10 Fun Things to Do This Summer July 2006

by Jacqueline Irwin & Don Huntington
Photos by Christian “WUZI” Wagner & Russell Byrne

Last year we wrote about some day trips. We called it “Back by Bedtime,” and it involved trips that you could take in a single day. This year we have ten activities that East County Residents could do between two meals. They are arranged from those requiring most energy to least.

Go Windsurfing on Sherman Island
What it is
A little-known Far East County getaway is located on the shores of the Sacramento River at the southeast extremity of Sherman Island. The Sandy Beach County Park (known by the locals as Sherman Island Access County Park) is a gathering place for wind surfers and kite boarders. The area is a pleasant place to spend a few summer hours. We visited the park in May and on that day the temperature in Brentwood was a warm 89° but the West Delta Winds had lowered the temperature in the park to a perfect 77°. The park has restrooms, cement BBQ pits, benches, and a boat-launching facility. A couple named Indian Bob and his wife Mina are the park hosts.

What it is
You don’t need knowledge or equipment to try windsurfing. You can stop by Delta Windsurf Company at the intersection of Sherman Island Road and Highway 160 for information, lessons, and rentals. Plan to spend a hundred dollars for a lesson and equipment rental. For busy weekends you might want to make a reservation for a lesson and rental (926-777-2299). A small beach, called The Playpen, right near the entrance, offers a perfect windsurfing launching area. Five other launching areas are available as well.

Where it is – Sandy Beach County Park, West Sherman Island Road
Directions

1. Take 160 across the Antioch Bridge.
2. From the toll gates drive 4.8 miles to West Sherman Island Road.
3. Turn left on Sherman Island Road for 3.2 miles.

More Information
926-777-2299
www.deltawindsurf.com/lessons.html

Skydive at Byron Airport
What it is
Byron Airport is a generally sleepy place with a silence that is only occasionally broken by the drone of a plane arriving or departing. However, the peace is also regularly interrupted in a thrilling manner as squads of skydivers plummet for heart-stopping seconds towards the earth. Then their chutes deploy in radiant splashes of color above their heads and lower them to the earth in swoops and thrusts of graceful motion.

What to do
Byron Airport is the home of Bay Area Skydiving. If you would like to jump out of a plane one time this summer, you can participate in their Beat The Heat program by making a reservation any weekend for either 8 or 9 a.m. and take one 14,000 foot jump in tandem with an instructor for $175.00. At this price slots are limited so make your reservation early.
Treat yourself to a thrill that you will remember the rest of your life.

Where it is – 550 Eagle Court, Byron
Directions

1. Go South on Highway 4 (Brentwood Boulevard) for 3.6 miles, until it merges with Byron Highway.
2. Continue on Highway 4/Byron Highway for 1.4 miles.
3. At the intersection where the two roads diverge, bear right on Byron Highway and continue for 3.1 miles.
4. Turn right onto Byron Hot Springs Road and continue for .8 miles.
5. Turn right onto Armstrong Road and continue for .5 miles.
6. Turn left onto Falcon Way and go .8 miles.
7. Bear left at Eagle Court and go .1 mile.

More Information
www.bayareaskydiving.com

A Hike on Mount Diablo
What it is
Discover Mount Diablo’s beautiful wildflowers and wildlife, distinctive rock formations, and extensive trail systems. The mountain right in our own backyard is more than simply pretty to look at. It’s a great place for a day hike! The park opens at 8:00 a.m. so get out of bed, eat a hearty breakfast, and head up to the mountain where the plant, animal life, and mountain air will leave you refreshed and ready for a nice lunch.

What to do
There are many trails to explore on Mount Diablo including easy, moderate, and difficult. Whatever you decide remember the Boy Scout motto, Be Prepared. Bring a backpack equipped with a full water bottle and a hat. Wear clothing that will provide protection from the sun, ticks, and poison oak. Hiking boots are also recommended due to the hilly, and sometimes downright steep terrain. The mountain holds many secrets that are discoverable only by people willing to expend the effort that the hiking and exploring demands.

Where it is – Mount Diablo State Park
96 Mitchell Canyon Rd, Clayton
Directions

1. Take Walnut Boulevard south to Marsh Creek Road.
2. Turn right on Marsh Creek Road to Clayton Road (16 miles).
3. Take Clayton Road to Mitchell Canyon Road.

More Information
http://www.mdia.org/hiking.htm
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517

Explore the Black Diamond Mines
What it is
The Black Diamond Mines is a sprawling 5,750 acre regional preserve with 47 miles of maintained trails winding among picturesque hills. The area was once the site of a busy industrial area that encompassed five thriving towns and a number of mines. Nothing is left of the homes and businesses that were in this area except for Rose Hill Cemetery, which perches on top of a hill a pleasant half-hour walk from the parking lot.

