Old "Cool" bus
After breakfast at Bette’s Oceanview Diner, we took a short drive over the railroad tracks and around an industrial part of town. The UC Botanical Gardens do not open until 9, so we had some time to kill. This being Berkeley, we saw a couple of avant garde traveling homes. One was an old school bus, now painted many different colors, and renamed ‘Cool Bus’. Nearby there was a small RV covered in profound statements.
With ten minutes to spare, we drove past the gardens and continued uphill to the Lawrence Hall of Science. Although the sun was shining up there, the whole of San Francisco City on the other side of the bay was shrouded in fog. We could see Berkeley below us and the Sutro Tower poking out of the fog in the distance.
At 9, we returned to the botanical gardens and parked the car. Parking has to be paid for. I put fourteen quarters in the machine for three hours. The entrance fee to the UC Botanical Gardens is $7 for adults. Seniors are $5 but you have to be over 65. Tom and I are not quite there yet so we paid the full amount. We were given a color brochure with a map showing the layout of the gardens.
Just inside the gate there were plants for sale. One particularly caught my eye – a Californian native named Ceanothus Wood Blue. It looked pretty healthy and I wanted it for our garden. Problem being I did not want to buy it and then have to carry it around with me, so I decided to buy it on the way out.
The first section we entered was the New World Desert. Tom was soon engrossed taking photos. He was using a new 50 mm prime lens today and this was his first chance to use it. I hasten to add it was no where near as large as the ones we saw at the Sacramento NWR a couple of weeks ago.
I wandered off. The night before at my firm’s annul company dinner we were all given Flip videos and I was having fun using it. I can take short movies on my camera but this little gadget is so much simpler to use. When I saw the results at home they were OK but not good enough to post. I will have to practice a bit more first.
From the New World Desert region I crossed the roadway into the California Section. As I walked under a large Foothill Pine tree. I heard a
Secluded bench in the UC Botanical Gardens
noise. It sounded like a bird nibbling on a pine cone. I stopped and looked up. There was a squirrel darting around but the noise didn’t come from him and the nibbling sound continued. For ten minutes I searched but had to give up. Not far away I found a bench so sat down to write in my journal.
There was nobody else around at all and it was glorious sitting there in the sun. From where I sat I could see the tree and still hear the nibbling sound. Unfortunately my binoculars were left in the car but I kept checking the tree to see if I could see any movement. A small covey of quail ventured out of the undergrowth, pecked around for a bit and then disappeared into the shrubbery on the other side of the path.
Eventually I decided to return to the car to get the binoculars. On the way there I bought the plant by the entrance, just in case it was gone when we finally left. Very soon I was back on the bench and concentrated on checking out the pine tree. Still I could not detect what would be making the noise. Tom found me and we sat and chatted. He had visited a lot of other regions whilst I had spent my time in just two. He couldn’t work out what bird could be making the noise but deduced it could be two branches rubbing together. If that was the case, I’d spent a lot of time over nothing but it was a pleasant way to spend half an hour.
I decided to take a wander and left Tom in California while I walked back through the New World Desert section and climbed up hill passing through the Asia region. This time of the year I had not expected to see much color around but I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the Blue Dicks were showing pink flowers and there were blue flowers on the Island Ceanothus in the California area and in the New World Desert there were several Coast Prickly Pears which had lots of red fruit on them – called cactus figs. The Asia region had a lot of camellias and there were white flowers on the Camellia Crapnelliana and a few red flowers on the Sasanqua Camellia. On the Rhododendron Arboreum there were large red blooms.
Just one of the thousands of plants at the UC Botanical Gardens
Almost at the top of the hill is the Garden of Old Roses and even here there was some color – white blooms on the Tea Roses, rose hips on the Noisette Rose and a couple of yellow flowers on the Modern Shrub Rose. Of course this is not the best time of the year to see the roses in bloom. May/June they should be in full flower.
On my meandering way back down the hill I walked through the Australasia region and over the lawn to the Herb Garden. Even though there was not a riot of color around, I kept getting wafts of unidentified frangrances as I walked around. The herb garden is separated into several categories, including culinary, medical and fragrant. I was particularly looking for a sage whose leaves have a wonderful smell. I saw one in Redding at the Botanical Gardens but didn’t write the name down – silly me!
