Larkspur Ferry, Corte Madera - Jan. 19, '13

Walking Distance: 4 mi. (estim.)
Walking Time: 2 hours, 0 min. (3:12 - 5:12 p.m.)
Start and End Point:  Larkspur ferry station parking lot, Larkspur, CA

Most of today's walk was along asphalt paths or sidewalks through Greenbrae and Larkspur. However, there were stretches along roads (e.g. the dotted green line on the map, near San Quentin Prison) that were less welcoming than others. The remaining bits were mostly optional packed dirt paths along the shore. Mount Tamalpais was visible from multiple locations.

To explore the area, I walked south first, to get under Highway 101, and toward the Marin Rowing Club. I went down some stairs and passed big freeway cement pillars, then went back up stairs and up and over freeway overpass -- and followed a fairly narrow combined bicycle and pedestrian walkway, toward the Marin Storage / Marin RV Park on Redwood Highway.

I turned around after I'd reached (and browsed inside) Toy World. I went back over the overpass on the East side, took path at the end this time (instead of stairs and boardwalk).

I turned right at an orange detour sign to an asphalt path around the Larkspur Ferry parking lot. I walked around the periphery of this peninsula-shaped parking lot (shown as a small green loop on the 2012-2013 Bay Trail map set). I then made my way up and over (detour) to Larkspur Landing (and shopping center).

I crossed Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to get to the Marin Country Mart shopping center at Larkspur Landing to buy something to eat. Since my first walk around the bay (2009-2011), several new shops had opened, and it looked like the whole shopping center may have experienced some improvements. There appeared to be more options for food stops including: Berry Bliss Yogurt, Marin Brewing Company, Rustic Bakery and Cafe (organic), and many more*.

After a frozen yogurt stop, I continued along Sir Francisco Drake Boulevard, and walked along water toward San Quentin Prison, passing a very tall sculpture of Sir Francis Drake, a tall red brick chimney that was part of an old brick kiln, and some new buildings around this structure. The brick making facility (a California Historic Landmark) now houses a restaurant, The Melting Pot.

I enjoyed walking past lush, green grass along paths -- as it had looked on my first walk a few years ago. (I've passed through this area in the winter both times.)

As I approached San Quentin Prison, the trail became a setback along Sir Francis Drake Blvd., near relatively rapidly moving traffic. In part because of this, I turned around at the first San Quentin sign gate/entrance/driveway. (I was reminded that prisons are not meant to look approachable; neither do they want to attract random visitors.)

On the way back, I walked the side of the trail closer to the road - through City of Larkspur Remillard Park, a small park sandwiched between Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and the bay. I then continued on Sir Francis Drake, back across the freeway, and to the Larkspur Ferry parking lot.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 kingfisher; 10 ducks; 18 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 crows; 6 pigeons; 2 sea gulls; 1 turkey vulture; 5 coots; 1 great egret; 1 hummingbird; 1 Western/Clark's grebe

*Postscript: I would also recommend Three Twins Ice Cream, Belcampo Meats, and Miette (bakery).

Corte Madera, cont. - Jan. 12, 2013

Walking Distance: 3.2 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 34 min. (4:31 - 6:05 p.m.)
Start and End Point: parking lot, Corte Madera, CA

This late afternoon stroll turned into a hustle to get in before dark. This was great for photographing some items at sunset, but not so great for photographing birds.

I started this walk by heading north from The Village Shopping Center to the Bay Trail along the water, passing a small public parking lot (on Bay Trail map). I then passed more stores, including a BevMo, and a car wash.

I turned left on Industrial, and went up and over a combined pedestrian/bicycle overpass that led to a pedestrian/bicycle walkway on the west side of Highway 101. I walked down toward the Marin Rowing Center - turned left, then left again to pathway, past Marin Rowing, and kept following the asphalt trail until I reached the 3rd mast/flagpole (~ .5 mi.?), then turned around.

I started to walk under two big freeway underpasses (a cavernous cement cathedral space, that I'd photographed on my first walk around the bay). But, I turned around and walked back up, to the way I'd come, to Industrial, then taking the same way back to car (in the dark).

I took some really dark pictures of canvasback, teal ducks, a group of white egrets below, and lots of pictures of Mt. Tamalpais (some at, after sunset). Colored street and car lights lit up the foreground as Mt. Tam turned into a shapely silhouette.

Wildlife Sightings:
41 ducks (21 mallards, 11 canvasbacks, 8 teal, 1 bufflehead or duck with similar head); 32 coots; 8 black-necked stilts; 2 killdeer; 11 sea gulls; 1 turkey vulture; 8 little brown jobs (LBJs); 4 snowy egrets

Larkspur, Ferry - Feb. 19, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.9 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 16 min. (3:05 - 5:21 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked on street (12-hr. spot) near 2140 Redwood Highway, Larkspur, CA

After walking over the freeway overpass, by some light industrial buildings and a kayak rental place, I entered the Larkspur Ferry parking and dock area. I enjoyed watching a large Ferry boat come in (presumably from San Francisco). I continued walking the trail (surrounded by bright green grass this month) along Sir Francis Drake Blvd., passing a tall, steel sculpture of Sir Francis Drake (by Dennis Potton, dated 1990).

I paused to watch some ducks paddling around and nibbling on some green stuff in an area that looked like a tule marsh. You could have drowned in all the bright green grass (which will go golden brown soon enough). I also enjoyed looking at all the acacia trees in full bloom with big clusters of yellow puffball blossoms. (See image of old smokestack peering out from some of them. I passed a small
park area, then walked up Sir Francis Drake Blvd. a short distance (just beyond where the red line ended) before turning around to head back.


On the way back, I went under the freeway and walked for awhile along the water (where Corte Madera Creek comes into the Bay), on a trail that is shown as a purple line on the map (see image above).

Wildlife Sightings:
20 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 Canada geese; 2 crows; 14 ducks; 28 coots; 2 Western grebes; 4 sea gulls; 1 red-winged blackbird; 6 turkey vultures; 2 snowy egrets; 1 pigeon