I lastly scratched an itch this month by visiting the Lake Merritt Boat Home and renting a vessel for a spin on the water. I believe each Oaklander ought to do that no less than as soon as. For me as a geologist, one function was to have a look at the lake and its environment from a contemporary viewpoint.
I went twice. The primary time was on a canoe. I’ve had expertise with canoes, and I figured muscle reminiscence would assist with that even after fifty-plus years.
Throughout my high-school years in New York, I did Scout-related canoe expeditions within the Adirondacks and Quebec. These canoes have been absolutely loaded, with two paddlers, and so they’d go the place you pointed them and transfer quick if you pulled exhausting. Paddling solo in an empty canoe is extra awkward as a result of the boat rides excessive and the wind grabs it, particularly when you’re sitting within the rear and the bow is sticking up. Then the wind has actual leverage towards you. However my arms and core are in fine condition and I did all proper sitting amidships — the knees, properly, subsequent time I’d carry padding.
The second time I took one of many pedal boats: little two-seaters, not streamlined in any respect. Pedaling is straightforward on the legs as a result of the pedals flip a reasonably small paddlewheel. The torque is low, however you’ll be able to’t get shifting as quick as you would possibly wish to. Every kind of boat fits its personal set of circumstances. You can even lease kayaks, which I’ve by no means used — undecided my knees will let me — however I envy their manueverability and the way in which they appear to suit the paddler’s physique mechanics. I’m sorely tempted.
My outings have been enjoyable merely for capturing postcard-worthy views of lakeside options just like the Bellevue Membership and Bellevue-Staten buildings . . .
. . . or Bandstand Cove and the Mid-Century Monster.
I loved contemporary seems to be on the view northeast over the Grand Lake foothills, Piedmont ridge, the excessive hills and Spherical High past.
Options of the foothills might be seen extra clearly from the water, particularly on the Lakeshore facet. This bluff, between Hanover and Wayne Avenues, was once the wild facet of the lake within the previous days.
The primary Spanish expedition that got here by way of right here, in 1772, tried to advance northward alongside the East Bay shore however was unexpectedly barred by the Lake Merritt slough: “we have been compelled to journey a couple of league and a half by some ranges of hills, which, though they’re all treeless and grass-covered, aggravated us very a lot with their ascents and descents.” There was no path alongside the shore right here.
This view from 1876 (which I introduced right here in 2017) exhibits the realm with crumbling slopes alongside the water and an property on the plateau above.
A map printed that yr exhibits the identical element together with the proprietor of the land and the property, Charles Newton.
It’s nonetheless a particular place, however now not straightforward to see as a landform, besides from the water.
