A Week Around Castro Valley- A Photo Essay

Happy Independence Day! Please stay safe!

Thank you for reading this week’s post on a week around Castro Valley. My apologies for not posting last week. I basically hung around and regained my strength after being sick. Not much to write about there.

At the Japanese Tea Garden.

Guess where?

The best scene in the garden.

Monday, Susan and I drove into San Francisco, always an adventure, and visited the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, both in Golden Gate Park. The Tea Garden was pretty meh, but the botanical gardens were fantastic! Plants and flowers from all over the world, and lots of plants in bloom. I’d recommend it to anyone. Bring warm clothes!

At the botanical garden. I don’t know what these are called. I call them jellyfish flowers,

Spectacular agave!

California poppies.

An Oakland storefront. I hope they’re doing well!

Oakland has some industry.

An un-political mural, so nicely done!

Tuesday, we went on a murals tour of Oakland. Oakland is such a complex town- multicultural, artsy, great restaurants, awesome Chinatown, lots of homeless people, the birthplace of the Black Panther movement, some rough neighborhoods. Many of the murals were political in nature, and there were lots of great ones. We had lunch in Chinatown, too, always a good time!

From the Palestinian Solidarity wall.

A mural in Oakland’s Chinatown.

Wednesday, we went on a historical walking tour of San Leandro. Caterpillar Equipment Company started here. The home of the founder, still a private, 140-year-old-home, is here, and it looks great. Casa Peralta, listed in the National Register of Historical Places, is also here. An interesting property to visit due to the tile work, it’s badly in need of repairs.

Susan at Casa Peralta.

Many of the tiles had a Don Quixote theme.

Some tiles were religious in nature.

Thursday, we went hiking in the Reinhardt Regional Redwood Park in Oakland. The trees are second and third generation redwoods, so not as impressive as the virgin trees. They are still awesome. The hike, about five miles, was beautiful.

Some young redwood trees.

Friday was errands day, and that brings us up-to-date!

I am taking a Bye Week next week- will not be in an internet service area!! It may have something to do with fishing…

Thank you again for reading this week’s post on a week around Castro Valley. Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Take a trip! Do SOMETHING!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.