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

Bayview Trail - June 26, 2011

Walking Distance: 

Walking Time: 47 min. (6:59 - 7:46 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Coyote Hills parking lot, Fremont, CA

The Bayview Trail in Coyote Hills Regional Park (solid red line trail on Bay Trail map) was a beautiful trail to walk near sunset. From the parking lot south of the Visitor Center (near large rock peak/outcropping), I walked south and then west, and then north.

There was also a sign pointing toward the Bayview Trail -- which is a paved asphalt trail that, in most spots, is wide enough for bicyclists and walkers. Although it's best for walkers to keep to one side and to pay attention; cyclists may be zipping by around corners on the trail.


Unfortunately this park closes at 8 p.m., so I couldn't stay until the sun actually set over the Bay. However, I lingered as long as possible, and left just in time to avoid receiving a citation (for not being out of the park in time). And it was worth it. I look forward to coming back and finishing this walk, hopefully during another summer evening like this one.

On the way in, I walked by the same area with a large concentration of snowy egrets as I'd seen recently on a walk out to Shoreline (via No Name trail). This time my view was from a different angle (higher up in the hills), and I enjoyed watching terns, swooping by in the same area (near a large outflow or inflow pipe, where fishing or dining conditions were probably attractive).

Wildlife Sightings:

4 swallows; 1 black beetle; 23 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 25 sea gulls; 1 white pelican flying overhead; 1 ladybug; 8 terns; 2 ground squirrels; 4 ducks

Eden Landing, part 2 - June 25, '11

Walking Distance: 5 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 47 min. (6:33 - 8:20 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Eden Landing Ecological Reserve parking lot (near Arden Rd.)

This evening I walked the second (longer) part of the Eden Landing trail from a parking lot in the north (a little south of Highway 92) southeast, toward Hesperian Blvd.

On the older set of (hard copy) Bay Trail maps that I have, much of this trail still appeared as a gray, dotted line, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this trail had been extended since the maps were printed. (See solid red line trail on the Bay Trail map above right.) This trail now ends (or begins, depending on where you start) at a housing development near/off of Eden Shores.

Before I reached the end, I had to slow down my pace a little, when I noticed I had a walking companion -- a skunk who was ambling around the edge of the trail, and headed in roughly the same direction that I was. I whistled a tune, and even starting to talk to the skunk (all the while, not getting closer than 20 feet from it), in hopes of not startling it and causing it to spray in my direction. But the skunk didn't appear to notice me. Perhaps this one was hard of hearing. Eventually it shuffled off the path and disappeared under a fence into long grass; so I could finally resume my walk before dark.

At the end of this trail, there was a private channel (I would call it a moat), with a gate (that I believe is locked at certain hours) that separates the end of this trail with a housing development. And there looked to be a small parking lot on the other side of this gate that was part of this community. For those wanting to park closer to civilization, it looked like this parking lot (assuming it's open to the public) could be reached by turning onto Industrial (from Hesperian) and then to Marina, and Eden Shores. Once inside the housing development, look for the playground area near the Bay, and for Dune Circle, where the trail starts.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 great egret, 5 snowy egrets; 8 swallows; 8 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs) with long/curved beaks; 67 other medium-size UBBs; 12 sea gulls; 1 whiffle ball; 24 black-necked stilts; 2 American Avocets; 22 ducks; 6 terns; 9 Canada geese; 1 skunk; 4 hares; 13 red-winged blackbirds + 10 other blackbirds/in same flock birds; 

Hayward - Eden Landing - June 24, '11

Walking Distance: 2.6 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 2 min. (4:50 - 5:52 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking space near Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward, CA


This afternoon I walked from the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center to the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve Parking lot.

Unfortunately, the Interpretive Center was closed when I walked this route today. However, I did start and end my walk near this facility.

From the Interpretive Center building, I walked East on Breakwater Avenue, and took the pedestrian and bicycle overpass (crossing over Highway 92). This overcrossing allows visitors to start walking the packed gravel trail on the other side almost immediately; follow the signs and you'll be headed down a gravel path, toward the parking lot that serves the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (less than a half mile away from the overpass). 

