Paseo Padre Parkway - June 26, '11

Walking Distance: 1.75 mi. (estim.)
Walking Time: 39 min. (7:59 - 8:38 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public, unpaved parking lot at the corner of Patterson Ranch Rd., and Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA

As the sun set near the Coyote Hills Regional park -- which I'd just left because they were closing at 8 p.m., I re-parked my car in this gravel lot, and decided to walk some of Paseo Padre Parkway -- to the overpass (over Alameda Creek) into Union City and back again.


Along the way, I passed an interesting solar demonstration area, and was able to walk on comfortably large sidewalks both on Paseo Padre Parkway, and also along Ardenwood and Union City Blvd.

However, I would still advise caution in the area shown as double yellow/gold lines on the Bay Trail map -- the stretch where Ardenwood turns into Union City Blvd. -- as passing vehicles are moving rapidly over the overpass/bridge area.


Wildlife Sightings:
1 pillbug; 8 little brown jobs (LBJs); 34 swallows; 2 blurs in the bushes (BIBs); 4 doves; 1 hawk/falcon/kestrel

Union City Blvd. - June 21, 2011

Walking Distance: 5.0 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs.,17 min. (6:28 - 8:45 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking spot on Silvertide Dr., next to intersection with Union City Blvd., Union City, CA

This evening I continued walking South along Union City Blvd. (shown as double yellow lines on Bay Trail Map).

I turned right on Eastin Dr. - and right again to follow the road into Alameda Creek Trail parking lot -- very close to the Union City - Fremont border. I then turned around to walk back. I walked north back toward my car, with a stop to photograph a group of cows (and one feisty bull) and some goats behind a fence. I also stopped to change shoes when I passed my car. Then I continued to Smith St., taking a slight detour to investigate an old church, then returned back to Union City Blvd., and back to the car.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 great egret; Ants - uncountable; 1 crow; 10 sea gulls; another smaller spot of ants - uncountable; 2 pigeons; 2 bumblebees; 16 cows; 3 goats; 6 ducks; 7 birds hanging out by cows/goats (bigger than LBJs, starlings?); 3 Canada geese; 1 basketball; 3 black-crowned night herons; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs)

Hesperian Blvd. - June 20, 2011

Walking Distance: 3.0 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 18 min. (7:35 - 8:53 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot, near Costco gas station, off Hesperian Blvd., Hayward, CA

This evening I walked South on the sidewalk along Hesperian Blvd. (shown as double red lines on the Bay Trail Map) which soon turned into Union City Blvd. - past the Pepsi (San Francisco Bay Distribution/Production Center); the Alden E. Oliver Sports Park; Kaiser Union City; and other various businesses. While traffic was moving quickly down these streets, the generous sidewalk allows a comfortable separation between pedestrian and car/vehicle traffic.

I turned around at intersection of Union City Blvd. and Smith Street/Cambridge Way, a little past Alvarado Square.

Wildlife Sightings:
5 sea gulls; 3 (brown) snails; 1 blur in bushes (BIB); 9 Canada geese (including 2 younger ones); 2 ducks; (bees on lavender bushes on Kaiser property); 4 doves; 2 ladybugs (w/ aphids on * weed); ants (uncountable in 1 large spot); 1 ball.