Crockett Historical Museum - February 23, 2011

Walking Distance: N/A - less than 1/4 mile
Walking Time: N/A (estimate this was a 55-minute stop)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot near Crockett Library and Historic Homestead, Crockett, CA

While I may not have covered much ground while inside the Crockett Historical Museum, I certainly did enjoy myself. Located in the shadow of the C and H Sugar plant, on the Bay Trail, this small, eclectic collection of items and memorabilia defies description, but it is packed with interesting objects, often accompanied by hand-written signs.

One of the world's largest wasp nests, an educational set of illustrations about the Carquin people -- the original inhabitants of the Carquinez Strait; trophies; old posters; news clippings about local celebrities -- all this and much more.

A label with an old, metal diving helmet read: "This diving was used by Bill (last name unreadable) at C and H; in the 1920's to inspect the wharf pilings for Tor(p)edo damage." A sign next to an old adding machine indicates it was used at C and H ("who knows when"). And, a description for an old computer indicates that it was the first computer used at C and H, and it displaced 9 employees.

Open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, this compact treasure is worth visiting.

West of Crockett - Feb. 22, '11

Walking Distance: 1.8 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 4:08 - 5:22 p.m. (1 hr., 14 min.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot, Vista Point, off San Pablo Ave., Crockett, CA

Today was a great day for scenic views. The green grass growing on the hills looked pretty wonderful.  The water in the Carquinez Strait was blue. The sun was out. All good.

West of Crockett, off San Pablo Ave., there is a Vista Point pull-out area. I parked here, and I walked approx. 1/4 mile West on San Pablo Ave. (shown as double yellow lines) -- hugging the guardrail along the way, to the gate/entrance marked as a Regional Park trailhead area.

I followed all three trails in this Regional Park area -- the first went West and uphill and then out to a scenic overlook with a bench. I am assuming this was the San Pablo Bay Regional Trail that is depicted as a solid red line on the Bay Trail map shown.

Hints of the oil refinery to the east can be seen and the panoramic view also includes Mare Island, Vallejo, and the Alfred Zampa (Carquinez Strait) bridge. The second trail, a derelict road, went downhill toward the Bay, but this trail ended in an overgrown clump of bushes. The third snaked East -- and I thought it might join up with paths/trails back in the Vista Point area (where I'd parked); but it did not.

 

After walking back to Vista Point, I followed two trails that headed down toward the water. But, one seemed to be an unofficial footpath that petered out, and the other packed dirt trail led down to the water and possibly a tanker near the railroad tracks and shore far below.

Last, I have to comment on mushrooms/toadstools. I often see these kicked over on the side of trails (e.g. picture at right). Perhaps people are afraid of them, or have heard that many are poisonous, or think they're bad luck...Hard to tell. I suppose some animal could be picking them, taking one piece and leaving the rest, but evidence that I've seen points to humans kicking them over.

Wildlife Sightings:
11 little brown jobs (LBJs); 4 crows; and 2 hawks/falcons

Crockett to Vista Pt. - Feb. 20, 2011

Walking Distance: 3 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 25 min. (1:47 - 4:12 p.m.) Includes 1 hr. stop at The Nantucket
Start and End Point: Wanda St. and Third Ave., Crockett, CA

Crockett is an interesting walk back in time. The CandH Sugar plant is still the biggest landmark, but there are many old wooden, historic buildings and houses in the town. While not visible/obvious on the Bay Trail map the town has been bisected in the waterfront area by the Alfred Zampa Memorial bridge.

I started today's walk in downtown Crockett and walked East to the small Crockett Historic Museum near Rolph Ave. Unfortunately the museum was closed today -- I'll have to come back on a Wednesday or a Saturday when it's open.

From the museum I turned around and walked West, along the railroad tracks to the Nantucket Restaurant (which is located on the Bay side of the train tracks, in an industrial area by the water, and is also accessible by boat).

After a pleasant stop for lunch at the Nantucket, I walked first past a small environmental education center (CREEC) that was closed in the winter, up Wanda, up the hill, under Highway 80, past the Dead Fish Restaurant (located near where Pomona turns into San Pablo Ave.), to a Vista Point pull-out area (approximately a half mile from the Dead Fish).

After snapping a few photos from the Vista Point overlook, I walked back (East) along San Pablo Ave. (hugging the guardrail to remove myself from the flow of traffic as much as possible).

I walked back on a slightly different path -- a combined pedestrian and bike path (that dead-ended into a parking lot that I hadn't seen before. The parking lot was at the end of Ceres, near Ceres and Port. Walking under the freeway (Highway 80), with several concrete arches/overpasses above you can be a little confusing.

Wildlife Sightings:
19 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 cats (1 domestic, 1 stray/feral); 4 turkey vultures; 1 crow; 1 sea gull; 3 pigeons.

Carquinez Scenic Dr. - Feb. 8, 2011

Walking Distance: 2.0 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 44 min. (12:12 - 12:56 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Unpaved shoulder, Carquinez Scenic Drive, near Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline park entrance, Crockett, CA

It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy, winter day to walk the last remaining stretch of Carquinez Scenic Drive (curving double yellow lines on map) -- near the parking area of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline park, West toward Winslow Street in downtown Crockett.
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I walked along this fairly narrow, winding two-lane road somewhat carefully as there were spots where space for pedestrians was very limited. Although having to walk on a tiny strip of gravel and asphalt, very close to the guardrail gave me the opportunity to enjoy some spray-painted stencil art ("We are the NRA") and one that warned those looking to dump garbage: "We will photograph you while dumping!"

Between trees were great views of Carquinez Strait far below. Tiny whitecaps were visible, but they seemed not to affect the occasional boat going by. Also visible down the hill: the trail (red line on map) running roughly parallel to this stretch of road.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 turkey vulture

Crockett: Winslow - Loring Ave. - Feb. 5, '11

Walking Distance: 2.0 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr. 4 min. (5:07 - 6:11 p.m.)
Start and End Point: unpaved shoulder, on Winslow; Crockett, CA

I skipped over a few stretches of more rural roads to walk through the city of Crockett, CA (double yellow lines on the map). Since it was getting dark, I wanted to walk in a place that had some lights. And Loring Ave. in Crockett also has some nice views of the water (Carquinez Strait), passing ships, and the Crockett-to-Vallejo bridge (also known as the Alfred Zampa Memorial bridge). These sights looked especially nice at sunset.

Crockett has several interesting older homes, and a large C and H Sugar plant (a refinery - no tours unfortunately).  I walked past the C and H plant and the Crockett Historical Museum (which was closed when I was there). I could hear the clickety-clack of trains passing by, along the water's edge below.

It's been unusually warm and sunny this February. A few people were outside barbequeing. Trees are starting to burst into bloom. Cats were lolling about. It was dark as I reached my car. A raccoon scampered in front of me from a driveway across the darkened street and down a grassy slope into adjacent parkland (apparently tempted by garbage cans out front for pickup the next day).

Wildlife Sightings:

Wildlife: 1 sea gull; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 7 ducks; 2 moths; 2 domestic cats; 1 raccoon