Once I reached the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve parking lot, and made some notes on how to reach this lot (near Arden Road) again -- which is not as simple as it sounds -- I turned around and walked back over the bridge/overcrossing and back to the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 unidentified flying bug; 39 little brown jobs (LBJs); 6 sea gulls; 27 swallows; 2 very small black beetles; 1 crow; 2 brown snails; 1 med., brownish lizard; 2 ground squirrels

Coyote Hills Regional Park - June 23, '11

Walking Distance: 6.6 mi. (estim.)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 52 min. (11:23 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Pkd: public parking lot, in front of Coyote Hills Vistor Center; Fremont, CA

Today's mid-day walk started at the Coyote Hills Regional Park Visitor Center, in Fremont.

Thank you to Sandy for joining me on today's walk. Fortunately we had a pleasant breeze, after a few days of fairly hot weather.

We started our walk from the Park's Visitor Center, and walked south and then west toward the "No Name Trail" (following solid red line trails on Bay Trail map). There was a large concentration of snowy egrets and other birds as we made our way between the hills and out toward the San Francisco Bay. The birds were in an area that looked like it might be rich in small fish or other food items.


It was wonderful to walk out, almost literally, into the Bay, across the No Name Trail to the Shoreline Trail. We walked a large loop trail - heading north and then back (east) inland again, and around and south, back to the Visitor Center. Parts of this trail were unpaved (packed gravel) and parts were paved (asphalt).

Wildlife Sightings:
4 ladybugs; 6 ground squirrels; 8 great egrets; 9 snowy egrets; 12 swallows; 11 terns; 197 sea gulls; 5 grasshoppers/crickets (small, beige); 2 cormorants; 17 white pelicans; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 great blue heron; 4 butterflies.

Alameda Creek Trail (North) - June 22, '11

Walking Distance: 7.4 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 58 min. (5:11 - 8:09 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Alameda Creek Trail parking lot, Union City, near border with Fremont, CA

I was determined to make it out to the end of the (North) portion of the Alameda Creek Trail -- to it's endpoint, where it meets the San Francisco Bay and back -- before dark. And, I did, just barely. I don't recommend stranding yourself in the dark in the baylands, unless there's a full moon and/or you bring a flashlight. There's always the danger of running into a --- no, not a mountain lion, or a rabid raccoon -- but rather a skunk, who might shoot first and ask questions later. Also, most parks want most visitors out by a certain hour -- generally 9 or 10 p.m. during the warmer months.

But, back to this particular walk. I was rewarded with a great, close-up view of waves lapping at the shoreline by a lone picnic table at the end of this unpaved, packed gravel, trail. And, that made the long walk worth it -- as did seeing a pair of pheasants and many other birds.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 white pelicans flying overhead; 1 great blue heron; 17 American Avocets; 2 crows; 15 red-winged blackbirds; 91 sea gulls; 18 swallows; 4 horses; 1 blue jay; 4 Canada geese; 3 butterflies; 65 little brown jobs (LBJs); 6 killdeer; 2 turkey vultures; 2 falcons/kestrels; 2 pheasants (pair); 7 snowy egrets + 2 great egrets; 11 ducks

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.

Hayward Interpretive Center - June 19, '11

Walking Distance: 3.9 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 08 min. (2:58 - 5:06 p.m.)
Start and End Point: One-way: Alec dropped me off at end of W. Winton/Hayward Regional Shoreline (park), and picked me up at the Hayward Interpretive Center (4901 Breakwater Av., Hayward, CA)

Three or four miles is not generally a long walk in the baylands, on a nicely developed (solid red line) trail on the Bay Trail map, but it was fairly hot today; and my pace tends to slow when it gets too hot. This was a nice area, with sweeping views and a fair amount of bird activity; however, there is no real shade -- it's all out in the open. (So, while you're likely to get a breeze, being close to the water, I'd recommend doing this walk a bit earlier or later in the day if hot, direct sun bothers you.)

Thank you to Alec for driving today and picking me up at the Hayward Interpretive Center. In part due to the heat today, I arrived late to the Interpretive Center, but was able to peek inside for a few minutes before it closed. I look forward to coming back later and seeing more. (Note: I did return later, but they were closed. It's best to call ahead to double check hours.)

