Ring Mountain - Jan. 1, 2013

Walking Distance: 3 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 55 min. (11:15 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.)
Start and End Point: side of road, Paradise Drive - across street from Ring Mountain trailhead, Tiburon, CA

There are many interesting hiking areas that connect to the San Francisco Bay Trail. The Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve (part of the Tiburon peninsula) is one such spot.

Perhaps the best access point is one that connects indirectly with the Bay Trail via Paradise Drive. Although Ring Mountain is not marked as part of the Bay Trail on Bay Trail maps, this access point is close to where the dark green dotted line (undeveloped trail) turns into a solid green line (Bay Trail) in near Corte Madera.

I had heard many good things about the trails on Ring Mountain last time I walked through Marin County (during my first walk around the Bay 2009-2011), including reports of ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), interesting boulder formations, as well as great views of the Bay and the surrounding hills. So, this time around I decided to investigate.

Thank you to Ellen for hiking company today. We started our climb up Ring Mountain via the trailhead that was accessible from Paradise Drive (near the Tiburon - Corte Madera border). We passed one or two small streams that we could cross easily, and followed a few different trails over a 3 hour period.

While hiking to the top, we enjoyed views of Richmond, the Brothers islands and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the east. 

As for rocks, this is a great place to find very interesting ones. A few minutes later, I was struck by a rock formation that looked a little like a sitting buddha statue, and later in the afternoon we passed by turtle rock, that looked -- yes, like a large stone turtle (with tiny people climbing on it). 

We enjoyed lunch perched up high, looking down on Tiburon below and as far as the San Francisco skyline in the distance to the south. 

Wildlife Sightings: 

3 crows/ravens; 3 turkey vultures; 1 red-tailed hawk + 1 other bird of prey/hawk; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 bee

Paradise Drive, Triangle Marsh - Dec. 24, '12

Walking Distance: 1.8 mi.
Walking Time: 47 min. (4:18 - 5:05 p.m.)
Start and End Point: side of road, Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

For me, there is no better way to celebrate the holidays than to enjoy a walk between festivities. I returned to Paradise Drive for another late afternoon walk -- once again trying to eke out as much daylight time as possible before sunset.

Sometimes you have to squeeze in walking time whenever you can find it during the day. And daytime is the best time for walking or riding on Paradise Drive (not technically part of the SF Bay Trail, and shown as a dotted, dark green line on the newest 2012 - 2013 Bay Trail Maps), due to stretches of winding road through trees, with limited set-backs. However, views of San Quentin, the Richmond - San Rafael bridge, and boats passing below help justify this walk.

I started this afternoon's amble by heading south on Paradise Drive to Ranch Drive (where I'd ended my previous walk last week). I then walked down (and back up) Ranch Drive, back to Paradise Drive.

Along the way, I enjoyed bright spots of winter color. Red berries, evergreen trees and green foliage -- perfect for Christmas week in Northern California, along with interesting mosses and lichens on rocks.

After turning around, I then headed North. I passed my parked car along the way, and continued north on Paradise Drive. I felt I was returning to civilization, or at least a more urban setting. I passed Marin Montessori, and Marin Country Day School (MCDS), and was able to walk on sidewalks for part of the time.

At the other (north) end of today's loop walk, I turned around at the intersection of Paradise Drive and Westward Drive, near the city boundary (cross-over point for me), between Tiburon and Corte Madera.

I enjoyed passing Triangle Marsh, at the base of Ring Mountain on the Tiburon peninsula, where I returned to the shoreline, after enjoying the views from above for the past few weeks, up in the hills and trees. I was rewarded by the sight of a few black-necked stilts (shorebirds) in the marsh, and the sight of a rising moon.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 crows; 3 sea gulls; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 robins; 3 black-necked stilts

Trestle Glen - Dec. 18, 2012

Walking Distance: 1.4 mi.
Walking Time: 27 min. (4:13 - 4:40 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Blackie's Pasture overflow (packed dirt) parking lot, Tiburon, CA

This afternoon's walk segment, on a beautiful, clear, December day, was a continuation of a previous walk, after a brief break in between.

