Pt. San Pedro Rd., cont. - March 19, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.0 mile
Walking Time: 25 minutes (6:40 - 7:05 p.m.)
Start and End Time: Parked just off Pt. San Pedro, street parking near Chapel Cove Dr., San Rafael

This segment covered Pt. San Pedro Road, from the entrance to the San Rafael Rock Quarry (Dutra Co.) to Riviera Drive. Along the way were views of the McNear brick factory. I enjoyed looking at the attractive logos for Chapel Cove and the subsequent development (peacock).

Wildlife Sightings:
1 cloud of gnats; 8 ducks; 2 red-winged blackbirds; 10 little brown jobs (6 + 4 little tiny ones); 1 dove; and 1 big black and yellow bumblebee, hovering over grass and flowers.

San Rafael, Pt. San Pedro Rd. - March 19, 2010

Walking Distance: 4.2 mi. (2.1 miles x 2)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 42 min. (1:40 - 3:22 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked on Bay Way, San Rafael, CA

It was a beautiful early spring day, which helped inspire a long walk today. That and wanting to avoid a long drive for a return trip.

This entry was the first of five segments walked today. I walked northeast along Pt. San Pedro Road, past San Pedro Elementary School, and signs that advertised BBQ, and also the world's greatest bait shop; took a lovely detour on Beach Road; and I eventually reached a small strip of park area (with picnic table and grass) by the bay, across the street from Main Drive.

I then turned around and walked as far southwest as 221 Pt. San Pedro Rd., near the Marin Yacht Club. This was where I'd left off previously, in the dark. So it was nice to see the boats and the water today. There was one section along this road where it was tough to walk (due to overgrown bushes coming out over the curb where I was walking), but otherwise it was a nice walk along a main suburban artery.

Wildlife Sightings:
8 crows; 3 ladybugs; 1 lizard, who seemed to look back at me with both curiousity and indignance after I startled it from its sunning spot; 2 snowy egrets (off Beach Road); 10 ducks; 2 butterflies/moths (1 white, 1 orange and brown); 1 cormorant; 1 hubcap (Nissan); and 2 doves on a telephone(?) wire above the road.

San Rafael - 3rd. St. to Pt. San Pedro Rd. - March 15, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.0 miles (2 segments combined)
Walking Time: 42 minutes (2 segments combined between 8:30 and 9:32 p.m.)
Start and End Points: Street parking, including spot near Marina Blvd. and Pt. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA

I was driving back from a wine country trip further north, and had spent the morning hiking through some old redwood trees. Very nice. I stopped by San Rafael on the way home, after dinner, to do some grocery shopping, and to try to walk at least a few steps further on the Bay Trail. I'm far enough North now that I've been spending about 4 hours driving each day I've set off walking. However, it is still worth it. Still seeing new things every time I walk the trail.

On this evening's walk, I passed a high school, and at least one yacht club; but it was too late in the evening to really see much of anything except for a sidewalk, a road lit by streetlights, tufts of brush, houses, and concrete forms/embankments. I look forward to walking the next part of this road (leading to China Camp) in daylight hours.

Wildlife Sightings:
None, as it was too dark. I thought I heard some frogs in the distance, but I didn't see any.