Happy New Year! I’m squeezing in one last post of 2017 because there is a lot going on in January, starting with the New Year’s Day hike in the Oakland hills. See more Camino-related events and hikes in the SF Bay Area below.
Free Oakland Hiking Tour on New Year’s Day and MLK Day (Jan 15)
Start the new year with a hike from Oakland’s Dimond District up to Joaquin Miller Park. This beautiful 7.5 mile hike will go through Oakland’s Dimond Canyon and Joaquin Miller Park, and will finish with a spectacular view of San Francisco Bay.
Oakland Hills Hike July 4 2017 with peregrinas Sheila and Abigail
New Years Day: Monday, January 1 at 9:00am (leave promptly at 9:10am)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 15 at 9:00am (leave promptly at 9:10am) Register here.
Where: Meet at La Farine Bakery: 3411 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94602 – free parking in back
Details: Steady, 7.5-mile hike in Oakland’s largest wildland trail system, with some steep uphills and downhills, and narrow trails through the canyons. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and bus fare ($2.25).
“From right here in the heart of urban Oakland, we’re connected to a trail system that spans the entire East Bay. You could hike for days and days.”..—Stan Dodson, Tour Leader
I went on the hike in January and July and LOVED it! It makes for great Camino training. Here’s a highlight video I made. As you can see, it is a dog-friendly hike, as long as your dog is friendly and can handle hills.
Lake Merritt Walk + Optional Lunch & Wayfaring Film Screening
Saturday, January 6, 10:30 am
December 2017 Lake Merritt Walk
This is an informal gathering that takes place on the first Saturday of the month, rain or shine. The group meets at the pergola on the east side of Oakland’s Lake Merritt at 10:30 AM and starts walking promptly at 10:45 AM. It’s a level, 3.3 mile walk around the lake that takes about an hour. All are welcome. Afterwards, there is an optional gathering for lunch at Barlago Italian Kitchen, so bring cash to split the checks.
During lunch, there will be a screening the Camino documentary Wayfaring – A Jaunt Along The Camino de Santiago. This film follows Scott “Squatch” Herriott, an Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trail veteran, on the Camino Francés in the spring of 2013. He interviews pilgrims, albergue owners, hospitaleros (volunteers of the Camino), and a few locals who like to flirt with young peregrinas. Read Wayfaring Film Review
Free film screening courtesy of Scott Herriott of Squatch Films.
RSVP: Space at Barlago is limited. Join on Facebook event for lunch and film.
Non-Facebook users email me at laurie@caminoprovides.com to RSVP for lunch.
Directions to the walk: Take BART to the 19th Street Oakland station (Lake Merritt station will be closed this weekend) and navigate your way to the Pergola. If you drive, make sure to give yourself enough time to find parking, as there are many activities on Saturday mornings in the Lake Merritt area.
The Camino Provides 