Walking Merced

[Walk 7] Fahrens Park Disc Golf Course

View Walk 7 in a larger map

As the rest of the Country is trying to dig out of snowbanks, the Central Valley in California is experiencing early Spring.  With so much sunshine, and temperatures in the 60's, who could stay indoors?  So today we headed for Fahren's Park, where there is a nine-hole  Disc Golf Course. 

The Park, itself, is lovely.   Set in a grove of eucalyptus trees, bordered by Rascal Creek, the Park is pastoral and inviting.  We saw a number of people playing disc golf, but stopped to talk to Eric and Michael, who showed us their discs (they resemble Frisbees), and gave us a brief overview of the game.  Eric and Michael belong to the Merced County Disc Golf Club and the Club is hoping to develop an eighteen-hole course in the future.

This park and the game are too good to miss.  Even if you don't want to play, make it a point to visit and observe the action.

Future Walks are Planned

We are looking forward to some Fall walks, where we can bundle up, kick some leaves and get a hot drink.  We want to take an evening stroll Downtown, or watch the trees undress for Winter in some of our parks and picturesque neighborhoods.  If we need to get warm we'll step into the Courthouse Museum or some of the local eateries, and we'll no doubt do some Christmas shopping along the way.

A few people have agreed to host some walks, giving an historical perspective, and you are welcome to come along.  Grab your hat and get your coat, and let's start walking Merced!

Tips for Walkers

Time your walks for different hours of the day.  If it's mid summer, best to get out there in the early morning, perhaps even before people start leaving for work.  There are many benefits to this approach, besides the temperature.  There is less noise, less traffic and hectic activity, and if, for instance, you are strolling through a park, you might even hear a bird sing! 

Evening is good, too, for the same reasons, if you aren't looking for social action, per se.  There is a different "feel" to things after the bustle of a workday has died down,the sun prepares to set and the day heaves a big sigh of relief.

[Walk 6] Courthouse Park and Vicinity

View Walk 6 in a larger map

We set out early, beginning with the Library at 22nd and O Streets, and walked down O Street to 20th, cutting across Courthouse Park on a diagonal walkway.  There is a circular flower bed where, according to Lew La Salle, a bandstand once stood.  I was also reminded of an old photograph of my grandmother that was taken in about 1914.  She was sitting in this park, where she supposedly was introduced to my grandfather.  I wish I knew where the tree was, or where it used to be.

[Side-walk] The Promenade

Today was a short outing - a Side Walk.  We chose the Promenade on Yosemite Avenue at Paulson because, on Wednesday mornings, there is a certified farmers' market in the parking lot by K Bella.  It was lined with vendors of fruits, veggies and prepared nuts and other farm products.  The beauty of the Market is that things are fresh from the farm.

Leaving the Market, we walked past restaurants and retailers to Starbucks, where we ran into lots of people who had the same idea.  Manager Jeff Lindenberger greeted us and took our orders.  From there we wandered past the bus stop that serves, among others, lots of UC students who ride the Cat Tracks buses.

You're bound to find something of interest at the Promenade, and that includes bumping into friends.

[Note] Tips for Walkers

Just park your car and take the first step.  You'll be surprised at how quickly an adventure develops.  Be open to meeting new people and exploring places you never noticed, or locations you had forgotten.  Some are new, some are old.  All have stories that need to be shared, and we'd love to hear them.

[Walk 5] Grogan Avenue

View Walk 5 in a larger map

Grogan Avenue is an industrial park that also hosts the Merced Airport.  Over the years we have driven it many times, but we had never actually walked its length. 

We started our trek by walking past the Merced City Yard, which sits at the SW corner of V Street and Grogan.  Next door is Werner Ladders, which covers quite a bit of area, so between those two, there is plenty of activity.  However, across the street from them are extensive empty fields.  Continuing west, there are buildings on each side of the road that house businesses, but there are also empty tenant spaces.

[Walk 4] The UC Merced Campus

It may be summer, but UC Merced is up and running.  There is plenty of activity and we experienced, first-hand, the friendliness of the people on Campus.  Students smiled and greeted us and one staff member, who could tell at a glance that we were visitors, said, "Welcome to the Campus!"  We asked questions of many people and invariably received helpful - and friendly - responses.

Rounding a corner, we almost bumped into Chancellor "Steve" Kang, who graciously took the time to have a word with us, and even posed for a snapshot. 

[Walk 3] Main and N Streets

View Walk 3 in a larger map

We began today's trek by passing through Arbor Walk from the McNamara Plaza parking lot, emerging onto the North side of Main Street.  At one time the Walk was the site of Fish's Ice Cream Parlor in the early 1900's.  Most of the offices at Arbor Walk are empty, which is a shame since it could be such a nice setting.  Walking West on Main Street, we passed Lui's Barber Shop, which was full of people waiting for haircuts.  It is probably one of the oldest barber shops in Merced. 

[Walk 2] Bear Creek between G and M Streets

View Walk 2 in a larger map

This morning we began our walk at the Bear Creek Galleria.  Fortified with an Americano coffee and yummy pastries made by Melissa Rasmussen at Joe on the Go, we stopped by the office where the new Central Valley Community Bank will be.  There we chatted with Susan Armstrong and Gary Quisenberry.  We also poked our heads in at the Recruiting office.  No, not to sign up, just to see how busy they are.  They are definitely busy.

We crossed the noisy intersection at G Street and Bear Creek, which gives little hint of what lies beneath the bridge.  The bike path runs along the Creek under G Street and opens to Bear Creek Park to the west, extending almost to M Street.  It's a lovely setting, particularly when water is running in the Creek, as it was this morning.  There were  bicyclists, strolling families, runners, dog walkers and City maintenance workers.  Everyone was willing to wave and say, "Hi."