Here’s a roundup of Camino related and hiking events in the SF Bay Area for the month of October.  For those who live elsewhere, there are Camino hotspots all over the USA and the APOC website has a listing of local chapters where you can find Camino events. There are also many active Facebook groups to learn about events in your region.

FREE Hiking Tour in the Oakland Hills
Monday, October 10, 2016 (Columbus Day)

This beautiful and strenuous hike will go through Oakland’s Dimond Canyon Park and Joaquin Miller Park, up to the Bay Area Ridge Trail at Chabot Space & Science Center, then back down to Dimond (approx. 10 miles total).
When: Monday, October 10 at 8:30am (the group will leave promptly at 8:40am)
Where: Meet at La Farine Bakery, 3411 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
Details: Rigorous, 10-mile hike in Oakland’s largest wildland trail system, with some steep uphills and downhills. Bring water and sturdy shoes.
register on Eventbrite (required).

This will be an excellent Camino training hike for those lucky enough to be retired or to have Monday off. These guided hikes fill up fast so reserve your spot today!

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Spanish Civil War Film Screenings in Berkeley
Thursday, October 13, 7 pm BAMPFA

The Good Fight (1984)
directed by Noel Buckner, Mary Dore, & Sam Sills
Guernica (1950) (short film)
directed by Alain Resnais & Alain Hessens

The Good Fight tells the inspiring story of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, a ragtag group of American citizens who joined the fight against Franco during the Spanish Civil War. The documentary punctuates impassioned testimonies of veterans with harrowing archival footage. With the influential short Guernica, which considers one of the Spanish Civil War’s worst atrocities through Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece. (Full program approximately 120 minutes.)

Barbro Osher Theater
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive BAMPFA 
2155 Center Street, Berkeley
Getting There

Tickets available at:
bampfa.org/event/good-fight-abraham-lincoln-brigade-spanish-civil-war

 See more 80th Anniversary of the Spanish Civil War events at:
www.spanishcivilwar80.berkeley.edu/film-screening

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Calling all foodie pilgrims!

Tastes of the Camino author Yosmar Martinez will be speaking in Lafayette on October 14 and Berkeley October 16. Please see below for all the details.
Yosmar has just published her first cookbook featuring foods about the Camino and she will be in the San Francisco Bay Area teaching a cooking class featuring recipes from her book as well as having a conversation about the foods of Spain.

A Taste of Spain: Tasting the Camino
October 14, 2016, 6 PM

Hands-on cooking class at Back to the Table
271 Lafayette Circle
Lafayette, CA 94549
The best cookbooks aren’t just about cooking – they also bring together culinary passion and exploration. That description perfectly sums up Yosmar Martinez’s exquisite Tastes of the Camino. Focusing on foods along an ancient pilgrimage route in northern Spain, the book reveals the luscious, amazing dishes of a food-rich region. Join Yosmar’s hands-on class and savor some of her favorites. The book will be available for purchase after the class.

Menu:
Pan con Tomate y Jamón Serrano (Toasted Bread with Tomato and Serrano Ham)
Ensalada de Garbanzos y Tomates (Chickpea and Tomato Salad)
Paella Mixta (Chicken and Shellfish Paella)
Tarta de Santiago (St. James Almond Cake)
For more information and to register, please click here:
http://backtothetablecookingschool.com/class/tastes-of-the-camino
or contact Back to the Table Cooking School at (925) 284-1120.

Tastes of the Camino at The Spanish Table in Berkeley
October 16, 2016, 12-2 PM

The Spanish Table
1814 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702

Conversation about foods of Spain, Tarta de Santiago tasting, and book signing
Come listen to Yosmar Martinez talk about her cookbook, Tastes of the Camino, and the foods of Spain. Indulge in her famous Tarta de Santiago and have her sign your book. There is no cost to attend this event. The book will be available for purchase at the store.

Yosmar’s book is also available on Amazon:
http://amzn.to/2drFadr

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Diablo Foothills Hike
Saturday, October 29, 8:30 AM

CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Looking to do some Camino training? Curious what a 20 “k” (kilometer) day is like? How about testing your pole skills? Then this hike might be for you.