Wildlife Sightings:
10 black-necked stilts; 44 swallow-like birds + 34 swallows; 1 crow; 5 balls; 21 butterflies/moths; 1 great egret, 1 snowy egret; 30 terns; 16 little brown jobs (LBJs); 9 ground squirrels; 1 bumblebee; 15 sea gulls; 1 black-crowned night heron; 1 large/long cloud of ankle ht. gnats/UFBs + 1 small cloud eye-level gnats/UFBs; 2 red-winged blackbirds; 13 ducks; 12 American Avocets; 2 UBBs; 1 cormorant

Neptune Dr. - June 19, '11

Walking Distance: .7 mile

Walking Time: 30 min. (12:49 - 1:19 p.m.)

Start and End Point: One-way - started at (north) end of Neptune Drive and finished at El Torito Restaurant, San Leandro, CA

This walk on Neptune Drive (shown as double yellow lines on Bay Trail Map), started out in a sparsely populated area with a regional park (Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline Park), and some industrial/commercial  buildings, and gradually shaded into a very pleasant residential area on the way to the San Leandro Marina.

Thank you to Alec who dropped me off at the north end of Neptune Drive (near the entrance to Oyster Bay Regional Park) and who picked me up at the end of this short walk, near El Torito Restaurant, in San Leandro.

Wildlife Sightings:

88 sea gulls; 9 pigeons; 1 crow; 1 feral black cat (possibly same one, or one related to same one that I saw before near/in Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline Park)

T. Lema Golf Course - June 18, '11

Walking Distance: 7.34 miles
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 47 min. (3:30 - 7:17 p.m.)
Start and End Point: - One-way walk that started at San Leandro Marina area, and ended at W. Winton Ave., in Hayward, CA

This long walk (mostly solid red line trail on the Bay Trail map) started in the San Leandro Marina area, and took us out to a peninsula populated by ground squirrels and a Par Course (surrounding the Small Boat Lagoon), and then back, and south along the Tony Lema Golf Course. The walk was so long, and vertical, that I needed to include two different map segments (right).

Thank you to Alec for driving and for joining me on today's walk.

The Bay Trail continued along the baylands, past some interesting whale murals, and eventually we exited the trail in Hayward (Hayward Regional Shoreline Park) near W. Winton Ave. (We had a ride back to our car in San Leandro.)

Wildlife Sightings:
5 UBBs; 1 butterfly/moth; 2 balls; 1 ladybug; 1 duck; 7 crows; 1 blue jay; 3 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 2 mockingbirds; 7 black-necked stilts; 9 American Avocets; 4 bumblebees; 51 sea gulls; 2 (fabric) kites; 30 pigeons; 25 ground squirrels; 4 terns; 27 starlings; 18 swallows + 38 (blue & orange with more cut wings) barn? swallows; 27 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 blackbirds; 36 red-winged blackbirds; 12 Canada geese (all on golf course)

San Leandro Marina - June 17, '11

Walking Distance: 1.8 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 58 min. (10:48 - 11:46 a.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot, San Leandro Marina area, San Leandro, CA

Today's short walk around the San Leandro Marina found us heading southish, passing the El Torito restaurant (solid red line to dotted line on the Bay Trail Map) -- around to the curved end of a piece of land (solid gold line on map) forming the north end of the Marina. We then headed back in (East) around to out (West) again to end of a peninsula further south (gray dotted line to solid red line) forming the other edge of the marina - to a pocket park, where fishing was allowed in the area.

Thank you to Sunita for joining me for today's walk, for driving, and for subsequent chocolate field trip.

Wildlife Sightings:
79 sea gulls; 15 pigeons; 4 crows; 2 cormorants; 4 ducks; 2 terns; 2 swallows

Alameda Pt. Beach - June 15, '11

Walking Distance: 2 miles: (1.5 mi. + 5 mi.)
Walking Time: 1.) 1 hr., 10 min. (12:40 - 1:50 p.m.); 2.) 30 min. (5:55 - 6:25 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Alameda Pt/Beach Park - off Central/Main, Alameda, CA

Today's walk was a two-part stroll through two adjacent areas of trail in Northern Alameda in the area of Alameda Point/Beach: 1.) Path from Alameda Point boat launch/ramp to USS Hornet - end of dock/pier; 2.) Alameda Pt. Rock Wall/jetty (later). Toni, thank you for joining me on today's walk, and for helping sample a few sips of wine at Rosenblum and Rockwall, and later a very small glass of Framboise (raspberry) Eau du Vie at St. George's. Alameda wineries (that buy grapes from various sources, estates) offer fun social opportunities. Even better, don't drive and make the trip to Rosenblum by ferry from San Francisco. (Rosenblum is within easy walking distance of the Alameda Ferry.)

