Marin Civic Center - Aug. 15, 2013

Walking Distance: 3.5 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 21 min. (3:49 - 5:10 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking, 120 N. San Pedro Road, Santa Venetia/San Rafael, CA

Today was another hot summer day, and the heat curtailed my walk. But, I did enjoy walking the last bit of N. San Pedro Road and seeing the Marin Civic Center complex (designed by architect, Frank Lloyd Wright). Most of this walk was on paved sidewalks or walkways, and all of this stretch was depicted as a broken green line on the latest (2012-2013) Bay Trail Map Set.

First, I walked (northeast) on N. San Pedro Road to Le Chalet Basque restaurant and bar (where I'd left off on the previous walk), passing schools and a 7-Eleven store, along the way. I turned around and walked back (southwest) toward Highway 101. On the way back, I noticed the first tree with leaves changing from green to oranges, yellows and reds. Wild, ripe berries were growing by the roadside --  reminders that, despite the warm weather today, summer was winding down.

From N. San Pedro, I made a right turn on Civic Center Drive and headed (northwest) walked past the post office and fire station (on the right) and the main Marin Civic Center complex (on the left). All these buildings were designed in a similar style, with wide vaulted, domed roof lines.

I also passed "Field of Dogs" -- one of my favorite names for a dog park on the Bay Trail.

Most of the birds I spotted today were located in Lagoon Park. The large, shallow lake attracted a large number of geese, ducks and other birds (see list below). I walked a circular path around the entire lagoon, stopping to rest in the shade on two different park benches along the way, before heading back to the car. At the far end of the lagoon, where there was less foot traffic, dozens of Canada geese had taken up residence. And, I set off a slow stampede geese into the water as I walked by them. No hissing, just a quiet, deliberate march away from the approaching human, en masse.

On the walk back, I stopped to ponder a sign indicating Petanque Courts nearby, with a plea not to walk dogs across the courts. This French game involves rolling balls on a flat surface and something known as a "piglet." It's all happening on the Bay Trail.

Wildlife Sightings:

2 blurs in bushes (BIBs, probably lizards); 37 pigeons; 43 little brown jobs (LBJs) - including at least 20 sparrows; 9 crows/ravens; 1 whiteish butterfly; 246 Canada geese; 57 sea gulls; 85 ducks; 41 red-winged blackbirds; 9 non-Canada geese (white-fronted, other domestic, a few hybrids); 1 cormorant

China Camp to Marin - July 18, 2013

Walking Distance: 7 mi.
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 1 min. (3:27 - 5:28 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking near intersection of Birch Way and N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA

Today I returned to walk the last part (northern end) of China Camp State Park, from Santa Venetia/San Rafael. I walked back (south) along N. San Pedro Road toward China Camp, on mostly paved (sidewalks, asphalt walkway). Initially, the partly shaded walkways were very pleasant on a warm day. Flowers (wisteria, trumpet flowers, passion flowers) spilled over and through a wood fence on my left side.

Gradually, however, the sidewalk disappeared, and the setbacks on N. San Pedro became quite narrow on the last stretch into China Camp. This stretch deserved its broken green line status on the Bay Trail map.

I passed the entrance road to Buck's Boat Storage (and where there also appeared to be a place to buy cold drinks). I was tempted to walk down Buck's driveway to buy a bottle of water, but thought the better of it, since it wasn't clear whether the small store was open.

Once inside China Camp, I continued to walk along the side of N. San Pedro. I was passed by a light stream of traffic - mostly bicyclists and cars. I walked past the Back Ranch Meadows /Campground sign, and kept going until I reached the Miwok Meadows sign, where I turned around to walk back. On the return walk, I took a short detour to climb up a hill (on the Bay side of the road) for views of the water.

I continued walking back on N. San Pedro Rd., the same way that I'd come. The one exception: I walked down Vendola Drive, and decided to return to this spot in the near future -- I remembered remembered walking some interesting trails (Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve and Santa Margarita Island Preserve) by the water, during my first walk round the bay.

I continued, passing where my car was parked on Birch Way, to walk as far as a restaurant. Le Chalet Basque restaurant and bar was tucked away into this residential neighborhood and I remember enjoying a stop there for dinner on my previous walk around the bay. I turned around here and returned to my car.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 turkey vultures; 2 great egrets; 10 crows/ravens; 1 golf ball; 3 horses; 3 dragonflies; 2 deer; 1 swallow; 6 little brown jobs (LBJs)

Santa Venetia to Redwood Hwy - Apr. 7, 2010

Walking Distance: 6.4 miles total for the day (5 segments)
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 31 min. total walking time
Start and End Points: Lagoon Park, and various other locations in Santa Venetia, CA area.

Today I followed Civic Center Drive North until it became Redwood Highway; made a large loop out McInnis Parkway (shown as solid red line on map) and around the peninsula and back (on a trail not shown on this map), circling the lagoon in Civic Center Lagoon Park.

I also hiked some trails near the Bay Trail (shown in purple on the map):
1.) Santa Margarita Island Preserve (small purple circle on map) is a fun small island tucked away from sight; and 2.) Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve loop (purple dog-bone shape loop), is near Gallinas Creek/San Francisco Bay. For more details on these two preserves, see bahiker.com or local city park descriptions. They are both hidden away in residential neighborhoods.

The Civic Center Lagoon Park, is across the road from the Marin County Civic Center (shown), and near the "Field of Dogs" dog park. The Park and the lagoon are quite large, and the lagoon is filled with ducks, sea gulls, pigeons, Canada geese, a few cormorants, and other birds.

I saw my first duckling of the year today at this park (pictured at right). With children chasing birds around, and other hazards there, I hope the little ball of fuzz reaches adulthood.

Wildlife Sightings:
16 crows; 58 pigeons; 105 ducks (includes 1 duckling); 69 sea gulls; 25 Canadian geese; 5 red-winged blackbirds; 3 cormorants; 25 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 great egret; 1 large hawk circling overhead; 1 blue jay; 1 lady bug/bird; 1 white butterfly/moth + 1 brown butterfly/moth; 3 lizards (plus a few blurs in bushes that I suspect were lizards, but I can't be sure); 1 hummingbird; 1 snowy egret; 1 little brown rodent (vole?) who stuck his head out of his hole in the trail -- which was probably ill-advised given the large number of dogs walking in the area; and 1 hubcap along Civic Center Drive/Redwood Highway.