Canessa Gallery - April 6, 2012

Walking Distance: Not applicable
Walking Time: Not applicable
Start and End Point: Washington Street, San Francisco, CA

Today was walk-to-work day, and I was able to walk a short distance from the San Francisco Bay Trail to the Canessa Gallery in San Francisco, for the opening night of my "Walking the Bay" photo and art exhibit up during the month of April 2012. This show included water art from Linda Gass, aerial photographs of the Salt Works (ponds) from Bill Scull, and a great installation of the San Francisco Bay and Bay Trail in colored tape (thanks to San Francisco installation artist, Tim Armstrong).

Thank you to Zach Stewart at Canessa for his support of Bay Area trails, including the upcoming Water Trail. And warm thanks to Kika's Treats for making a special batch of sea salt caramels, with special salt made from the San Francisco Bay; and all the folks who helped build the Bay Trail who came into the City for this opening. Thank you for making this celebration and walk around the Bay possible after decades of work.

Of course the real star was the San Francisco Bay and Trail.

San Francisco, The Embarcadero - Apr. 4, '12

Walking Distance: 1.7 miles
Walking Time: 57 min. (8:25 - 9:22 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking, on Washington Street near Embarcadero (next to tennis courts), San Francisco, CA

This evening, I was up in San Francisco, setting up for my "Walking the Bay" photo exhibit a few blocks west of the Bay Trail at the Canessa Gallery.

A note about the evolving nature of trails: Canessa Gallery is situated inside a historic (old printing company) brick building. A few hundred years ago, before considerable amounts of Bay fill (including parts of old ships left behind from the Gold Rush from the mid 1800s), this gallery would have been close to the Bay shore (perhaps near/on an old version of a Bay trail). So, it's a perfect location for a show and talk about walking the San Francisco Bay Trail.

After a stop at the gallery, I headed east on Washington Street to The Embarcadero, and walked to the public promenade area along the waterfront, on a combination of paved and wood planked sections. Most activity was blurred in these night photos taken on the move.

I strolled around the boardwalk closest to the water as part of this section of Bay Trail that is shown as a set of double red lines on the Bay Trail map; and I enjoyed a view of city lights reflected on the bay and the Bay Bridge.


The Port of San Francisco building at Pier 1 was closed; but I could see the Bayside History Walk, and large photos on the walls behind glass, that I'd seen on my first round-the-bay walk in 2009. I recommend a stop here.

By the time I reached the Ferry Building, a great historic landmark, it was too late for a snack. This was a shame, as the place was/is stuffed with small shops and vendors selling delicious food items. I made a trip there a few days ago, to make sure I didn't miss out on the chocolates, macarons, salami, and the Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam cheese (which I plan to serve at my exhibit, as I have dozens of photographs of this north bay peak - from different angles and locations on the Bay Trail).

I passed several large public art pieces, sculptures -- such as the gleaming silver retro, Raygun Gothic Rocketship; the giant bow and arrow; and various memorials (black and white posts with tiny names inscribed on them from the past).

If you count neon signs as public art, then I suppose I should count the cocktail (Open) sign at the Hi-Dive bar.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 sea gulls; too dark to see anything else

Dogpatch - Portrero - Mar. 30, '12

Walking Distance: .7 mile
Walking Time: 12 min. (7:32 - 7:47 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking on 22nd Street, near Illinois Street, San Francisco, CA

This evening, in between two walks, I treated myself to dinner at Serpentine restaurant and bar in the Dogpatch area of San Francisco (one block off the Bay Trail on 3rd Street and 22nd Street). I had a great meal and drink sitting up at the bar there, and would recommend it as a walking destination stop -- primarily for adults.

After my dinner stop, I did a short post-meal walk. I walked 1 block east, returning to Illinois Street; and I continued north along Illinois until I reached the intersection of Illinois and 18th Streets.

This section of trail appeared as a set of double yellow lines on the Bay Trail map, and consisted mainly of concrete sidewalk, and surface streets, with maybe one or two industrial driveways.

Wildlife Sightings:
None - It was too dark.

Hunters Pt. - SF - March 30, '12

Walking Distance: 1.7 miles
Walking Time: 1 hour, 14 minutes (4:40 - 5:54 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking, on 22nd Street, near Illinois St., San Francisco, CA

This afternoon I stopped by Kika's Treats in the Dogpatch area of San Francisco about some sea salt caramels (with S.F. Bay salt) to serve at my upcoming "Walking the Bay" photo exhibit at Canessa Gallery in San Francisco. Dogpatch is a great, creative area for good food and chocolate finds.

After the Dogpatch stop, I had a good walk along Illinois Street (shown as double yellow lines on Bay Trail map). Technically, double yellow lines are not part of the Bay Trail, and consist of surface streets that are generally walkable. Today's walk was mostly concrete sidewalks with short stretches of paved asphalt.

I first stopped at Warm Water Cove Park. It was a small park by the bay shore, with small clusters of orange poppies in bloom, and views of some older industry infrastructure.

At the park, I noticed stone stacks and sculptures of various animals and a lizard -- similar to what I'd seen at Heron's Head Point in Hunters Point a few years ago. While I was admiring these "volunteer" art works, the sculptor himself (Porfiero Vasquez) approached me; and we started discussing his work. He said he was, in fact, the person who had done the larger rock lizard sculptures at Heron's Head awhile back. Not sure why they were subsequently removed. I used my limited Spanish to find out a bit more about all that he had created in Warm Water Cove Park. He said he preferred spending time here vs. being on the streets. He also showed me wire sculptures he had built from discarded/found materials, wire, and other bits and pieces. He was a very creative man.

From the park, I headed south on Illinois Street, over the Islais Creek channel bridge (short red section of trail on Bay Trail map). I walked a bit further, to the intersection of Illinois Street and Amador Street, before turning around and heading back (north) to the Dogpatch area for a dinner break at Serpentine restaurant and bar.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 starlings; 19 sea gulls; 1 mockingbird; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 6 pigeons; 16 ducks; 1 yellow and black butterfly; 6 Western/Clarks grebes; 1 crow; 2 hummingbirds; 1 cormorant; 2 doves