The Last Nature Walk

I was not sure if I would be healed enough to participate, but my feet were ready for the last Curves group nature walk/hike on September 17.

We started out at 8:30, just as the fog was clearing up, at the Shoreline Preserve Scenic Vista Trail on Mare Island.  The drive there was past rows of decaying brick warehouses, and at the very end, a group of military men and women out for a morning jog.

Front row: Faith Munn, Brita Winslow, Martha Maher and Amy Ratuita
Back row: Jill Menicucci, Jean Menicucci, Cindy Dahlgren, Janet Thomas, Diane Terry, Karen Gonzales, Clarice Bradley, and Sylvia Amen

The trail wound up the hill, but it was mostly a pretty gentle ascent, and as we rose higher, the views became more breathtaking. 

The first interesting spot we passed was the old Naval Cemetery -- the first on the Pacific Coast -- founded in 1858. According to the informtion at the cemetery, the daughter of Francis Scott Keye, composer of the National Anthem, is buried here.  

Even from this small distance up, you can see all the way to the Carquinez (Al Zampa) bridge.

A little further on, we came upon the ruins of the groundskeeper's cottage, which still had many of the landscape elements , even though they were very overgrown.  Here are Clarice and Dolores at the groundskeeper's garden.

And another fantastic view across the Mare island Straits to the old Sperry Mills building in Vallejo

A little further up, we came upon a pond in a deep hole.  You can see how far the water is down by looking at the dock on the right.  This was used for fire suppression back when the base was active.

As we climbed higher, the views became even more spectacular.  Looking south , you could see all the way across to the oil refineries along San Pablo Bay.

The group's fabulous photographer, Sylvia (right) and her sister, Karen 

And finally we were at the highest point of Mare Island, where you could see for miles and miles and miles. 

Jill, Jean, Cindy, Faith, Brita, Martha and Amy

Beyond the highest point was the radio tower, and a monument sculpture dedicated when Mare Island was decommissioned by the Navy.  Called "The Spirit Ship" it is a dedication to the long history of ship building that went on here at Mare Island.  When first built in 1996, there were a number of "dog tags" hanging from the rings along the outside of the hull, but these have disappeared over time.  Beneath the Spirit Ship is a thick rusted metal plate into which the outline shapes of the many tools used in ship building were cut.

 

Just a little further up, we came to the end of the trail.  Beyond this point was a pretty nice golf course, but it was on private property.

Brita, Martha, Janet, Faith, Diane, Amy, Clarice, Jill, Jean and Karen 

The walk back down the hill seemed WAY shorter than the climb up!  Before we went into the Visitor's Center for a look around, and lots of hugs goodbye (with a promise to meet for the last time on Friday September 23 at Gaia), we all posed for one last picture, including Rocky the chihuahua. 

  Back row: Sylvia, Clarice, Cindy, Karen (with Rocky), Janet, Diane, Faith, Jill.  Front row: Brita, Jean, Martha and Amy. 

Great weather, great place, great exercise, great views, and best of all, great people!!!