It's a subject few people talk about (except distance hikers perhaps). Restrooms are an important part of long-distance walking. A big thank you to those who provide and maintain facilities in parks and public spaces. Without this service, bikers and hikers would have to ride or drive miles into town and back. And, today, I wouldn't have had time to walk the last part of Trestle Glen (that connects Tiburon Blvd. with Paradise Drive), if there hadn't been facilities near Blackie's Pasture.

Now, on to the walk...

After admiring a new piece of headgear (a red Boston University ball cap) on the statue of Blackie* (a horse), I followed the asphalt trail toward the intersection of Tiburon Blvd. and Trestle Glen.

After crossing Tiburon Blvd., I hiked up Trestle Glen (the first solid, dark green line is considered part of the official developed Bay Trail, with wider setbacks for pedestrians and cyclists), as far as a white road marker, where I'd left off earlier this afternoon.

I then turned around and walked back down to Blackie's Pasture parking lot to my car, just as the light was fading and the shadows were lengthening. I enjoyed seeing two deer, very close to the spot where I'd spotted a pair of deer on my first walk around the Bay Trail a few years ago. I couldn't help but wonder if these were the same deer.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 green tennis ball; 6 turkey vultures; 2 deer on hill (where I saw a pair a few years ago); 2 robins; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs)

*Mysterious hats, scarves, bandanas and other gifts of clothing tend to show up on Blackie, a beloved local horse who left this world several years back.

Paradise Drive - Dec. 18, 2012

Walking Distance: 2.4 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 1 min. (3:05 - 4:06 p.m.)
Start and End Point: dirt pull-out area, near 4220 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

This afternoon I continued walking on Paradise Drive and Trestle Glen on the Tiburon peninsula. Paradise Drive, a winding road with narrow setbacks, is not part of the developed SF Bay Trail, and as such is shown as a dotted, dark green line on the latest Bay Trail map set). Paradise Drive offers scenic views on the Bay side (on the north side, often between trees) and wooded hills on the Tiburon peninsula (southwest side).

I followed a stretch of Paradise Drive and enjoyed intermittent glimpses of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, homes below by the water (Paradise Cay) and the Tiburon Yacht Club, as well as a few ships gliding by on the Bay.

I concluded this walk by turning onto Trestle Glen (like Paradise Drive, a road marked as an undeveloped trail segment, shown as a dotted, dark green line on the 2012 - 2013 Bay Trail Map set). Trestle Glen connects Paradise Drive and Tiburon Boulevard on the Tiburon peninsula. Some stretches of the road have better setbacks than others.

There were small treasures (in yards) that were close to the road, such as the small lion statue shown. And, there might be glimpses of the occasional deer amongst trees, or between yards; although there were none today.

Robins and Statistics
Happily, I saw several sparrows and smaller birds (sorry, I've lumped these together and called them little brown jobs) by the road's edge, foraging about for seeds and insects in the green shoots of grass that thrive in the few winter months here.

I saw five robins (mostly high up in trees) -- more than I remember seeing for many years. One can hope they're making a comeback after being affected by the pesticide DDT (which weakened bird eggshells and led to bird die-offs) back in the 1960s. During my first walk around the Bay Trail (2009-2011) I spotted 30 robins over 1,000 miles of walking.

So, these five robins this afternoon represent a relatively large percentage of that previous total. (As of today, I've covered about 1/3 of the Bay Trail on my second trip around the Bay, and have spotted 10 robins total so far. About the same, but they're concentrated in certain habitats, so that doesn't tell the whole story. One park with an inviting lawn and some interesting worms might attract a cluster of robins, whereas a long stretch of shoreline might not.

