Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve
During a particularly sunny and sparkly afternoon last summer, my composer friend Paul (he supplied over a hundred songs to my movies) and my wife decided we needed to take a little hike somewhere, catch some rays and celebrate the day. I was still in the middle of doing an editorial pass on the galley proof of BLACK PRESIDENT and wasn’t sure I could participate, knowing a deadline was in effect - But didn’t want to be left out either! So I came up with a compromise. I suggested we go to the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve (<www.ebparks.org/parks/claremont>), a modest walk up into the Berkeley hills right behind the impressive Claremont Hotel (turn left at Stonewall Road as you angle left around the hotel . . .), because I realized I could go just part way up the hill with my gang, and then try to keep working. If I rolled my airport bag up the hill with my galleys and a fold-up drum stool inside, I could sit in the fresh air and keep checking my work, making improvements before it went to press. So off we went.
The Sunday drive over to the park was lovely and low-key, and we easily found a parking place near the entrance of the park. With just a few fellow hikers passing us as we ascended it seemed like we’d picked a good time to get out of the house. Halfway to the top, we all stopped to take a short breather, looking out at the magnificent view of Berkeley, the Bay and San Francisco beyond. Then, as Paul and my wife continued up toward the crest, I settled into a shady spot near the base of a large hollow tree and kept reviewing my pages.
If you’re in the East Bay (Berkeley/Oakland, California) and would like an uplifting location for a picnic, I can’t imagine a more amazing place to spread a blanket, hand out some sandwiches and unwind in the majesty of a world-class vista!
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Rick Schmidt blogged several times on his prescient political novel BLACK PRESIDENT published by Picnic, 4 November 2008. Please check into Picnic’s author blog.
http://www.picnic-publishing.co.uk/blog/index.php/category/black-president/
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Comment from Picnic Admin: Rick lumbered up the hill/checked BLACK PRESIDENT galleys instead of enjoying the glorious views photographed above for the Picnic community?! All Picnic authors - Hear, ye! Hear, ye! This is what we call dedication . . . Thanks, Rick.
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