view from Grizzly Peak Boulevard
Drivers in the San Francisco Bay area seem particularly courteous to bicyclists. Also, Berkeley probably has the highest Prius-per-capita in the world. Prius drivers, with their tendency to slowly coast down the road while they identify native plants and meditate, are an obnoxious menace to motorcyclists, but they are like four-wheeled chaperones for the bicyclist on the road. Several dozen passed me on my ride through the Berkeley Hills today, always giving me at least a twelve foot berth and smiling serenely.
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Skyline Boulevard is a winding, two-lane road that heads south from Grizzly Peak, and passes along some impressive regional parks, such as the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, Redwood Park, and Anthony Chabot Park. All were very neat, all were very crowded on this memorial day weekend.
Grass Valley Road
Redwood Regional Park
The end of the ride dropped me down into South Oakland. The expensive homes, Prius drivers, and scenic views of Skyline Boulevard had changed to the wildly painted discount stores, barber shops and barbeque-smell of the ‘hood. As if by magic, I heard the faint sound of an E-40 song, floating in on the breeze. It was coming from a kid riding a beater mountain bike, a half-block ahead of me, and the E-40 got louder and louder as I came up. He was swerving around in the bike lane because he had an enormous jam-box strapped to the back of his bike, and the jam-box was belting out the sweet sound of Oakland for everyone within a block to hear. Ennio Morricone himself could not have come up with a better soundtrack as I rode past.
Cathedral Building, downtown Oakland
A mile later, on Foothill Boulevard, I passed what seemed like hundreds of taco trucks, taquerias, and frutas carts, and I nearly swooned at the thought of some carnitas tacos. This may have been the right neighborhood for delicious Mexican food, but it was also the wrong neighborhood to be wearing a lycra skin suit and elf shoes. In the end, my fear of being heckled by the kids on the corner overcame my lust for carne asada, and I kept riding towards Berkeley. I will return.
Hey,I drive a pruis.I also try to pick dinner for my tortise.He eats weeds,dandlions and clover flowers.
Forest, did you pass by Skyline High School on your trek? Went to 9th grade there, and one in the list of 14 high schools in all that I went to. Awesome country along there with incredible views above the also unique neighborhoods just below.
@Carol: Very cool! More evidence that Prius drivers are a kind and thoughtful bunch. The car itself actually slightly resembles a tortoise..
@Charles: I did pass by that high school, it must have been very tempting to cut class and head out to Redwood park.