Friday, January 25, 2013

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.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ramble 11: A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

Crab Cove is a favorite Marge and Sergei ramble. There's a public walkway from the Cove to Central Ave. that winds along the inside bay - formerly known as Sunny Cove - that we've walked dozens of times to watch terns, pelicans, all sorts of ducks and shorebirds, egrets, night herons, gray cranes, even seals.

On our most recent walk - a warm, sunny day that made us feel like spring is on the way - Marge took a closer look at the fence that encloses the play yard behind Paden School. What she'd always assumed was a fence right against the edge of the inlet actually seemed to have a walkway.
And it does.
The walkway entrance is on Central Ave. Access it by heading left of the school's main entrance and between the apartment block and the school there's an open gate leading to a concrete walkway.
This presents a different view of Sunny Cove and, despite Marge carrying home unwelcome prizes from this particular foray, we're both looking forward to excellent photographs of sunsets from this spot.
What unwelcome prizes?
The walkway ends at a secluded spot behind the school and in front of condo/townhomes. Debris washes up here and Marge found a pair of coconuts!
She pulled them out of the drying mud and reeds - they were balding but intact - and she shook one then the other: the slushing sound implies each contains coconut milk! What a find.
Where did they come from? Far as we know, Alameda, with all its palm trees, does not produce this sort of coconut. Did the tide carry them from some Pacific island, through the Golden Gate, and wash them up on this tiny beach? Did a local grocer toss them into the garbage? Or something else?

While Sergei generally finds Marge's passion for collecting discarded items "an artistic expression" (she's currently she's collecting blue, green, and brown plastic bottles) this time, he cautioned her.
"Marge, why do you need to drag home shit-covered coconuts and plastic bottles? Think: coliform, e-coli and god-knows-what-else...."
"Sergei, whenever I remember, I dumpster dive for colored plastic bottles and lately, with everyone getting in on recycling, it's been slim pickin's for collectors like me. Sorry to disgust you, but these are coming home. Just look at the worn quality of the plastic after floating in seawater and sewage: it is unique."
Luckily Sergei was carrying a couple of large, new garbage can liners. (Yes, the man is patient and prescient!)

Marge bleached and scrubbed the bottles and, voila, they are unique.
As for the coconuts, well, Sergei may be right; they are stinky. Right now they still repose in the clean garbage-can liner that carried them home.
Marge circles them each day waiting for inspiration to strike.

Meanwhile, important facts about the song, "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts":

  • a novelty song composed in 1944 (as "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Cocoanuts") by English songwriter Fred Heatherton
  • in 1949, the song was a top-ten hit in the U.S. for Freddy Martin And His Orchestra with vocalist Merv Griffin (it sold over three million copies)
  • in 1950, it was a number-25 hit for Danny Kaye
  • the song celebrates the coconut shy (coconut toss) at funfairs.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Ramble 10: Inspiration!

Today, a variation in the Marge and Sergei's Ramble pattern.
Instead of photos and Ramble news of Alameda, this post celebrates kids making something out of nothing:
Watch the 3:28 min You Tube video:  Landfill Harmonic

(and learn more at the project at www.facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie)

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Ramble 9: A Shangri-La New Year

Marge and Sergei ended the year 2012 rambling in and around what they call Shangri-La - on the spectacular west and south side of the island near Harbor Bay bridge.
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, enjoy these pictures - courtesy of Sergei.

 
Looking north to San Francisco with Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary in the foreground. [Our embedded link.]


Looking north from the footpath at Shangri-La.
 

One cyclist was overheard to say, "The last sunset of the year...and what a way to go!"

 
















 A trio of curlew

To Marge, the not unpleasant sound of vehicles crossing the Harbor Bay bridge defines this section of the island. In this 39 second video clip that sound mingles with the sounds of shorebirds.
Enjoy.
And best wishes for 2013....