Alum Rock Park

Here are some pics from Sunday's trip to Alum Rock Park.

The Mineral Springs Loop Trail parallels Penitencia Creek down below.


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NWR Ravenswood Trail

On Saturday D. and I visited the Ravenswood Trail at the National Wildlife Refuge, and I took some pics.

The trail runs along a salt evaporation pond, which is bright red due to halophilic bacteria living in the water.


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Bayfront Park

Since it had been over a year since our last visit, on Saturday D. and I went Bayfront Park, and I took these pics.

What used to be a salt evaporation pond is now being restored to a natural salt marsh habitat.


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Cooley Landing

On Sunday D. and I returned to Cooley Landing to see how far it's come in being developed from an abandoned property into a public park, and I took these pics.

Here we are, at Cooley Landing.


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Permanente Creek Trail

On Sunday D. and I took a walk on the newly-opened Permanente Creek Trail extension over US Highway 101, and I took these pics.

At the trailhead, we are disappointed to find we can't have the whole trail to ourselves.


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Alien World 2: Return To The Void

On an overcast Sunday, D. and I returned to the alien world of the nearby abandoned salt crystallization ponds at the edge of San Francisco Bay. When we looked at them a month ago, the remaining ponds were a deep orange color, and one still had that mysterious black void in it. We returned to check on the void ( Read more... )

An Alien World in Menlo ParkOn Saturday D. and I went to the salt crystallization ponds in Menlo Park, where we found an alien landscape with few traces of life (and what little life there was struggling to survive). This contrasted sharply with the flourishing life in an adjacent flood control channel flowing with fresh water. Here's some pics I ( Read more... )

Coyote Point

On Sunday D. and I decided to head on up to Coyote Point in San Mateo, and I took some pics. Here they be.

We park next to the yacht club.  The masts of the boats in the marina fill the sky.


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Cooley Landing

Cooley Landing is a small 9-acre peninsula that extends into tidal marshlands and mud flats at the edge of San Francisco Bay, near Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. D. and I went there on Saturday, and I took some pics.

The view of the salt marsh to the north.


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Alum Rock Park: Mineral Springs & Grottoes

Last Saturday D. and I returned to Alum Rock Park to look at the mineral springs for which the park was once renowned and take some more pics. Here's mine.

On our way to the Visitor's Center, we see this lichen growing on one of the many rustic stone bridges crossing Penitencia Creek.


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