Also, I wouldn't advise walking the Alameda Point rockwall after wine-tasting. There is some boulder-hopping required to scramble out across to reach the end of this curved line of large rocks (past the section with a cement walkway on top). The rockwall was a popular location for fishermen of all types on the evening we were there.

Wildlife Sightings:
Part 1 of walk: 1 blue jay; 9 cormorants; 4 ground squirrels; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 snowy egret; 5 terns; 5 sea gulls; 3 crows; 1 dove; 6 pigeons; 1 black and yellow butterfly; 1 ladybug.
Part 2 of walk: 3 sea gulls; 1 crow; 1 cormorant.

Alameda - June 13, '11

Walking Distance: 3.0 miles (1.4 miles x 2 + .2 mile)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 6 min. (4:08 - 6:14 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot (between Starbucks and Walgreens) on Atlantic Ave. (from Main to Triumph), Alameda, CA

The walk along Atlantic Avenue (from Main to Triumph) in Alameda, encompasses traces of the old Naval Air Base, and also some of the newer growth that has come after this era.

Wildlife:
7 ground squirrels; 9 crows; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 sea gulls; 6 pigeons

Oakland - Embarcadero Cove - June 12, '11

Walking Distance: 6.0 miles
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 43 min. (3:42 - 7:25 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking, diagonal space, on Embarcadero, near Embarcadero Cove, Oakland, CA

Today's second walk (part two of a two-part walk) in Oakland included a slight detour over the bridge into Alameda (to take a coffee shop break), and a stop into another artist's open studio in the Jingletown area of Oakland (near the Oakland Estuary). It was fun and interesting to see the mosaics in this area of town (just a few blocks off the Bay Trail), and to hear about the resurrection of the term Jingletown (a term coined several decades ago).

Wildlife Sightings:
17 sea gulls; 35 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 pigeons; 1 chair; 2 crows; 2 hubcaps; 3 snowy egrets; 2 white butterflies/moths; 2 ducks; 1 tern; 1 old basketball; 2 mockingbirds; 1 black cat (wild) + 1 domestic cat (very nice, tame) one driveway over from Quinn's restaurant; 1 rusty screw

Mandela Pkwy - June 12, 2011

Walking Distance: 4.1 miles
Walking Time: 4 hrs., 5 min. (11:15 - 3:20 p.m.) includes 2 long stops
Start and End Point: Best Buy parking lot; East Baybridge Shopping Center; near north end of Mandela Parkway, Oakland, CA

Today's walk was along Mandela Parkway in Oakland (shown as double red lines on Bay Trail Map).

After stopping to look for a camera-related item at Best Buy, I walked north toward Emeryville, to the Rug Depot Outlet on Hubbard St. (previous stopping point in the area), then south on Mandela Parkway in Oakland.

This mixed industrial and residential area had some interesting examples of graffiti and street art, and along much of parkway was a median park strip with grass and flowers in the middle, making for a pleasant walk.

What should have been a 2-hour walk down Mandela Parkway to the West Oakland BART station on 7th and back, stretched into a 4-hour walk, because I stopped to see some artists' works (part of Open Studios weekend) at Peralta Studios; and I also stopped to eat a late lunch at the Brown Sugar Kitchen.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 butterflies/moths (1 white, 1 black and yellow, 1 skipper); 2 doves; 11 pigeons; 12 sea gulls; 1 robin; 1 blur in the bushes (lizard?); 2 crows; 1 blue tennis ball; 1 stool, 1 chair, 1 couch

Alameda, Buena Vista #2 - June 11, '11

Walking Distance: 4.3 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 25 min. (5:30 - 7:55 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Buena Vista Ave., near intersection with Versailles, Alameda, CA

This evening I walked the remainder of Buena Vista Avenue in Alameda, from Grand Street to Versailles (near where I'd parked), and the rest of Fernside Blvd. (from Tilden Way to High Street).

I also had the opportunity to walk a small loop which involved crossing two bridges -- the High Street bridge from Alameda to Oakland, and the Fruitvale/Pearl Street Bridge from Oakland back to Alameda (both shown as short, solid red lines on the Bay Trail map).