There were so many paths all over the gardens here. You feel you are miles from anywhere but they all eventually meet up with wider paths and there is no way you could get lost for long.
One last place to visit before meeting up with Tom again near the entrance and this was to the Tropical House. As soon as I walked inside my glasses steamed up so writing was a slight problem. There was even a little color around in there – leaves on the Flowering Lily, purple flowers on the Sweet Potato, a white flower on the Amazon Lily and flowers on the Costus Igenus and the Fiery Costus.
After a very pleasant two hours at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens it was time to make our way home.
February 18 2010 | Special Places | No Comments »
Bette's Oceanview Diner
It was a very foggy day and driving was difficult in places. It was a ‘Spare the Air’ day – no wood burning allowed in the Bay Area until midnight.
We are returning to Bette’s Oceanview Diner in Berkeley as it has been a couple of years since we were last here (here’s our take on the place from 2007). The lights outside were a beacon and very welcoming. Inside it was bright and cheerful with music playing softly in the background.
There were people waiting so we thought there would be a wait but we were in luck as there were two places at the counter. They were the best seats in the house as we had a ringside seat of the chefs in action and it was a pleasure to watch them. The two chefs coordinated well. Everything was very organized.
Coffee was soon served and our orders taken. Apart from one thing, nothing much has changed with the decorations since our last visit. The color scheme, the pictures and the small jukeboxes on the counter and tables were the same. The one thing missing was the huge slice of pie hanging from the ceiling. In its place were Christmas decorations. Tom asked the cashier about the pie and was told that it would be going back up the next day when the decorations were taken down.
To actually see our order being prepared was a novelty. Tom had crab cakes with poached eggs and country fries (this was on the specials list and we didn’t make a note of the price). Instead of an English Muffin he ordered a blueberry muffin. I could have nothing else but oatmeal of course ($4.95) because they use steel cut oats here. The oatmeal was ladled into the bowl (the same large shallow bowl with a green rim as before) then brown sugar and raisins were sprinkled on top. By the time it arrived in front of me, the sugar had melted and the raisins glistened.
The food was delicious and satisfying.
The one uni-sex restroom is straight off the diner. Over the door is a fish sculpture and a sign which says Toiltten. Inside the same pink tiles and chrome strip but no pictures. Where were the pictures taken on the moon and Mars?
Our conclusion – definitely a great place for breakfast but get there early.
Bette’s Oceanview Diner
1807 Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
February 09 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
We have had this date in our diary for some time now and were both looking forward to it. I have only been
once before and enjoyed it very much. The night before though there was some doubt as to whether we would actually be able to go. We had nine cubic yards of cedar bark delivered and spent all of the afternoon trying to move and spread it. It was back breaking work. By the end of the day we had moved only half and were exhausted. Would we be able to even get out of bed in the morning?
(Click the image for a larger version)
Amazingly we were both fine when we woke up. According to the weather forecast it was going to be a beautiful day, although the temperature in Berkeley would be a bit cooler than in south San Jose. There didn’t seem to be too much wind about but closer to the Golden Gate it would be different.
Our route is easy, north on 101 and then 880 all the way to the Bay Bridge. Berkeley is a short hop from there. 880 is almost as devoid of scenic interest as 101 so there wasn’t much to grab my attention apart from noting how rarely you see drivers holding a cell phone these days. I wonder whether there has been a decrease in accidents since the new law came into effect of July 1st.
The roadworks south of Fremont are nearly complete and it looks like there is going to be a carpool lane on this freeway. The road surface is much improved as well. In fact it was smooth most of the way to just north of the Oakland Coliseum. Then suddenly we were driving on one of the worst road surfaces ever!
After an interesting breakfast at Cafe Durant in Berkeley, we made our way down University to the Marina. There were traffic signs warning that there would be congestion between 11 & 4 due to the kite festival and you’d better believe it. As it is only just 9 we were fine.
There still doesn’t seem to be a lot of wind about but a few flags were waving slightly. Last time we came we were able to park for free but no more. There are no parking signs up everywhere and just one designated parking lot where the charge is $10. We had to go for that as there was nowhere else to park. All the available spaces were taken up SUVs and trucks with boat launches attached. The car park is not very big so I’m guessing it will fill up quickly.
