Eastshore State Park (and Cesar Chavez in Berkeley)

Today, I went to check out Eastshore State Park and I went to Berkeley's Cesar Chavez Park too.  Normally, I don't have weekends off.  I either have a project that I need to work on at home or I am in the theatre working actively on a show.  Most of my friends work in theater and they work all weekend also.  This weekend, I didn't really have to work on any projects or work in theater.  It was kind of strange.  I tried to think of people I could hang out with who were not working and I didn't have too much success, so I decided to go for my first solo walk.

When I woke up this morning the first thing I did was go to WW.  I wore shorts and a t-shirt with a light hoodie.  I was not cold at all when I walked to WW, so I decided that I didn't need to change.  I felt totally fine about my decision until, I got out of my car and saw how many people were flying kites at Cesar Chavez and I saw people wearing pants, jackets and hats and scarves around their heads.

 First Video! Please ignore the people next to me talking and the strange music from my headphones.  The other video I took only had the sound of wind.

As someone who was raised 4 blocks from the other side of the bay, I really should know that it gets windy on the water.  I felt like everyone must have though I was a tourist. And I was very cold pretty much instantly.   But isn't the view something?  I can't wait to come back with proper clothes at sunset.  To the left is the port of Oakland, the Bay Bridge, sf and a tiny bit of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

I took this video of the view, I think you can kind of hear me talking through the wind.

Very pretty blossoming tree.

This tree was loosing it's blossoms. When the wind blew it looked like fake snow onstage.

I like these clouds. 

I had to walk not at the western part of the shoreline because it was way too windy.  I walked around the dog park to the Eastshore state park. I walked through the meadow and it was kind of boring.  I don't know if that was because I was alone and the scenery was not that interesting, or if I am spoiled by walking on the levee in Foster City or if it was because I was coldish the whole time.  I listened to a podcast but I would have been fine doing that while I walked around the lake.

One of my favorite parts about doing these hikes is that I love hanging out with my friends.  It's been so wonderful how many honest, real conversations I've been having. Most importantly, we are face to face. Often we are in places with little to no cell phone reception so I'm not checking my phone for e-mail or even really remembering that I have it with me. I love that this project has helped me to remember that I love my friends and I love just talking to them and being with them.

The Verdict: I totally want to go to the Albany Bulb, as that is where the sculptures and the wave organ are and maybe even the Emeryville Crescent to check out the tide stuff. I don't think I would go back to the Berkeley Meadow again.  Unless, I brought my friends with the dog or a frisbee and a bunch of other people. Maybe if I wanted to fly a kite.