It felt like fall last Wednesday. November 13, when the Piedmont Recreation Department's Walking on Wednesdays group met at the Exedra. It was overcast with the temperature at about 60. Some questioned how many layers of clothes they should wear, but the turnout was good with 21 walkers and two of their K-9 best friends ready to walk. Dara had invited first-time walker Tom to join the group.
After the previous week's walk to the skate park above Coaches Field, the walkers saw a hidden trail on Moraga Avenue that leads up to Abbot Way and Maxwelton Road. They thought it would be interesting to pursue, but learned that the trail could be a more challenging hike than might suit them.
Recent articles in the Piedmont Post had peaked the walkers' interest in Cavendish Lane that runs on a ridge above Trestle Glen. It is an Oakland-owned street that was damaged in February 2017 after it was undermined by heavy rains and a construction project by a Trestle Glen Road neighbor. It is in Oakland. but there are four Piedmont homeowners at the end of the street who were unable to access their homes by car for six weeks because of the damage to the street. The City of Piedmont took action to have temporary repairs done, and last month permanent repairs were begun 2-1/2 years after the road was undermined.
Cavendish is across town on the southern border with Oakland, and is a fairly long walk but the walkers were interested in seeing the damage and repair work underway. Walking out St. James Drive would get the walkers to Cavendish Lane. The group had not walked St. James for some time and visiting this street was appealing. Up Highland Avenue to Sheridan Avenue to Wildwood Avenue, through the Hall Fenway and Crocker Park to Hampton Avenue to St. James they went. St. James has two tall, handsome palms trees in front of one home, and another home is guarded by a curious, dragon wood sculpture with a small American flag. The sidewalks in the area - St, James Woods - also paved with tile inlays that Michael Gardner told the group were part of the early Upper Piedmont Estates neighborhood that ran from LaSalle Avenue all the way to Park Boulevard.
A half block to the right and just past Trestle Glen, they dis- covered Cavendish Lane, a narrow street appearing more like an alley. None of the walkers had been to it before, so they took some steps of faith that going on it would take them to the road repairs.
After a few hundred feet the walkers saw a construction cyclone fence in front of which were steel plates that had been placed over the damaged roadway. Behind the fence, and above a Trestle Glen home far below, was a partially complete retaining wall.
It was a fascinating scene, but it was time to get back, so the walkers retraced their steps to the Exedra. It was about three and a half miles and almost two hours, but seeing the Cavendish Lane project had been worth it. The temperature had also been a little cooler than they had expected and those who had chosen an extra layer of clothes were the warmer and happier ones on the return.