Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda for July 23, 2023
Almost a year ago, I was walking down a section of Central Avenue that had high hedges on either side of the sidewalk when a squirrel darted across right under my nose. SQUIRREL!!
🐿 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 🐕🦺
I assume that all my readers know exactly how I reacted, so I will cut to the chase. (Yeah, I really did just say that).
As I dove into the juniper hedge in hot pursuit of that pesky varmint, I completely forgot what I had attached to the other end of the leash. I soon realized that I had been towing my human companion behind me like a floundering water skier behind a high-speed muscle boat. Any further attempt to catch my nemesis was pointless, and I jumped out of the hedge just in time to see my human companion emerge from the bushes like an oversized walrus making its way up the beach.
I continued my walk but realized that something was different. We were walking really slowly and he seemed to be hopping. Fast forward to that night, when his knee had grown to the size of a cantaloupe… a very large cantaloupe. Apparently, we all went in one direction, and his right knee went in another.
After telling himself that it was no big deal (yet sometimes not being able to go upstairs) he finally got some imaging done. The diagnosis: a torn meniscus requiring surgical intervention. Bummer. Possible corrective surgery to come at the beginning of 2024 after festival season and the holidaze.
Moving on to the important happenings here in Alameda, the Encinal Avenue repaving project continues to go well. Over the last week, the crew were on the street painting lines to mark the lanes, bicycle graphics, and adding turn arrows along with those triangle graphics. Do those arrows confuse anyone else?
In another bit of exciting news, I finally got a fully enclosed backyard and a brand-new fence! The before and after shots show what a major upgrade this is for me. I now have a full backyard to run in whenever I want.
During my wanderings around town, I have been keeping my eye on an amaryllis plant. Just a few weeks ago, it had these amazing blooms, and now it has gone to seed. I guess my human companion will be planting them in hopes of having a bunch for next year.
I also came across one of the 63 little libraries that have been erected (without permits) over the years. The most recent map I could find was from 2021 and published by Bike Walk Alameda.
If you happen to be in the 2100 block of Alameda Avenue, you should check out the cutest address sign. I’m not sure of the breed of dog living at 2135 Alameda Ave., but I am looking for suggestions.
It has been a while since I did a “Walk by” for one of my out-of-the-area readers. So, I wanted to remind everyone that if you send me an Alameda address, I will “walk by” and take a picture of the house and post it a future report.
On a final note for this week, I happened to pass by the informal rest stop a resident on Lafayette Street had set up and found a pair of Mallards hanging out. In my April 23 report, I had mentioned that a Mallard female had been struck and killed by a passing auto. Since then, I had seen a lonely male under the tree. I sure hope Mike—the male Mallard as I have named him—found a new mate.
Enjoy your week and don’t forget that the Art and Wine festival on Park Street is next weekend. Don’t count on seeing me around there, though. Too many distractions, and the possible canine encounter would put my human companion’s other meniscus in clear jeopardy.
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos by Jeff Cambra.
