Shimada to Isabel Trail Description

Early one Saturday morning, I started south from Shimada Friendship Park heading for Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park. As I walked along the blacktop path I encountered a couple walking the other way. Something told me to turn and take a picture. I caught them in the early morning sunshine with San Francisco behind them. It was going to be a great day. A little further along the trail I came to a gate blocking the path. I could see that the trail on the other side was in the process of being renovated but just then a jogger came by, swung around the gate and continued along the other side. I figured that if he could do it so could I. Once on the other side I looked back to record the scene. The wooden structure was the remains of a railroad bridge which is in the process of being renovated and resurfaced. Continuing, I then found myself on a partially constructed foot path which had been covered with crushed volcanic rock about one to two inches in diameter. It was not as comfortable as I had expected and I wondered how the runners were able to keep from twisting their ankles but they seemed to do just fine.

Further along the trail I was struck by the beauty of the bayside. Lots of life was in evidence, both plant and animal. The sight of a snowy egret is always exciting. I watched it until it flew away. At one point a redwing blackbird was posing in a bush just next to the trail. I tried to get as close as I could, but was only able to get the picture as it flew away. I have always told myself that I should be more patient and wait for them to come to me, but life is too short. There were signs of human activity along the trail not the least of which was a long abandoned pier. It was entirely out of the tidal region so I couldn't understand what its purpose was. It made a good picture, though, with the housing development surrounding Shimada Park in the background.

About half way to Point Isabel I noticed a small path leaving the main trail. I decided to see where it went and to save my feet from the crushed rock. Along the way I found the remains left by some bayside artist who had collected whatever he or she could find in order to erect a sculpture. It seemed to be a great lookout for birds. The bird on the pole was much more interested in watching the horizon for danger than in paying any attention to me. It was able to turn its head in nearly 180 degrees in both directions. I had not realized that they could do that. Immediately after the sculpture I found a single example of some sort of wild pea. It seemed entirely out of place but quite welcome; adding its color to the surroundings.

I took the next picture because I saw a group of wild ducks flying in formation with a single female in front followed by three males. It seems that in the spring, ducks don't think about baseball and three to one must be a fair division of labor. They finally landed in the water and I took their picture but they don't show up very well. I liked the picture anyway.

I looked across the bay and saw the Golden Gate Bridge. The narrow piece of land in the forground is the boundary of a small baylet at the mouth of Meeker Creek. It looks to be man made because it is too straight. Perhaps someone was going to build a harbor and ran out of money. Speculation is often more fun than the truth. Once back on the trail I noticed some poison oak growing along the trail. I wonder if the renovation crew will remove it. In case they don't and in case you don't know what it looks like; this is it. Stay away from it!

Well, we are almost to Isabel. The trail under construction terminates with a blacktop trail that connects to the one at Isabel. Once on the blacktop I turned to take pictures of the entrance to the two trails: the large one that is being constructed and the small one that has the sculpture on it. The small one is about 50 feet toward the bay from the big one.

This is as close to Point Isabel as I could get for obvious reasons. Someone left this large earth moving machine across the trail. I was unable to go any further without truly risking my life and limb. The top of the bridge looked much the same as the one at the other end of the trail. It isn't clear whether they will be replaced or resurfaced. Someday we will know. I took the next picture with my back to the machine. Finally, I turned west toward the Golden Gate and took my last picture. Time to go home.