Exploring the Bay Area

Shyla waited for us outside so we could take her car to Oakland's Lake Merritt, a unique fresh and salt-water lake, the largest such body of water located within an urban area in the U.S. and maybe the world. She had promised us the 3.4-mile walk around the circumference of the lake. This morning we spotted a great blue heron, a brown pelican, snowy egrets, cormorants, geese and ducks. Lake Merritt is the oldest wildlife refuge in North America with tame black-crowned night herons and scaups in abundance.

With bikers, joggers and walkers, some two and three abreast on this bright Sunday morning, we felt comfortable and safe. But graffiti on the retaining walls and the veranda columns and broken glass at the walkway intersections reminded us of recent Oakland riots. San Francisco has serious graffiti problems. The beautiful City by the Bay is littered with garbage and signs of unrest and disunity.

Commanding a sweeping view of the entire San Francisco Bay area, the 170-foot high Oakland Mormon Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints on Lincoln Avenue, allows visitors to walk through manicured gardens and gaze over the city and suburbs. "I came here by accident once," said Shyla. "After that I brought all my visitors to see this magnificent sight." She was right. On a clear day like today, we could see forever. We stood on the Sierra white granite esplanade and identified the sights of San Francisco.
Jack London Square is Oakland's waterfront home to dining. But we had already eaten lunch. "What is the connection to Jack London?" I asked Shyla, who lives one town over. "I assume it is because he lived here." A little reading clarified my guess. Owned by the Port of Oakland, the Square is Jack London's historic watering hole, home to Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon and Jack London's cabin, relocated from the Klondike. Tourist come-on or not, Jack London Square invited pleasure-seeking visitors to meander. We walked the waterfront, browsed in the shops, and admired the yachts harbored along the docks.