Events

$1 to park, $1 to get in, $1 beers, $1 hot dogs

And there are horses for the kiddies to look at.

http://www.goldengatefields.com/

$1 to park, $1 to get in, $1 beers, $1 hot dogs

And there are horses for the kiddies to look at.

http://www.goldengatefields.com/

Hey All,

I highly recommend the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. For every wine booth there's also a beer vendor. Plenty of good food. The Kids Zone is fantastic-- bounce houses, giant slides, face painting, magic shows. And it's all very convenient to BART.

Grateful Dads,

Please join us on our next hike this Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 12:00pm, in Castro Valley.  You’ll notice that this hike is on Sunday, yet our hikes are usually on Saturdays.  That is due to our family’s soccer schedule on Saturdays during the next three months.  Starting with the December hike, we will go back to Saturday hikes at 9:00am.  I have attached a revised 2008 schedule with the next three hikes highlighted in red so that the change to Sunday for the next three hikes will be more obvious.  So, for the next three hikes, the schedule will be as follows:

  September 21-12pm:  Don Castro Reservoir (Castro Valley) (HIKE # 53)

  October 19-12pm:  Del Valle Regional Park (Livermore) (HIKE # 54)

  November 16-12pm:  Garin Regional Park  (Hayward) (HIKE # 55)

I have copied the text of this Sunday’s hike below in the email, and have attached a PDF document with maps to this email. Please remember to check out the Grateful Dads Web site at www.gratefuldads.com in order to get tips on hiking with your children, and to stay current with our various chapters’ schedules.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Best Regards,

Allen

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Grateful Dads – East Bay Chapter

Hike #53

Don Castro Regional Recreation Area – Castro Valley

Reservoir To Five Canyons Open Space

Sunday, September 21, 2008, 12:00pm

The clear blue waters of the Don Castro swim lagoon are a favorite with central Alameda County residents.  The lagoon and adjacent lake were created in 1964 when the Alameda Flood Control and Water Conservation District dammed San Lorenzo Creek. Today the lagoon is supplied with water from EBMUD, and a large shallow area is roped off especially for children.  The adjacent lake is closed to boating and swimming, but hikers along the shore will discover a surprising wilderness in miniature, where turtles and frogs splash in the water, ducks rest in the reeds and raccoons and deer come down to drink at sunset.  The trail leads from the meeting area (see directions on next page) along the north shore of the reservoir, then up to the Five Canyons Open Space.  The first third of the trail is mostly uphill, but the payoff is the view from the top of the ridgeline above the Five Canyons subdivision.  The last half of the trail is mostly downhill back to the reservoir.  Our hike will last longer than usual at about 2 ½ - 3 hours, and will be followed by a snack back at the reservoir (next to the meeting area).  When I hike this alone, it only takes about 1 ½  hours, but add the kid factor and it will easily be 2 ½ to 3 hours.

SCHEDULE:

12:00pm SHARP – meet up and head out.  If you’re late…catch up to us!

2:30pm-3:00pm – return to parking/picnic area for snack

DIRECTIONS

From I-580 eastbound, take the Center Street/Crow Canyon exit.  Turn right at the stoplight onto Center Street.  Go past Grove Way, and take a left at Kelly Street.  Take another left at the stoplight where Woodroe Avenue goes to the left and Maud Avenue goes to the right.  The entrance to Don Castro is at the end of Woodroe Avenue.  Park in the lot near the swim lagoon.  Look for my green and tan Subaru Outback. 

1:  Meet at parking lot at 12:00pm SHARP.  If you’re late, then catch up.

2:  Take the trail along the stream, cross the bridge, go left at fire road, up hill towards electrical tower.

3:  Follow road (Five Canyons Parkway) to the right, cross, and pick up trail to the left of the waterfall.  Continue on trail up the hill and to the right, around the houses.  Take access road up to water tank at the top of the hill.  Go up hill around water tank, through the gate, and to the bench.  We’ll take a short snack break at this location.

4:  Follow the trail along the ridge line and then to the right. 

5:  Trail heads downhill and past the houses.

6:  From the houses, take the trail down the hill towards the pond. Cross the tiny stream and follow the trail through the woods and under the Five Canyons Parkway overpass.  At this point, cross the stream once more, and take the trail uphill to the left on the other side.

7:  The trail emerges at the street, passes between a couple of houses, and leads back down into another canyon on the other side.  The trail winds around this small canyon, and emerges once again at the street.  This time, follow the trail through the small park, then to the end of the road where it becomes a fire access road.  This road leads back down to Five Canyons Parkway.  Turn left and go back down the trail by the electrical tower where we came up at the beginning.  Follow the trail back to the reservoir, and we’ll have a snack by the water.

ANY QUESTIONS:

Allen Mueller (510)432-8322 (cell)