What to do
You can hike and camp in the preserve, but the most memorable thing to do is to explore the underground world that lies beneath the ground. The Greathouse Visitor Center is located in an underground chamber excavated in the mid-1920s. The center sells mementos and has displays depicting the park's coal and sand mining eras. It is open to the public on weekends. You can also take a tour through the Hazel-Atlas mine, walking 400 feet back into the mine shaft. These first-come, first-served tours are conducted at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and last about 45 minutes.

Where it is – 5175 Somersville Road, Antioch
Directions
Take Highway 4 to the Somersville Road exit in Antioch, then drive south (toward the hills) on Somersville Road to the Preserve entrance.
From the Highway 4 Bypass:

1. Turn left at Lone Tree Way and go to James Donlon Boulevard.
2. Turn left on James Donlon Boulevard and go to Somersville Road.
3. Turn left on Somersville Road and go 1.1 miles to the parking lot.

More Information
www.ebparks.org/parks/black.htm
925-757-2620

Swim/fish/hike at Contra Loma Reservoir
What it is
Contra Loma Reservoir has 80 acres of water surface with 827 million gallons that provide water for irrigation and emergencies, plus opportunities for swimming, boating and fishing. Two years ago the park opened a large, $3 million swimming lagoon at the reservoir. The lagoon covers one acre with 675,000 gallons of filtered and chlorinated water, to a maximum depth of five feet. There is a large sandy beach with the sand stretching through the shallow wading area. A system of maintained hiking trails snake around and over the hills. The park also provides picnic and other day use facilities. It is adjacent to the Antioch Municipal Golf Course.

What to do
The swimming lagoon is the source of a lot of great fun on hot days. If wading and splashing isn’t for you, you can go fishing, boating, and windsurfing on the reservoir’s placid surface. The Contra Loma Reservoir provides hiking trails, suitable for your dirt bike or for your horse. A 2-mile long trail encircles the lake providing a perfect distance for somebody who just wants to take a 45-minute walk. The park is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Where it is – 1200 Frederickson Lane, Antioch
Directions

1. From the Highway 4 Bypass go 3 miles east (towards Antioch) on Lone Tree Way to Dallas Ranch Road.
2. Turn left at Dallas Ranch Road and go 1/3 mile to Mount Hamilton Drive.
3. Turn right on Mount Hamilton Drive and go 1/2 mile to Frederickson Lane.
4. Continue on Frederickson Lane for 9/10 mile to the park.

More Information
www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=33
www.fishsniffer.com/maps/contraloma.html

Get Zoomed at the Antioch Stock Car Races
What it is
Antioch Speedway provides an entirely novel counterpoint to typical summer fun activities. It is also wildly different than the NASCAR events you see on TV. The Speedway is a noisy, thrilling, often chaotic experience as a dozen or so fervent enthusiasts jockey their over-powered machines around the 1/4 mile, high-banked clay oval. Weather permitting, the Speedway is open for action every Saturday night from late March through early October. As many as eight different racing series are run each Saturday night including Wingless Sprints, Dirt Modifieds, Limited Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Mini Trux, and Four Bangers.

What to do
On normal Saturdays, the gate opens at 5 p.m. and the races begin at 6:00. For maximum involvement, plan to sit near one of the turns, right down by the fence. As the cars come roaring around the turn they will spray dust and dirt clods all over you. If you prefer less involvement, move back a few rows. The price is $12 for adult admission. A special $30 family ticket admits two adults and two kids. Check the schedule to see exactly what racing series are being run (www.antiochspeedway.com/Schedule2k4.asp).

Where it is – County Fairgrounds,
Corner of 10th & L Streets, in Antioch
Directions

1. Take Highway 4 to the Automall Drive exit.
2. Follow Automall Drive to 10th Street.
3. Turn right on 10th Street to L Street.

More Information
www.antiochspeedway.com/
925-779-9220

Clickity-Clack Down the Niles Canyon Railroad
What it is
The Niles Canyon Railroad carries passengers on an hour-and-a-quarter round-trip excursion between Sunol and Fremont’s Niles Canyon depot. The railroad follows Route 84 as it passes along picturesque Alameda Creek. On the first or second Sunday of the summer months, the train is sometimes pulled by a steam-powered locomotive, otherwise the train is diesel-powered. The railroad is a volunteer-based operation; everyone has fun.

