It has been raining A LOT in the Bay Area. But Dear Husband and I refused to let that stop us from hiking and having lunch in Oakland to celebrate the anniversary of our meeting. So we set out for the Skyline Trail in Oakland and started the 5 mile round trip hike.
Hiking the Skyline Gate Staging Trail
This is a super popular trail, so you are going to want to get there early. There’s not a ton of parking nearby, and I feel badly for the people who live nearby. Their narrow street is really jam packed with cars and hikers, likely all weekend. Even a rainy morning didn’t deter the hikers from hitting the trail. And the trail starts out pretty dry and manageable. Only the truly dedicated (or crazy!) continue further along to the really muddy slog section.
We did the 5 mile loop to the top of the Canyon hike gate. I offer Dear Husband to go further- he looked at me like I was nuts. At this point, we were fairly muddy. And Cheddar was a mess!
Lunch in Oakland at Drake’s Dealership
I’ve noticed Drake’s Dealership a couple of times when we were eating at Calavera Mexican restaurant. There’s a large walled garden with comfortable seating and fire pits in front. Inside, there’s a large fireplace and a concrete floor. It’s not exactly “cozy” but it is VERY dog-friendly. Especially for a muddy doggie like Cheddar!
I ordered the pizza; Dear Husband had a burger and a porter beer (surprisingly hard to find!) It was all delicious and I am sure we’ll be back soon.
Cheddar gets a bath!
Cheddar was a muddy, crusty mess. We stopped for an impromptu bath at Pet Food Express on the way home. He seemed relieved!
Skyline Staging Area, 8490 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611
Drake’s Dealership, 2325 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