The festival is held in Cesar E Chavez Park and there is no fee to enter the park. We followed the path uphill and could see a couple of small kites up in the sky and came to an area where they were offering free kite lessons Now I’ve never flown a kite and would like to one day but not today. Next came the vendor and food booths.
More and more kites were getting into the air. Tom and I stood and watched as a huge rainbow colored sting ray was slowly hoisted aloft. It was part of the static display and tethered to a pick up truck. While we watch the slow progress, two other amateur photographers joined us. We stood and chatted for a while. They were both retired and spend most of their time traveling. They talked about the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, Bryce Canyon, Tall Ships in San Francisco and several other places they’ve visited. Can’t wait until we retire!
Out in the main arena there were several kit fliers practicing. The three keen photographers wandered off for a closer look to take photos. I decided to sit on the grass, write and enjoy what was happening all around. I had nothing to sit on but the rather scrubby and pot holed ground but I didn’t mind. There were a few family groups settled nearby with their rugs, chairs, food, etc. More and more spectators gathered all the while I sat there. I tried to keep an eye on Tom but somehow he wandered off without me seeing in which direction he went. I knew I would bump into him somewhere later.
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August 01 2008 | Special Places | 2 Comments »
Before we left this morning, I looked up breakfast places in Berkeley. We usually eat at Bette’s Ocean View Diner but decided to try somewhere different today. Cafe Durant was well recommended so we programed the address into Mollie (affectionate term for our GPS) and set off.
(click on the thumbnails for a larger version)
As we turned onto Durant Avenue in Berkeley, we began to have doubts. Maybe we had put in the wrong address. But Mollie deposited us right outside. I had read a few reviews which mentioned it being upstairs and I could see the tables, chairs and umbrellas on the second floor but still the entrance is very hard to find. There are several restaurants in the same building so look for the clues. First clue is on the big sign outside. There is an arrow pointing downwards. So we walked into a dimly lit entry way. The next clue is on the wall to the right on which is another arrow and a sign saying ‘Upstairs and turn left’.
It is unashamably a Mexican restaurant. At first we were a bit reluctant to enter. For a start the place was almost empty – never a good sign. Also it looks a bit run down. We decided though that if we could stomach the Video Cafe last weekend we should be able to manage this. We had to find out why the reviews were so good.
There was just one customer inside and he had obviously overheard our conversation. He was a young man and he told us that, indeed, the food was very good. We asked where everybody was and he said that this was early for Berkeley (8 a.m.). Even the 7-11 does not open until 8 a.m. He also said that we could sit anywhere but we had to go to the counter to order first.
The menu is huge and displayed up on the wall. I had difficulty finding the oatmeal, due to the glare of a 
badly placed spotlight, but it was there. I asked if it was cooked in the microwave but was assured that it was cooked in a pan, so I went for it ($2.95). I also order a fruit salad (3.95). Tom ordered Huevos Con Chorizo (not sure of the price but about $7).
(Again, click on the thumb for a larger version.)
The seating was different. No booths. White linen talecloths with a sheet of glass on top. Underneath each one were colorful soccer posters and every table was different. All the chairs were made out of bamboo and had cushioned seats. Out on the patio were twelve plastic tables and chairs.
The rest of the decor was bright and cheerful. Big colorful pictures on the walls plus painted plates, plaques, hanging bunches of ceramic fruit and even a wonderful black sombrero with silver decoration. Most impressive were two large, intricate, tiled mosaics.
The food was served to our table pretty fast – well we were the only customers by now. The oatmeal arrived on a large, blue, ceramic plate in a wide, shallow, round, plastic bowl with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Sugar, raisins and milk came in small plastic pots. There was not enough milk so I had to ask for more. The fruit salad came in an identical bowl to the oatmeal and contained cubes of green & orange melon and apples with slices of bananas and strawberries. It was a large portion. Tom’s Huevos, with its rice, refried and black beans with a flour tortillas, looked truly Mexican. My oatmeal was so-so but Tom was well impressed with his, so the reputation of Cafe Durant is well founded.
One word of caution, do not use the restroom – it’s pretty disgusting. To get to it you have to walk through the kitchen. When I told Tom he commented that it was part of the charm. Yeah right.
Conclusion. If you are up for trying something different and you like Mexican food, this is the place for you.
Note from Tom: Bette’s is much better. Not Mexican but wonderful scrambled eggs.
July 26 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