Both these bridges were fun, short ones, and I find crossing bridges inherently interesting.  There was a partial waterside trail on the Oakland side of the bridge that I followed before it ended in a fenced area. I then made my way to Alameda Ave. to walk up to the Fruitvale Ave./Pearl Street bridge, past the Fruitvale Bridge Park. (Note: The fishing pier area (black fish) on the Bay Trail map looked like it was closed, and/or in need of repair.)

After crossing back into Alameda, I made the hike, northwest up Buena Vista Ave. (double yellow lines on Bay Trail map) to Grand Street and back to the car, passing the Marketplace on the corner of Park and Buena Vista. The Marketplace contained several small restaurants and shops (Sushi King, East End Pizza, Ching Hua Chinese Cuisine, and Culina), and included Alameda Natural Grocery Store, the Beanery Coffee Company, and Farmstead Cheese and Wine. The remainder of Buena Vista was through residential neighborhoods. I enjoyed passing by the many older, wood Victorian style houses this evening.

Wildlife Sightings:
35 sea gulls; 38 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 cormorants; 7 crows; 1 brown snail on sidewalk; 3 starlings; 3 doves; 8 balls (3 old basketballs + 5 baseballs/softballs); 2 domestic cats on sidewalk.

Alameda - Shoreline Park, Posey Tube - June 9, '11

Walking Distance: 3.7 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 48 min. (7:10 - 8:58 p.m. - doesn't include dinner)
Start and End Point: Mariner Square, Pelican Pasta restaurant, Alameda, CA

I don't always eat before walking, but when I parked in front of Pasta Pelican, I felt tempted to have a light dinner; and I thought there might be some good views of Oakland, across the water, from a table by the window.

The views were nice. After dinner, I walked north a short distance, until I reached the blank (no trail) area on the Bay Trail map. I then walked south along the water, headed toward Shoreline Park.

The Shoreline Park area of trail (solid red wavy line on Bay Trail map), off Marina Village Parkway, was beautiful; and dozens of Canada geese, a few black-crowned night herons, and a smattering of ducks, sea gulls and crows apparently thought so too.

A marina area, with boats in the water, offered views of Oakland beyond appeared on the northeast side of the paved (asphalt) walkway, and a grassy, park area, with water features and trees, was on the southwest side of the trail. Thank you to Martha, another walker I chatted with while on the move, who lived in the area; it was fun to find out a bit more about the harbor/marina/yacht club area(s).

Just a short distance further northwest giant cargo ships lumbered through the Inner Harbor, but all was tranquil and calm here.

I turned around when I reached Triumph Drive, near Point Marina Vista and Oakland Yacht Club, where I'd left off on a previous walk. And, even though the sun was setting, I decided I had time to walk the Posey Tube -- (shown as a yellow-gold colored solid line on the Bay Trail map) connecting Alameda with Oakland.

To find the entrance to the Posey Tube, the second oldest underwater tube of its kind, look for a neutral-colored building or structure (see picture at right) that looked like it could have been influenced by both Art Deco and Modernist architectural styles of the 1920s. On the Alameda side, you'll need to cross a road (roughly indicated by two parallel yellow-gold colored lines on the map) and approach it from the southish side -- as, at least when I walked there, only one side of the tube is open to walkers.

A note of caution about walking the Posey Tube: the narrow sidewalk you'll be walking on is barely wide enough for two people to pass each other.

A bicyclist I met, on the way back to Alameda, kindly upended his bike to let me squeeze by him. So, if you bicycle through the tube and meet another bicyclist going the opposite way, I'm not sure how this would be handled.

It's also very loud in the tube. The acoustics are such that sound seems to bounce off the tile walls and be magnified and jumbled around.

However, it was a fun experience to walk through here. This may not be everyone's idea of fun; but I liked the adventure of walking under the water, and popping out near 4th Street and Harrison in Oakland on the other side, and thinking this must have been a relatively novel engineering feat almost 100 years ago.

Wildlife Sightings: 

4 pigeons; 28 sea gulls; 7 crows; 15 swallows; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 70 Canada geese; 9 ducks; 3 black-crowned night herons; 1 robin; 1cormorant; 2 domestic cats + 1 feral cat hunting in dry grass