Trail Search, 3rd try, Rodeo - Mar. 9, '11

Walking Distance: .6 mi.
Walking Time: 38 min. (11:51 a.m. - 12:28 p.m.) (estimate)
Start and End Point: unpaved shoulder, San Pablo Ave., Rodeo, CA

Persistence, or stubbornness, brought me back to Rodeo today, to search for the trail along the Bay, South of Lone Tree Point (shown as a solid red line on map).  Trains (and therefore train tracks) run along the shore in this area. Previously, I had investigated the possibility of a trail running along the land/hill side of railroad tracks, without success.

Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful -- again. But I offer my theories below as to where this trail might be. I figure that if there is a trail along the Bay side of the railroad tracks (running from SW of Lone Tree Point to Hercules), access to this trail might be gained from Lone Tree Point (Park) in one or three ways:

Negotiating slippery rocks at low tide, and walking South-ish around Lone Tree Point toward Hercules.

1. Scampering down a fairly steep embankment (sign said cliff) to the rocky shore below
2. Slipping through a cut in a wire fence, and sliding down a mud chute toward the railroad tracks
3. Clambering down a steep slope (a small warning sign calls this a cliff) toward the tracks and rocks below

These photos are not terribly descriptive. Please write to me if you have the solution to this puzzle. I would love to stick around and figure this out, but I have about 400 more miles to walk this year. And, if I've misread the Bay Trail map, and I'm an idiot, be kind.

One up-side to this search: I enjoyed a short walk on a tiny beach, at Lone Tree Point, that was strewn with different types of shells, a few pieces of beach glass, and assorted other items.

Warning: Read no further if you are squeamish, or find dead bird feet disgusting...OK, those of you who are still with me...I found one unfortunate, recently deceased bird (I believe it was a coot) on the beach. Coots have very strange, greenish, prehistoric-looking feet. So I couldn't resist taking a picture of said feet.
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Wildlife Sightings:
1 Western grebe; 2 sea gulls; 2 crows; 1 domestic cat (in yard on San Pablo Ave., across the street from where I parked)

Rodeo - Trail Search - Mar. 1, '11

Walking Distance: 1 mile
Walking Time: 49 min. (1:58 - 2:47 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Unpaved shoulder, San Pablo Ave., Rodeo, CA

This afternoon I searched for a trail (red line on map). While I was unsuccessful in finding this trail, it was a beautiful day. And slogging through uncut, bright green grass for a few blocks looking for a trailhead in East Bay Regional Park land, and strolling down a few quiet residential streets, was certainly no hardship.

I started today's walk on an offshoot of San Pablo Avenue, near the San Pablo Bay Regional Shoreline - Lone Tree Point area. I crossed over the small Pacific Avenue bridge toward what had been a waterfront restaurant. While it was closed, there were signs that seemed to indicate another restaurant might take it's place in the future.

From here, I thought the red line trail might follow the railroad tracks in the area. But, all the approaches I tried were fenced off. The question: was the trail on the narrow, rocky shore side of the railroad tracks, or the hill side of the tracks?

At 2nd Street there was an access point to an area of parkland with a small footpath, but was fenced off when it got closer to the railroad tracks -- where the map seemed to indicate a trail might be. The map seemed to indicate a trail that started around 2nd Street and proceeded Southwest from here.

The green grass was tall enough in some places that it might be easy to lose items -- like this (toy) purple light saber.

Walking down residential streets, I saw an odd site. Where a large tree had been, there were now just trapped bits of banches fused to utility wires, left to hang in the sky. Flightless, suspended wooden birds.

I also saw several cats sitting in driveways and yards, taking in some sunshine. One dark colored cat with bright green eyes against bright green grass stood out.

Wildlife Sightings:
20 red-winged blackbirds; 2 crows; 3 pigeons; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 bumblebee; 12 sea gulls; 6 cats (domestic)

Rodeo to Hercules - Feb. 28, 2011

Walking Distance: 3.4 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr. 25 min. (4:41 - 6:06 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Unpaved shoulder, San Pablo Ave., Rodeo, CA

Today's walk was part urban sidewalks, followed by a stretch of open space by the water to watch the sunset.

I first walked East on San Pablo Ave., spotting a roof full of pigeons along the way, to the intersection with Railroad Ave. -- my end point in yesterday's walk.

I then turned around and walked through downtown Rodeo along Parker Ave., enjoying painted signs, a bar, a bait shop, burger restaurants, an old movie theater turned into a church, and an abandoned restaurant with a dutch windmill on top.

I took a right turn on San Pablo Ave., and walked up a gradual slope to the intersection with Victoria Crescent, before turning around to head back to my car, and an East Bay Regional Park area (San Pablo Bay Regional Shoreline - Lone Tree Point) near the Bay.

By the time I arrived at the Point, the sun was starting to go down, and there were just a few people there. In addition to an old crumbling wharf, there was a small cove and beach with a cluster of wading shorebirds. An Amtrak train rumbled by, but other than that, it was very peaceful.

Wildlife Sightings:
12 pigeons; 14 LBJs; 12 sea gulls; 14 smaller UBBs; 1 dove; 6 ducks; 1 hubcap

San Pablo Ave., Rodeo - Feb. 27, '11

Walking Distance: 4.1 miles

Walking Time: 1 hr., 38 min. (12:55 - 2:33 p.m.)

Start and End Point: Side of street, California St., Rodeo, CA

Today I parked in Rodeo, CA; and I walked East on San Pablo Ave. (double yellow line on Bay Trail map) to an East Bay Regional Park entry gate (trailhead for San Pablo Bay Regional Trail shown as red line on map -- and the location where I finished a previous walk). 

If you're into contrasts -- this is a good walk for you.

An oil refinery or processing plant creates a heavy footprint on land and shore. The Conoco Phillips facilities are no exception. There were lots of lots of large, metal objects: tanks, towers, pipes -- in short all the things you'd expect to see. 

There were multiple signs prohibiting standing, stopping, loitering or trespassing of any kind along this industrialized corridor, for security reasons I presume. I felt sorry for the woman bicycle rider across the street frantically trying to fix what might have been a flat tire or bent rim.

I was heartened to see, after walking through and by the refinery, green hills and trees and flowers -- and to hear frogs and red-winged blackbirds. And the hubcap flowers were in bloom in the dirt (example shown) as well as the beautiful yellow mustard flowers (also shown).

I saw several bicycle riders, but no other pedestrians. This walk was somewhat challenging for pedestrians. Toward the East end (closer to Cummings Skyway) there are one or two blind corners on this winding 4-lane road, with some hills, with very little setback from rapidly moving traffic. Also a fairly heavy percentage of trucks of different sizes use this route. Fortunately, it was Sunday, during non-rush hours, so there were fewer vehicles on the road.

Wildlife Sightings:

18 sea gulls; 26 red-winged blackbirds; 1 hawk or falcon; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 turkey vulture; 2 hubcaps; sounds of frogs (but no sightings).