a creek runs through it

A farmer's market opens every Sunday in the local DMV parking lot.  Much to my surprise, a creek flows through much of this property before it goes underground again.  I'm guessing it's Temescal Creek which gives its name to the neighborhood.  It's always a pleasure to see creeks surface in their run from hills to bay.

Weekend Reflection: Peralta Creek

Down the hill from the Peralta Hacienda (previous post) is Peralta Creek.  This is one area where it comes above ground and creates an authentic riparian ecology niche.  This is one of the things that is so surprising about Oakland.  In the middle of a decidedly urban area, there are these oases of rural life that appear and delight.  This small section has picnic tables and access to surrounding streets.  I imagine this creek provided the adobes their water source and probably helped irrigate crops.  Because there are tiny glimmers of watery reflections, I'm linking to Weekend Reflections.

Temescal Creek

Temescal Creek runs down from the hills and eventually flows into Lake Temescal, featured here.  This spot is in the Thornhill Drive neighborhood mentioned in this week's Monday Mural.  Most of the homes along the creek look like they were built in the 20s and 30s.  Hard to believe that this house is only two blocks from a major freeway.

Sunday Bridge Series: Glen Echo Creek resurfaces

Here's another pedestrian bridge over Glen Echo Creek on Richmond St.  This one has a pergola covered entrance that looks pretty old.  Several redwoods dot the woodland.  The creek stays above ground for about .3 of a mile in a small valley that opens to a vale before it goes under ground again.  Then out of no where are the support piers for the 580 freeway and we're back in urban civilization.  Taken a few days ago  before the current rain storms.  For more bridge views, visit «Louis'» meme, Sunday Bridges.

for the birds

Just in case the birds can't find a place to nest?   Spotted in a small grove of redwoods where Glen Echo Creek surfaces on Richmond St.

cabin in the woods

While following yesterday's "trail," I came upon this tiny house.  It can't be more than 10 feet wide and maybe 15 feet high.  it looks like it is single wall construction and probably has been here since 1905-1910.   More contemporary houses muscle up to each side of this house.  Oakland used to be a summer rural retreat for San Franciscans due to it's better weather and plentiful redwood and oak forests.  It doesn't take much imagination to believe that this little structure was a getaway cabin back at the turn of the previous century.  Nestled in a little valley, it would have faced the quiet waters of Glen Echo Creek.  Somehow it persisted even as the street changed.  Whoever lives here now values a simple life on a peaceful street, away from the urban roar.

footbridge over the creek

I decided to take a small street off Broadway to see where it lead.  Much to my surprise it turned into several woodland blocks where Glen Echo Creek runs above ground.  The sun was setting and I was barely able to capture workmen repairing a foot bridge over the creek.  The houses along this street are a funny mix of 1970s apartment buildings, and brown shingles from the early 1900s,  I couldn't believe that this quiet, rural setting still exists in our urban landscape.  In Sonoma County, maybe.  But Uptown Oakland?  For more bridges, visit «Louis'» Sunday Bridges series.

Weekend Reflections: shopping center quarry

This old quarry borders the parking lot of a busy shopping center.  Until recently the view was obstructed by tall bushes fronting the surrounding chain link fence.  Recent construction now allows an unobstructed street level view (albeit still through the fence and barbed wire).  I read that "traprock" was quarried here a long while ago and don't know when operation ceased.  A creek runs through the Claremont Country Club and tumbles by waterfall into the lake.  A member told me that the club (posted Tuesday) owns the quarry and pumps the lake to water the golf course.  I was pleased that the sun came out long enough to allow a late afternoon reflection to share through James' meme Weekend Reflections.  Have a relaxing weekend.

Sunday Bridge Series: near the Bridgeview trail head

Only a few feet from the Warren freeway, which runs the length of the Oakland hills, is a trail head that leads through Dimond Canyon to Dimond Park.  I followed it for a bit and found this little bridge crossing what I think is Sausal Creek.  The trail descends steeply and cuts through redwood stands, wild berry brambles, and fern groves.  Oakland has a number of these natural preserves that survive in the midst of a decidedly urban setting.  I assume the bridge in "Bridgeview" is not the little footpath seen here.  Another day I'll follow the trail to its end and get a shot of the bridge it refers to.  For an array of bridges from around the world, visit «Louis'» Sunday Bridges Series.

Sunday Bridge Series: Glen Echo Creek

As stated in an earlier post, Glen Echo Creek surfaces above ground several places on its way from the hills to the bay.  One of the longest stretches runs for several blocks just off of Piedmont Avenue, a busy shopping district.  The creek wends its way through a small park, behind houses and a senior citizen complex, and along public paths before it goes underground again.  Neighbors volunteer to maintain the creek bed and restore plants native to the riparian community.  The cyclone fence borders Monte Vista Avenue that bridges the creek.  The culvert that runs under the street seems to represent both tunnel and bridge at the same time.  For more bridge photos from around the world, visit «Louis La Vache's» Sunday Bridge meme.

urban creek

This is Glen Echo Creek where it surfaces in Adams Park along side the Veterans Memorial Building across from Lake Merritt.  I've driven past this intersection (Grand and Harrison) a zillion times never realizing this little strip of green contains a stream.  It's startling to find such a country scene in the middle of a high traffic zone.  The creek runs down from the hills, every so often popping up above ground for a few blocks, before it goes underground again.  This engineered channel contains the creek for a block or so until it goes under Grand Avenue.  But before it goes underground, it flows under this old timey-looking bridge.  You see where I'm going with this, right?  A reflection and a bridge can only mean that I'm submitting this photo to two memes this weekend.  For more reflections and bridges from around the world, please visit James' Weekend Reflections and «Louis'» Sunday Bridge Series.  And have a great weekend.

urban blight

Sausal Creek going underground again.  It must have taken some wet effort to tag this culvert.  The question remains:  Why?

Dimond Park--a creek flows through it

This couple is enjoying Sausal Creek burble at their feet as it runs through Dimond Park.  Most of Oakland's creeks were put underground years ago.  The creek's riparian community is being restored by volunteers.  The park itself, situated in the Dimond District, offers various play activities and is situated on the ancestral land of the Dimond family who settled in 1867.