Cherry St., Auto Mall - July 19, '11

Walking Distance: 4.6 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 52 min. (7:15 - 9:07 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Intersection of Cherry St. and Buena Vista, Newark, CA

Tonight's stroll took me from Cherry Street in Newark to Boyce Road in Fremont and beyond, through the Auto Mall Parkway area (where many automobile dealerships were located) to the start of Cushing Parkway.

Most of this little journey was accomplished by walking on sidewalks. However, there was a long stretch of Boyce Rd., north of Auto Mall Parkway, where sidewalks switched sides of the road, or disappeared altogether -- making numerous crossings necessary across a busy street, unless you are willing to walk in the bicycle lanes. This stretch probably should be classified as double yellow lines on the map. Fine for bicycles, but not so for pedestrians.

This area was, from what I could see, with the exception of an apartment complex and a development off Buena Vista, almost all light industrial and commercial property. The Bay was not really visible from this walk, but its general location further west (judging from the few small creeks I crossed that were flowing toward it) was fairly obvious. 

Wildlife consisted of a handful of birds -- some, like the small groups of sea gulls I was, were flying high overhead.

On the walk back to my car, I enjoyed a sunset -- that illuminated, and silhouetted, various objects: transformers/electrical towers, building, rows of trees, etc.

Wildlife: 

1 screw; 1 brown snail; 1 crow; 34 sea gulls; 5 small, white-ish moths or butterflies; 4 swallows; 20 starlings; 1 mockingbird; 2 doves; and 1 giant concentrated glob of ants on the edge of the sidewalk.

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 - Thornton - July 12, '11

Walking Distance: 3.4 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 5 min. (7:36 - 8:41 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking along Thornton Ave., Newark, CA

Tonight I walked the remaining segment of Thornton Ave., in Newark, CA (shown as double yellow lines on the Bay Trail Map), as well as the beginning of Cherry Street (from the intersection of Cherry and Thornton to the intersection of Cherry and Central -- shown as double red lines on map). I was able to amble along on sidewalks during most all of this route.

This walk ran by small businesses, homes and apartments. A few houses had "Beware of Dogs" signs posted on their front gates. One of these signs caused me to scan the yard; as a walker, this is almost instinctive -- I want to anticipate any dogs rushing up to me. However, all I was able to see through the fence were two goats. (It's probably more difficult to find a sign that says "Beware of Goats.") Another gardener had created a fence around his yard in the form of neat rows of corn and greens. The goats and the corn impressed me, because this was such an urban, developed area, with relatively small yards.

I passed two taquerias, a Mexican restaurant, a few chain restaurants, two Chinese restaurants, mini marts, and a few bars, but did not have time to stop and sample any food or beverage items this evening. Regarding wildlife, birds and critters were a little less numerous with all these paved surfaces; however, I spotted several sea gulls flying overhead, passing through the area at high altitude.

Wildlife:

11 sea gulls; 2 goats; 1 domestic cat; 1 little brown job; 1 couch