Starting in Shell Ridge Open Space, we’ll take the Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail and skirt through Diablo Foothills Regional Park before entering Mt. Diablo State Park. Sticking to the rolling foothills, we’ll tackle seven “up and downs” with elevation gains of up to 500 feet, covering about 11 miles. After lunch, we’ll loop back with a visit to Old Borges Ranch. With native oaks and “golden” fields the entire way, we’ll pass some interesting rock formations – maybe under the watchful eyes of hawks and foxes.

Meet us by 8:30 AM for sign-in and briefing at the Shell Ridge Open Space trailhead at the end of Marshall Drive in Walnut Creek. Indian Valley Elementary School at 551 Marshall Drive is located adjacent. We expect to arrive back at the trailhead around 4:00 PM. Cancelled by rain.

Getting There:
By Car: From northbound 680 (after the 680/24 interchange), take the Ygnacio Valley Rd. exit in Walnut Creek. Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. and proceed east. Turn right onto Homestead Ave. Turn left onto Marshall Dr. From southbound 680, take the N. Main St. exit in Walnut Creek. Turn right onto N. Main St. and proceed south. Turn left onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. and continue with the same directions above. There is free, street parking at the trailhead and surrounding neighborhood.
By Public Transportation: Unfortunately, the bus line that serves the area does not begin early enough on weekends.
Carpooling from BART: If you want a ride or can give one, meet outside the Walnut Creek BART station southwest entrance (at the passenger drop off/pick up curb opposite the bus stops) by 8:00 AM.

What to Bring: A bag lunch, snacks, plenty of water, hiking poles are recommended and sun protection as there is little shade along the path. There are no restrooms and water at the trailhead. The first facilities will be at the lunch stop ~3 hours after departure and then at the afternoon break ~2 hours thereafter. Please plan accordingly.

Level of Difficulty: 3A (10 to less than 15 miles, less than 1,000 ft elevation gain). This is a moderately rigorous hike.

Click here for more details and RSVP
Note: you must be a member of our NorCal Facebook group to see this event. If you live in the SF Bay Area, request to join group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Peregrinos.Northern.California/

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Pole Hiking Workshop

The East Bay Regional Parks District offers poles technique workshops and hikes.

 

Poles: Basic Hiking Skills & Techniques – 14694
Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location:  Kennedy Grove: Fern Cottage

KENNEDY GROVE – Morning session helps hikers learn poles, trail and body skills. Beginner to experienced hikers will learn techniques without the additional time or challenge of a practice hike. Uphill: Improve power, endurance, spine function. Downhill: Learn techniques for feeling safer and preserving joints – Save your knees!

$39.00 (Resident)  $43.00 (Non-resident)
Registration is required.
Poles For Mobility & Basic Walking – 14697
Saturday, October 15 from 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Location:  Kennedy Grove: Fern Cottage

KENNEDY GROVE – Easy-to-learn pole techniques and gentle exercises empower people with mobility challenges to maintain walking form, navigate everyday obstacles, reduce risk of falling, restore spine function, improve stamina and strengthen muscles that support weight-bearing joints. Optional lovely practice pole walk (1/3 mile). Special equipment provided.

POLE WALKING & POLE HIKING: Learning how to use poles helps walkers & hikers improve endurance, posture, balance, confidence, strength and enhances enjoyment of the outdoors. All levels focus on learning anatomically-optimal techniques to achieve greater skill while learning how to avoid joint stress or strain. Carefully select the class that best suits your physical ability. A variety of top quality poles are provided at all seminars. Hiking locations are based on the season/weather. Mobility class locations offer indoor training and lovely/easy pole walk for practice.

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Save the dates!

Monthly Lake Merritt Walk
Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10:30 AM

A walk around Lake Merritt in Oakland is held every first Saturday of the month, at 10:30 AM starting at the Pergola pictured below. Afterwards, there is an optional brunch in the area. Location TBD.

The next Lake Merritt walk will be on Saturday, November 5th. If you are in the Bay Area, join the Northern California Facebook Group to get details on this and other events.

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If you know of any Camino related events for the SF Bay Area that should be included in the monthly roundup, please use the comment form below, or email me.

If you are lucky enough to live near a REI store, there are many workshops and occasional discussions with Camino book authors and guides. Check http://www.rei.com/ for events in your area.

Buen Camino!