November Afternoon Skies, Oakland

Over Eastmont.
Sky east Oakland

Over Harrison Street and 20th Street.
Sky business district Oakland

Over East Oakland.
Sky less east Oakland

Over Fruitvale.
Sky Fruitvale

Over my house.
Sky home

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Monday Morning around Jackson Street, Oakland

Monday morning was a foggy morning.

About 17th St, looking towards that corner of Lake Merritt.
Jackson Street Lake Merritt

Looking up.
Jackson Street Looking Up

Looking out, from five stories up.
From Jackson Street Five Stories Up

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Already the Past – 42nd Ave, Oakland

Graffiti Gone 42nd Ave Oakland

42nd Ave under San Leandro St and the 880 freeway. I was lucky one morning and the stopped traffic was just right to snag a photo. Cleaned over now. We miss FROG. The guy’s pretty neat too.

I’m seeing GERMS tagging the BART pillars along San Leandro St, just the other side of High. But which germs?! Should I pull out my mask? (it’s a professional hazard, and a dose of contrary literal mind)

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Walking East Bay Hills – Grass Valley Trail, Anthony Chabot Regional Park

I walked down the Redtail Trail until it met up with the Grass Valley Trail.

The willows along the creek were blooming, full of the heavy sound of buzzing bees.
Grass Valley trail willows

The plums were in full bloom, scattered through the valley, with plenty of their own working bees.
Grass Valley trail plum approach

Grass valley trail plums

Grass Valley under plums

A week later, the same plums finished blooming.
Grass Valley plum wk later

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Walking East Bay Hills – Redtail Trail, Anthony Chabot Regional Park

A few weeks ago, I drove along Redwood Road until I found a likely trailhead at the Marciel Gate.

EBMUD watershed, view from Redwood Road
EBMUD watershed not Chabot

Redtail Trail, along the ridge next to Redwood Road.
Redtail trail trees

Heading down from the ridge on Redtail Trail. There were so many circling raptors and scrub jays between the brush and the tower.
Redtail trail power lines

It looks lonely, but I could hear the motorcycle traffic of Redwood Rd on the other side of this hill.
Redtail trail hills

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Walking Black Point at Mono Lake

A few weeks ago, the Kid and I grabbed a chance to go to Yosemite for a weekend trip. The afternoon we arrived, we drove over to Mono Lake and hiked from a trailhead by Black Point. No marked trail. We got to bushwhack (and the bushes whacked back).

From the top of the hill we hiked up, looking down towards the lake.
Looking down to Mono Lake

We had a goal. One of our friends remembered finding fissures up here on her last visit. We found them again, and the adventure of looking for something, no trail, made for a very happy Kid. The Kid and friend were buzzed by a snow owl (“in summer!” said the Kid in amazement) cruising over them in a different fissure.

Going into the fissure Mono Lake

We ran down the black sand side of Black Point, switchbacking all the way. Looking back:

Black Point at Mono Lake

“Better than LegoLand!” said the Kid.

(We were sorely disappointed the next day. The Kid was sick, so he and I stayed in the cabin all day before driving back home.)

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Walking on Wednesday

Wednesday I took myself for a walk up in the East Bay Regional Parks in the Oakland Hills.

I saw weaving.

Big Trees trail web

Grasd webs below Big Trees Tr

I saw seed heads lighter than down.

Lighter than down seeds below Big Trees

I walked through fog, and sun through fog, and sun.

Sun thru Fog thru Trees

Sun below Big Trees

I picked the Kid up from school (yup, already) and dragged him to Alameda Beach. Poor Kid. Heh.

Alameda Beach

I’m on vacation at home this week. I like it.

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