A few years ago, the west end of University Avenue was repaved. That road was nightmarishly bumpy. This part of the marina was built over a mile of the pier. The road settling over the decaying pier below is what caused the bumpiness. They also installed this cool metal cutout sign which looks particularly nice near sunset.
My first stop was a brief one at the Cal Sailing Club. There was a music jam going on that day. Plus artwork on the side fence. Sailors are a creative bunch! Across the road is the Adventure Playground. It was closed so I didn’t get any photos of kids industriously nailing stuff together.
I’m pleased and quite amazed that a place like this is allowed to exist! And admission is free! The staff built skeleton structures and kids add to and subtract from them at will. They can use saws and paint as well. When kids are allowed to mess around freely with “dangerous” toys and take risks, it turns out they usually have good judgment.
I stopped at the Shorebird Nature Center next. It’s the first municipal straw bale building in the United States, according to the City of Berkeley’s website (the City owns the entire peninsula including the Sailing Club and Adventureland). It has a nice collection, including these huge whale fin bones, vintage wooden box bird displays and a creepy tuna head. Signage is a bit skimpy though.
The south end of the land was occupied by the restaurant Hs Lordships and parking lot, which closed in 2018 when its 50 year lease with the city ended. The marina is in bad shape financially, so future plans are uncertain.
The Berkeley pier was built in 1926 to accommodate car ferries to San Francisco. It was 3.5 miles long; had to be in order to reach deep enough water for the ferries. It only provided ferry service for 10 years, until the opening of the Bay Bridge lessened demand, and then was used for recreation. By 2015, it was dangerously dilapidated and was closed. In recent years there’s been talk about repairing or replacing it and maybe introducing new ferry service. Just talk, so far.
This giant sundial was a gift from Berkeley’s sister city in Japan, Sakai. It was off by almost half an hour. I guess that happens with sundials? I’d never seen this large green expanse that is Horseshoe Park. So pretty with sun coming through the trees.
The Berkeley Police Department Traffic Bureau building has a kind of 60’s beach house vibe. The nearby bait shop has what look like catfish on the doors, but I don’t think you can fish for them here. Inside is a wide assortment of bait, of course. I capped off my expedition with a late lunch at the Seabreeze where I had very tasty (but I guess not local) catfish and chips.