We have family (Willow’s Auntie and Grandpa – my sister and dad) in the San Francisco Bay Area and so regularly find ourselves spending time in the area while heading from one adventure to the next. This is also when Willow gets to hang out with some of her doggie friends and I usually take a truck load full of dogs to one or another of our special doggie romp spots. We have several of those places in the East Bay (Pt. Isabel, Oyster Point and the Albany Bulb among others) and this post is about The Bulb.
Situated on the South side of the Albany Mudflats just past Berkeley and sticking out into the bay the Albany Bulb has everything a dog could ask for except potable water. There are trails all over the area and the vast majority are easy hikes, no special footwear or equipment necessary.
Right at the end of the parking lot, at the beginning of the main trail into the Bulb area there is a port-a-potty just in case you need a quick public restroom for when you are on the go.
When the weather is nice (and for a dog, when isn’t it?) the Buchanan Dog Beach is the first thing you come to after walking away from the parking area. It’s long and narrow and usually has small waves in the 2-3 foot range at best.
Sadly, it is also regularly strewn with garbage as the way the bay’s currents and wind works the beach serves as the end of the line for lots of flotsam and jetsam.
This is one of those places where in addition to our standard extra poop bags we always bring a grocery store sack with us to pick up that amount of trash. We usually seem to find an existing bag lying around (one time we found a Home Depot orange bucket) and so use that as the receptacle for our pick ups. As a bonus, when people see us picking up trash they usually thank us and then some of them proceed to start their own pick up as well. When they inevitably do not have a bag for the purpose we smile and hand them the one we brought with us. Recycling at its best – using an old plastic bag to pick up more garbage.
After walking away from the beach if you stay to the Southern (left) side of the bulb you can walk all the way around the outer edge of the “bulb” itself. Near the southernmost curve of the bulb you can find and walk on the yellow “brick” road.
FYI – If geocaching is something you like to engage in the Bulb has numerous caches hidden throughout its trails and structures. Willow and I have logged several during our dozens of trips here.
The entire Bulb is also a kind of outdoor, found object “art” gallery with sculptures, paintings and the remains of Mad Mark’s Castle. Some of the pieces are more artistic than others but all showcase the vision and (possible) talent of someone who cared enough to fashion a bunch of pieces of found detritus into a cohesive whole.
If you walk out all the way to the Western end of the Bulb you’ll find a kinetic sculpture that turns lazily in a slight breeze.
Up on the bluff overlooking the Yellow “Brick” Road are found the remains of Mad Mark’s Castle.
Made out of found materials like grocery carts, chicken wire, concrete and anything else Mad Mark could get his hands on back in the day it has held up surprisingly well considering it gets the full brunt of weather off the San Francisco Bay.
Inside is a built-in fireplace and a spiral staircase leading up to the roof/observation deck.
Back in the day when Mad Mark was able to actually live here he obviously had one heck of a view of the San Francisco Bay. Right behind the castle is this small maze.
Elsewhere on the Bulb can be found a free, community lending library. The collection leans more towards crappy romantic fiction and self-help books but we have left a book or two on occasion to broaden the horizons of those taking advantage of it.
While humans might find themselves drawn to the “artwork” it is a rare occasion when the dogs don’t stick to doggie pursuits.
FAIR WARNING: Skip the next picture if you do not want to see a rotting corpse.
Seriously.
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LAST CHANCE TO AVERT YOUR SQUEAMISH EYES
First and foremost though, as a desert dog Willow gravitates towards water given the slightest chance.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, another one of our favorite off leash dog parks is a mere 2 miles away. You can walk there on the San Francisco Bay Trail if you want and, in a car, it is two exits and 5 minutes away. When driving towards that area you can choose either destination and your dog(s) and you will have a great time. If you decide to visit the area or are just passing through, whether you have a dog, a pack, or none at all, you cannot go wrong visiting the Albany Bulb.