Redwood Shores - Jan. 21, '12

Walking Distance: 2 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 0 min. (4:58 - 5:58 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Redwood City Public Library (Redwood Shores branch), public parking lot; Redwood Shores/City, CA

I returned to the Redwood Shores area late in the afternoon to take a second walk. I picked up trail behind the Redwood Shores branch of the public library. From there I headed walked southish along the water on primarily paved (asphalt) sections of trail and sidewalks. When I reached Oracle headquarters, the trail took me around and behind the campus. I passed the Oracle Bridge (leading over to Belmont/Foster City).

The high tide this morning had receded, leaving mud flats in its wake. The dozens of Canada geese I saw nibbling on lawns didn't seem to mind.

At the light on Oracle Parkway, I crossed over to Oracle HQ driveway, and walked along, parallel to, the large body of water with a large fountain and an official BMW Oracle racing sailboat -- all part of Oracle headquarters.

I crossed Marine Parkway and walked down Twin Dolphin Dr. to Hotel Sofitel, where I'd left off on a previous walk. The hotel (and Bay bar) offer a great view of the lagoon, if you want to stop to have a drink or a bite to eat. I turned around here, and I headed back, walking back on Marine Parkway. I eventually crossed the street to walk northwestish on Bridge Parkway, back to the Library.

Wildlife Sightings:
139 Canada geese; 76 crows; 14 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 sea gull; 108 ducks; 1 rabbit; 3 UFO grebes/divers; 3 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 1 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs)

Redwood Shores - Jan. 21, '12

Walking Distance: 2.4 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 6 min. (9:34 - 10:40 a.m.)
Start and End Point: Redwood City Public Library (Redwood Shores branch), public parking lot; Redwood Shores/City, CA

In between light rain showers, I walked NE on the trail behind the Redwood Shores branch of the public library. I passed a few different industrial parks (on the right side) of this mostly paved (asphalt) trail; the bay/Belmont Slough stretched out to the left/north side. The blue-aqua windows of the Oracle headquarters were visible in the distance (to the west) for most of this walk.

I passed a fork in the trail, and took the paved path to the right. Across the slough to the north was Foster City. After the industrial buildings thinned out, I passed a few new housing developments, and a lagoon. Eventually I reached Preserve Park, where I'd left off on a previous walk; and I turned around to walk back. Two years ago, when I passed this spot, I believe this area was still under construction. The Bay Trail and shoreline continues to evolve.

I walked out to a path toward the water. The tide was high, with some fences being half submerged.

On the way back, I took the paved dirt portion of the trail that forked off toward the water. It was a bit muddy in spots, but not difficult to navigate. The air was fresh after the rain, and the sun was out.

The highlight of this walk came when I was almost back to the library. A small child was running toward me yelling -- "It's going away! It's going away!" I turned around and realized that this little boy was literally chasing a rainbow (behind me). And his two younger siblings were huffing and puffing some distance behind him,  struggling to keep up. Further down the trail, a small boy was tentatively jumping into a small puddle, testing out a small pair of rainboots.


Before returning to my car in the library parking lot, I ventured inside the library, where I discovered the Sea Link Cafe -- a great place to stop for a tea/coffee/bite to eat.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 hummingbird; 6 snowy egrets, 4 great egrets; 109 ducks; 4 Canada geese; 13 little brown jobs (LBJs); 4 sea gulls; 3 crows; 2 great blue herons; 1 ball; 1 unidentified flying bug; 1 UFO grebe/diver; 28 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs)