Paradise Beach Park - Dec. 8, 2012

Walking Distance: 2.4 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 22 min. (3:45 - 4:35 p.m., and 4:39 - 5:11 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Paradise Beach Park, 3450 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

This afternoon I continued to follow Paradise Drive (located on the north side of the Tiburon peninsula), shown as a dotted dark green line on the new San Francisco Bay Trail Map set. I would not recommend walking here unless you feel comfortable walking on very narrow setbacks and around potentially blind corners.

However, I did enjoy scenic views of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the Bay, and ships passing by;  and there was a nice county park to explore. Also, the California Buckeye trees were dropping large, interesting looking (chestnut-like) seeds by the roadside -- fun to examine if you're a plant/tree lover. Some of these were germinating/sprouting in place giving them an alien look.

I started my walk, by ambling downhill to the fishing pier in the park. (Note: Paradise Beach Park, a Marin County park, was, except for the fishing pier, closed to the public, the day I was there, due to shorter winter hours, and likely budget cutbacks.) After a quick walk around the pier area, I walked back uphill and left the park to walk along Paradise Drive.

I first walked southeast to 3333 Paradise Drive (where I'd ended a previous walk). After I reached this point, I turned around and walked back (northwest, passing the park) as far as the No. 4 Mailbox on Paradise Drive, near 3825 and 3700 Paradise Drive. Sunset followed by inevitable darkness forced me to call it a day. (I would not advise walking on Paradise Drive at dusk or in the dark.) So, I turned around and I walked back to my car at Paradise Beach Park.

As I returned to my car in the parking lot, I looked down to fish out my car keys from my pack. I glanced up again, and froze. There was a beautiful buck (deer) with large antlers standing inches from my car. For a brief moment we just stared at each other at close range. If I'd moved an inch (to take a picture), I'm sure he would have bolted. So, I'm reduced to a mere mention of this encounter here. I only photographed "small game" today (banana slugs and small birds).

Wildlife Sightings:

2 pigeons; 1 sea gull; 1 Western/Clark's grebe; 2 banana slugs; 7 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 blue jay; 1 deer (with full set of antlers, standing next to my car)

Paradise Drive, Paradise Beach County Park - Jan. 29, 2010

Walking Distance: 3.1 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 58 min. (12:40 - 2:38 p.m.)
Start and End Point: On (shoulder, pull-out area) Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

I was happy to cheat the rain again today. I didn't need my umbrella, but it may have made me more visible to cars.* I first walked northwest (back to Seafirth Rd., where I'd stopped walking yesterday), then turned around and walked southeast. I passed my car, and went south on Paradise Dr. to Paradise Beach County Park. I stopped at the Park for awhile, to walk down into and around the park (out to the end of the fishing pier), took some pictures of pigeons and the Bay. Nice to hear waves lapping on the shore. I walked back to the car, retracing my steps via Paradise Drive.

*Note: Be very careful when walking along Paradise Drive. There are some blind corners where cars may not see pedestrians, and there are no shoulders to walk on in many parts.

Wildlife Sightings:
4 turkey vultures, 1 little brown job (LBJ), 10 pigeons, 5 pelicans, 9 sea gulls, 1 western grebe, and 1 hawk