BERKELEY

BERKELEY
Our “Outing” on February 17, was to visit the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive.
We left Quail Creek at 10:20 this morning. It is a nice day, even though a little breezy. We are passing through the Paradise Valley Country Club. What a pretty golf course. It is certainly well maintained. It is very inviting to stop and play golf. Oh, that I was still in my golfing years. Those years go back to 1934, when I started caddying at Columbia Hills Country Club (not too far from Cleveland).
I can see a vapor trail from a jet probably 50,000 feet high. I can see the white trail, but not the plane. What a thrill to be flying in that cockpit. I wish that I was there. Gas at Arco is posted at $2.70. The spot price for crude oil today, is around $78/bbl. The traffic on I-80 is moderate, and flowing smoothly, in both the East and West directions. It is hard to believe that this highway was jammed with commuters only a few hours ago. It is a wonder that there aren’t more traffic accidents than there are! Marriott did a good job taking over the Holiday Inn in Fairfield, rehabbing it, and re-naming it the Courtyard. It is an attractive hotel, inviting motorists to stop by and stay with them. There are a lot of white-flowering trees in the area. I have asked “locals” about their type, and they aren’t any better a horticulturist, than I am. If this area was in the Southeast, I would guess them to be dogwood trees,. But here, I assume that they are some type of non-bearing fruit trees.
We are passing a driver of a rusty brown and black van who is “texting.” At least he has his hands on the steering wheel, and is driving slowly. Passing some sheep and black cattle, next to each other, taking advantage of the plush green grazing area. They make a nice contrast.
We are approaching the Vallejo area. From on top of the Hunter Hill, I can still see Mt. Tam about 30 miles away - even though it is hazy. The “Rest Stop” off to our right has been closed for a long time. They are rehabbing it. I can’t figure out why it is taking so long. Perhaps they are waiting for some “Stimulus” money to complete it. The “stop” is usually filled with parked trucks. I wonder what the drivers are doing since the closure? I am sure that they have worked it out by now.
Chevron, along the freeway, is posting gas at $3.00. To get that price, they have a “captive audience” I guess. As we pass over the Carquinez Straight, I can see the “Golden Bear” moored at the dock of the Maritime Academy - now part of the University of California system. I can see a complex of greenhouses, on the right below the freeway, in El Cerrito. They have been there for as long as I can remember - over 60 years! I would think that this commercial property is too valuable to be used for this purpose. But, who am I to judge? Our “school bus” passed this same way when I was going to the University of California in Berkeley, after the war, on the G.I. Bill. We lived in a low-rent housing complex in Richmond. Theses same buildings housed the workers at the Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond. They fabricated “Liberty” ships during WWII.
Golden Gate Fields raceway (horses), is off to our right. Beyond it I can see the Golden Gate Bridge and to it’s left, the San Francisco skyline, even with the hazy visibility. Traffic on the East Shore freeway is bogging down to a crawl now, as more cars San Francisco and Oakland bound, feed into our highway. The tide is “low”. There used to be a strong stench at low tide, but now the Bay holds much cleaner water. I am not sure how this was brought about.
Tony exit’s the freeway at University Avenue, and we head into Berkeley. I have many happy memories of when our family came into Berkeley, from Vallejo, to eat at Spengers or Brennans on Fourth street, or to attend summer -theatre plays at Berkeley’s auditorium,
I miss the sights and foods of Berkeley. I have a nostalgic feeling every time I am here. Besides going to Cal for nearly two years, I audited curses on “Successful Aging”, at Cal, for about 15 years. Of course, I attended many of Cal’s football and basketball games when I was a student. I miss seeing all the Volvos parked, and driving around Berkeley. I miss seeing the energy and enthusiasm of the young -eager students hustling back and forth to classes. I miss seeing many older people - some, probably retired from the University. I miss seeing all the bicycles - many in motion, and even more parked.
I miss seeing the dark brown -colored shingled- housing in Berkeley. Steve and Maggie Gibbens lived in the upstairs apartment of one of these, when their oldest daughter, Moire, was born. Later on, our family shared many happy occasions with the Gibbens family, when they lived on Spruce and on Los Angeles Streets. I never tire of being in Berkeley. Of course this high quality of living can be found in most College/University cities.
Now, we are riding along College Avenue, where there are many Sorority and Fraternity houses. College Avenue reminds me of how Telegraph Avenue looked before the “hippies” took it over, and ruined it, many years ago. There are many small-quaint private homes along College Avenue, plus large homes and apartment complexes. (I can’t help but wonder where everyone parks their car(s)?
Because of Berkeley’s growth, they had to go to one -way streets. The electric lift is on the right side of the bus. Consequently, Tony couldn’t use the Durant Avenue entrance to the museum, and had to swing back around to off-load us on Bancroft Way. We arrive at the Berkeley Museum at 11:25.
Only about half of the museum was open, as they were setting up a new exhibit. I spent most of my time browsing through the works of James Castle. I had never heard of him, and I didn’t appreciate his works while viewing them. But, after reading about him in the Museum’s BAM/PFA brochure, I have more respect for his art. James Castle was born in 1899 (a year before my Dad), and died in 1977. (My Dad died in 1973 - a month to the day - after President Kennedy was assassinated!). Castle was born in Idaho, and had no formal training. He was born deaf. Except for the five years he attended the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, he lived with his immediate family. He did not learn to read, write, speak, sign or lip- read. Yet, he was a gifted draftsman, and painter. I spent most of my time at the museum observing his paper constructions.
We had lunch at the Museum’s café. Then, we left at 2:10, and headed back to Fairfield. We passed Sather Gate as we turned from Telegraph onto Bancroft. Chevron gas was $2.86.Then, a left on Shattuck to Ashby. Right on to Ashby, heading west to the I-80 freeway. We passed the South Berkeley Senior Center. Gas at 76 is $2.94. It’s strange how the price varies.
Once again we are back on I-80 heading East towards Fairfield. It seems good not to see any graffiti on the sound-wall barriers, along the freeway, anymore. A container ship must be off-loading at the Port of Oakland, because we are passing trucks loaded with shipping containers. Now, on our right, we are passing a cemetery - a pet cemetery!
I always look down from the bridge, as we pass above Crockett, to see if a ship is off-loading raw sugar at the C& H Sugar Refinery. None in today. We are passing an older blond driving a red Mercedes convertible. Chalk one up for the Seniors! I notice a Syar concrete delivery truck. I am wondering if Tom is the driver?
It is hazy visibility as we approach Fairfield. I noticed that Campers’ World near the truck-weigh station has closed. (Yesterday, as Mary and I were returning from Davis, I noticed a Campers World. Mary said that they relocated it from Cordelia.) There were quite a few trucks waiting in the Weigh Station to be inspected. There are quite a few buildings along the freeway with “Available for Leasing” signs posted. A good reminder of the sour economic times.
Tony pulls into Quail Creek at 3:10. It was a very nice day.
RCL 3/14/10.