Ramble 12: Pipe to Know-where...

A surf scoter in Sunny Cove (learn more about these birds on this Marge-embedded link).
Handsome fella, isn't he?

Sergei was off making a living on this sunny day while Marge was simply living...rambling, enjoying the sun, chatting with EBRPD plumber on area now known as Neptune Pointe.

EBRPD is looking to more easily clean debris that collects behind the lovely little concrete walkway that is exposed at low tide. It wends through a segment of the Cove and, similar to the experience of walking the wall at the Vietnam War Memorial, this walkway allows ramblers an impression of walking down and into or at the level of the water. Turns out there's already old pipe laid out there but, like many politicians' bridges, it leads nowhere that makes any sense to current maps and plans. So, a new one is going in that will not only appear on maps and plans but will also result in a drinking fountain at the Pointe.

While Marge was chatting with the plumber, another rambler (actually, he's a runner) Bob arrived to report to the EBRPD representative (in the role of plumber) about the build up of New Zealand spinach along another segment of the Cove. Apparently it's a weed that should be controlled.

Marge recognized Bob from a recent event in which he shared with her a link to his gorgeous photographs of local flora and fauna. (Here's a link to his site - fantastic pix of birds, bugs, and botany.)

Since Marge was on her way around Sunny Cove to explore further the recently-discovered walkway behind Paden School, she introduced Bob to this new find.
Turns out he'd been looking for a way to access that part of the water way too. Both agree to inform one another if they find an access route that circumnavigates the cove rather than forces ramblers to return along the same route.

Below is a pic taken along the public walkway from Crab Cove to Central Ave - it's well worth knowing about and maintained far better than the walkway behind the school. Here it shows the sort of pollutants that collect and mar the cove when the tide is up.

Imagine how this spot looked in the old days when the public baths were located here. Back then, "the public" paid admission to swim in the baths as they were maintained and were free of garbage.
The bay was pretty much a cesspool back then with households and people permitted to toss garbage into the bay; plumbing effluent was pumped into the water too.
"Out of sight, out of mind" was the then-order of the day. It didn't work too well back then either but it was the way things were done. So, if you think we've "come a long way, baby", here's Marge's other way to look at it:
Humans can learn from our mistakes and one of these days we may also learn that garbage - in general - can be dealt with in a way that does not pollute our environment IF cities, counties, and states tighten up laws for packaging products and the recycling laws. (Remember, while Marge does not agree with rationale behind it, Alameda now has the strictest no-smoking laws in the country...and a fee for grocery bags too. More on the no-smoking law in a future blog where Marge, not a smoker, takes a different tack on that law.)

Here's pic of the a possible sunset picnic spot behind the school. This pic taken close to noon with bright light (that's why Marge didn't photograph in the other direction and into the sun).
She can easily imagine sitting on that bench with Sergei, eating a tasty picnic dinner, and talking about all sorts of interesting things.




Below, a view of the walkway looking north, toward Central Ave. It looks scarier than it actually is. Marge imagines that these dried out plants will deliver a grand aroma of aniseed in the summer.

Update on Coconut Journeys
Last post Marge wrote of finding two coconuts that, when she shook them, sounded as if they contained coconut milk. (She hauled them home then was a bit put off by Sergei's comment that they were potential health hazards; they remain in the garbage bag liner that carried them home.)
Talking with Bob today added a further touch of realism to Marge's fantasy that "her" coconuts may have originated on a Pacific island.
When she shared this idea with him, Bob, trained as a marine biologist, asked, "Are you sure it's coconut milk?"
"Sounds like coconut milk sounds...."
"Weeeelllll, depending on how where they're from and how long they've been floating, the coconuts have probably taken in a lot of salt water. I doubt that's coconut milk you hear slushing around inside."
Doh!
Such a reasonable possibility. And one that set Marge pondering about how easily her imagination avoids reasonable possibilities and select those that may be less likely but are a whole lot more...well, romantic.