What to do
Check the current schedule at www.ncry.org/schedule.htm. The train runs only on Sundays. The passenger cars are an eclectic assortment of rolling stock that includes open-air, shaded, and completely enclosed cars. Come early on hot days to get a seat in the shade, at least, or in one of the enclosed cars. Bring head covering and water for any little kids. Sit on the left side of the train out of Sunol for the best views of Alameda Creek. You can get off the train at the destination and reboard a later train for the return trip or remain on the train. Round-trip tickets are only $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Where it is – Sunol Depot,
6 Kilkare Road, Sunol
Directions

1. Go south on 680 to Koopman Road.
2. Go right on Koopman road to the Pleasanton Sunol Road.
3. Go left on the Pleasanton Sunol Road to the Niles Canyon Road.
4. Go right on the Niles Canyon Road to Main Street.
5. Follow the signs to the depot.

More Information
www.ncry.org

East Contra Costa Historical Society Museum
What it is
In 1984 a large historic home on Sellers Avenue, called the Byer-Nail House, was donated to the East Contra Costa Historical Society. The society transformed the old structure into a public showcase for East Contra Costa County’s rich and varied past. Students from all 72 of the area's third-grade classes take an annual tour of The Byer-Nail House getting direct exposure to the history of this area. The house focuses on relics and mementos from Byron/Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and Bethel Island. Outbuildings around the museum display snapshots of our history. A large pole barn holds unsorted collections of machinery, vintage signs, and other historical artifacts. The museum’s Resource Room provides access to documents of local historical interest.

What to do
Visit the Byer-Nail House and find out things that all the third graders have been learning that you never imagined. The museum is open to the public every Saturday and every third Sunday of the month between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., from April through October. To schedule a docent led tour or an appointment, contact Pat Bello at 925-625-3553.

Where it is – 550 Eagle Court, Byron
Directions

1. Take Brentwood Boulevard to Chestnut.
2. Go east on Chestnut to Sellers Avenue.
3. Turn left on Sellers and go 1.4 miles.

More Information
www.theschoolbell.com/history
925-634-8651, 925-634-0917

Trains at the Black Diamond Lines
What it is
For the past 25 years the Black Diamond Lines railroad has been pleasing people with the site of model trains huffing and puffing past scenery of astonishing realism. You can follow the cars, for example, as they snake across the High Bridge over Green River and into Lap Siding. Or watch a small Rio Grand train pull over on a siding to allow a BNSF coal drag to pass on the main line. The Black Diamond layout is a complex arrangement of ten separate tracks arranged in two groups. The trains are assembled and dispatched from a central Make Up yard. The HO scale model is laid out on 1,500 square feet of space. All tracks, switches, and crossings are hand-laid on real wooden ties.

What to do
For a nominal fee ($5 for adults), you can spend a satisfying hour or two studying the parts and pieces of the most interesting train layout in East County. Volunteer members of the line are on hand to answer questions and to let “good children” blow the horns of the tiny locomotives that barrel their way through the twists and turns of the little world. Look on the Web for special shows. Show times are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Web site advertises normal hours to be Tuesday and Friday from 8 p.m. “until we leave.”

Where it is – 425 Fulton Shipyard Road, Antioch
Directions

1. Go down Lone Tree Way towards Antioch until it becomes A Street.
2. Take A Street .8 miles to Wilbur Avenue.
3. Turn right onto Wilbur Avenue and go a half-mile to Fulton Shipyard Road.
4. Turn left on Fulton Shipyard road and go .2 miles.

More Information
www.blackdiamondlines.org/
925-779-1964

Brentwood’s Starry Nights

What it is
The City of Brentwood has already begun its Starry Nights free music-in-the-park program, which is sponsored by the City of Brentwood Parks and Recreation, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Brentwood Arts Commission. Here is the remaining featured music:

• July 14–Mystique, Latin Rock, Soul, Tex-Mex
• July 21–Mr. Green, 80's and 90's Covers
• July 28–Ice Man, Blues
• August 4–Spirit Of Polynesia, Polynesia Dancing
• August 11–Family Night, Family Entertainment
• August 18–Funk Shui, Funk and Rock
• August 25–Tribute to the Rolling Stones, Rock

What to do
Come any Friday evening to the City Park from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the above dates. Bring your chair, blanket, and picnic dinner with you, if you like. Bring the whole family or your main squeeze, – or both – and enjoy “Starry Nights in Brentwood ”

1. Take Highway 4 to 2nd Street.
2. Go down 2nd street two blocks. The park is on the right.

More Information
www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/parks/starrynight.cfm