Bay Area Backroads - Hidden Gems & Forgotten Paths Just Outside the Concrete Jungles

It’s Mustard Festival Time – Thank You Gene Burns/Napa for Inspiring the Tradition

by burtkauf | Feb 24, 2020 | Uncategorized

Every year about this time we think of the old Napa Mustard Festival, which radio broadcaster Gene Burns made popular (along with Napa, of course, where it couldn’t happen without). Even if you dont drink wine or like mustard, there’s nothing like soaking...

New Outdoor ‘Malls’ Replacing Indoor Malls as in San Ramon ‘Lot’

by burtkauf | Aug 13, 2019 | Uncategorized

‘The Lot’ at Bishop Ranch, San Ramon, CA August 2019 Woman orders her food at a kiosk Woman orders her food at a kiosk Sun-less, drab eating area surrounded by drab, factory-like walls and soul-less structures Diners are encouraged to ‘Eat...

Lodi, CA the Place for Nostalgia buffs – Five Diners, ’50s Motels Still Going

by burtkauf | Apr 14, 2019 | Uncategorized

Quick capsule tour of our enlightening 6 hour visit to Lodi, CA and environs. The amazing thing is that the nostalgic ‘palaces’ you are about to see are ALL ORIGINALS and still operational (with one or two exceptions- Pollardville for one). In our visit we...

Flintstone Home Delighted Huell Howser, Followers

by burtkauf | Apr 9, 2019 | Architecture, Buildings, Uncategorized

Huell Howswer continues to delight California Backroads Fans from past travels rediscovered by his fans, like this one, The Flintstone Home Huell Howser on Instagram: “Stay strong Mrs. Fang!! Hopefully the city of Hillsborough doesn’t make this amazing lady change a...

New Burlingame Shoreline Trail Open, Part of Bay Trail

by burtkauf | Sep 25, 2017 | Burlingame, trail, Trails

BURLINGAME BAY SHORELINE TRAIL Part of the Bay Area ‘BAY TRAIL’ network of hundreds of miles that is nearling completion. Parts, such as this, are already available for use

Touring the ‘New’ Lake Merritt, Oakland – Largest inner city Salt Water Lake

by burtkauf | Sep 21, 2017 | Birds, lake, Lake Merritt, Oakland

Touring the ‘New’ Lake Merritt, Oakland ...

Nostalgic Tour of Old Antioch Riverfront, Surviving Idyllic Delta Oasis

by burtkauf | Aug 11, 2017 | Antioch, Delta

Antioch Delta – El Campanil etc – Google Photos Antioch Delta – El Campanil etc – Google Photos Nostalgic Tour of Old Antioch Riverfront, Surviving Idyllic Delta Oasis Credit Antioch, one of the older Delta downs of Contra Costa County,...

OHLONE GREENWAY Adds a Little Country to City Life in West Berkeley, Contra Costa

by burtkauf | Jul 4, 2017 | Albany, Berkeley, Bike Trails, Eastbay, El Cerrito

OHLONE GREENWAY is an oasis in the middle of industry stretching from West Berkeley to Richmond. Roughly following the BART line, you can pick it up most anywhere. Check it out for an enjoyable July 4 experience – or anytime – walk, jog or bike! End of...

Castroville Artichoke Festival at Monterey Fairgrounds Featured Surf City All Stars, Jacks Peak Trail Serenity

by burtkauf | Jul 4, 2017 | Artichoke Festival, Monterey

CASTROVILLE ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL ONE OF THE EARLIEST, FEATURED MARILYN MONROE AS ‘ARTICHOKE QUEEN’ FIRST YEAR, 1948 Giant artichoke greets you as you come into town. Get your fried artichoke arts or just about anything else artichoke. Still one of the...

Original Platters Live On Through Their Descendents, Perform at Historic Bal Theater, San Leandro CA

by burtkauf | Jun 17, 2017 | Bal Theater, Platters

BAY AREA BACKROADS presents. Original Platters Live On Through Their Descendents, Perform at Historic Bal Theater, San Leandro The Original PLATTERS at Historic BAL THEATER, San Leandro, CA – The Platters (below) were the perfect group to bring in to this...

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Huell Howser Tribute

Huell Howser Favorites

HUELL HOWSER Inspired

I’ve long been a follower and active participant of BAY AREA BACKROADS. Following would entail watching, first, JERRY GRAHAM’s original presentation of Bay Area Backroads, going back to the ’70s or ’80s and the more recent Doug McConnell. Just like it’s name, the local broadcast on KPIX, channel 5 , explored the unusual and out of the way places in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area. When McConnell took over the show he branched out sometimes beyond the Bay Area. The program went off the air, surprisingly, some years ago. I’ve always enjoyed road trips and we live in one of the best places in the world for them, with Bay Area’s diverse topography and history. I’ve been told, for example, that our East Bay area has more parklands than anywhere it’s size in the U.S.

After ‘Backroads’ went off the air , there were limited programs like ‘Eye on the Bay,’ but nothing to compare. I would soon discover HUELL HOWSER and his CALIFORNIA’S GOLD, shown on KQED, locally and PBS stations throughout California. I liked Howser as much for his most unique, friendly and ‘down home’ personality as the places he would explore and talk about on the show. Sadly, Howser passed away in the prime of his life, late last year and I greatly miss him; Graham, 79, also passed away, recently.

I have already followed some of Howser’s trips-which I call the ‘Huell Hoswer Memorial Backroads Trips- most recently to California’s Delta, just one of many places I had no idea existed in such depth.

So, I have found much joy in the Bay Area (and California) Backroads, thanks especially to Howser. I miss all Backroads shows but especially Howsers’ originals; fortunately , old episodes continue to air (probably due to Howser’s popularity), though I find it a bit disconcerting to watch knowing Howser is no longer with us, though, I must remember he’s here in spirit and the show preserves his legacy with thousands of people still viewing it.

So, we will plan on sharing some of our favorite Backroads Trips in these pages – both as a chronicle or diary, of sorts, for memories (and reminders to take the trips again). Once we get going, we, too, will try to include some interviews with people we meet along the paths less travelled here the Bay Area

We hope you enjoy them, too, and please send along your

favorite ‘backroads’ to ‘succeed@roadtosuccess.us