay Trail (yet). However, some dotted line areas I've visited, like this one, are still walkable. And the curved portion of this walk (encompassing a marina) extends out by the Bay and affords very nice views of ships and the distant San Francisco skyline on a clear day.

I enjoyed a dinner stop at Pier 29 restaurant and bar and discovered there was also a walkway/trail on the inside/marina side of this curved peninsula, when I saw people walking by out the restaurant window (facing the Ballena Isle Marina) while I was eating dinner. It may not be meant for the general walking public; I'm not sure. This path takes you by the Ballena Bay Yacht Harbor and Yacht Club.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 squirrel; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 cormorants; 5 sea gulls; 1 crow; 1 hummingbird; and 1 domestic black and white cat (~30 feet off Bay Trail in someone's yard) on 4th Street, by my car.