Wildlife Sightings:
9 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 old tennis ball; 5 robins

Paradise Drive - Dec. 9, 2012

Walking Distance: 2.4 mi.
Walking Time: 43 min. (3:45 - 4:28 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Side of road (dirt pull-out area), near 4151-4185 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

December afternoons fade into darkness rather quickly, so this was a(nother) short walk along Paradise Drive in Tiburon.

Shown as a dotted, dark green line on the new set of Bay Trail maps, this road is not part of the completed/improved Bay Trail. So, walk with caution. Keep an eye out for cyclists and cars, and stick to the edge of the road, and you should be rewarded with views of Paradise Cove and the Bay along this stretch of Paradise Drive. And, today (a clear day), the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the East Bay area cities (Richmond refineries down to Albany) were visible as well.

I walked southeast along Paradise Drive to the point where I'd left off yesterday, and turned around to walk back toward where I parked. Walking in a loop (as I usually do), I passed my car, and continued walking (northwest) as far as 4220 Paradise Dr., to a pull-out area with a wood fence. Here, I turned around and hustled to make it back to the car while there was still some light left in the day.

A handful of cars and a few bicyclists whizzed by me, but otherwise I enjoyed a peaceful walk by myself. I spotted a few deer. One was doing its best to appear to be invisible behind a bush. Pedestrians are relatively rare on this winding, relatively rural road, and the deer were a bit wary. I can't blame them for wondering what I was doing there at dusk (not an advisable time of day to be walking on a curvy road with narrow setbacks).

Wildlife Sightings:
9 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 deer

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 Dr., Solano St. - Nov. 3, 2012

Walking Distance: 4.7 mi.
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 4 min. (4:10 - 6:14 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking, near 2355 Paradise Dr., Tiburon, CA

This late fall afternoon, I continued my walk along Paradise Drive in Tiburon, until evening shadows made it difficult to continue. This stretch of Paradise Drive, in fact most of Paradise Drive, on the north side of the Tiburon peninsula in Marin County, is shown as a dotted dark green line on the San Francisco Bay Trail map.

There were still a few carved pumpkins from Halloween on porches of houses I passed. The weather had gotten a bit cooler this week, and the easy days of summer, with evenings that stayed light until almost 9 p.m. were but a memory now.

However, what today's late-afternoon-into-early-evening walk lacked in trail amenities (such as setbacks) and daylight, it more than made up for in scenery, with views of Angel Island (including a clear view of the old red brick army hospital building up on the hill across the strait), Keil Cove, Golden Gate Bridge, Sutro Tower and the skyline of San Francisco, the Port of Oakland, Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, San Quentin Prison, and boats in the Bay: ferry boats, sailboats and various motorized ships.

I walked north on Paradise Drive, and passed the County of Marin Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve trailhead (a small sign and a set of stairs disappeared into the wooded hillside). A minute later I walked past the Romberg Tiburon Center gate, and and soon thereafter, the Bay Conference Center.


I took lots of pictures of the winding, narrow, tree-lined stretches of Paradise Drive. I stopped occasionally to shoot pictures of items perched precariously on a narrow strip of earth adjacent to the asphalt. This time of year there were plenty of berries, acorns, chestnuts, new tiny green shoots starting to push up from the ground, and the occasional banana slug.

I would have liked to have walked a bit more, but cars and bicyclists have a difficult enough time seeing pedestrians in the daytime on roads like this. Best not to alarm them unexpectedly with your presence at dusk.

I turned around at 3333 Paradise Dr. Toward the end of my walk back, about a half hour before sunset, I enjoyed glimpses of small, pretty coves and sailboats, and golden cliffs, visible between dark, silhouetted trees.

On the way back, I took a slight detour and walked downhill Mar Centro/to Mar East street sign, to a cluster of mailboxes, where I'd stopped on a previous walk. Then I headed back up to Paradise Dr., past my car, to the intersection with Solano Street, where I turned around to walk back to my car again. But, not before spending several minutes admiring the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, with the sun setting behind it.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 butterflies/moths; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 banana slug