Morning Walk Can Begin with Conversations and Coffee
First of a two part series exploring one of the most attractive walking routes the city has to offer.
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START: Here's Ian signaling we're "a go" to get started on our trip.
Photos (10)
Photos
Did you know that one of the most beautiful walking routes in the East Bay is right in the heart of downtown Pleasanton? This little gem is a great, relaxing yet active way to spend a Saturday morning.
You also can burn about 200 calories (depending on your size and speed), increase the bone density in the lower body and spine and reduce your risk of many diseases if you hit the route a few times a week.
Similar scenic and moderately challenging paths in neighboring communities include the Iron Horse Trail (running through Dublin) and popular Robertson Park in Livermore.
In Pleasanton, the walking route starts at the intersection of Abbie and Second Street, following Second north to its dead end into Kottinger Road. Then you head up Kottinger (east) to Bernal Road, where the long, narrow greenbelt that runs parallel with the street known as Kottinger Park ends.
Heading south on Bernal, you pick up East Angela at the top of a mild incline, and follow it down, right into the mouth of the Saturday morning Farmer's Market at Angela and First. See map below.
On one particular Saturday, I headed out on this trek with my 9-year-old son, Ian.
We started at Tully's Square, on the other side of Main Street and East Angela. There, we found not only comfort in our warm beverages, but also good conversations with local artist Gary Winter.
Gary, who often can be seen at this local hangout, has art pieces all over downtown. Inside Tully's, on the west interior wall, Gary installed an intricately detailed wooden piece depicting a tree made of nails. This is one of Ian's favorites—he loves to find hidden objects and animals embedded in the piece.
When I told Gary that Ian is a budding artist, he asked Ian if he knew what the most powerful tool is.
When Ian didn't have a response, Winters said "a pencil."
Mulling over those words of wisdom, Ian and I went off on our Saturday morning walk.
Starting the "official route" at the scenic corner of Abbie and Second Streets, we walked the length of Second until its dead end at Kottinger. See the pictures and captions to experience some of the highlights of this portion of the walk.
Next week, I'll talk about the second part of this route, which takes us up Kottinger Road via Kottinger Park, up to the peak of Bernal and to the end of the route.
Stay tuned.
