Berkley, CA

Didn’t get very far today but then we knew we wouldn’t because we planned to spend the night in Berkley.  So our six hour driving day netted us 104.1 miles.

We were in the belly of the beast – traffic was a bit overwhelming.  Guess we’re spoiled and thank God we are.  We got to drive around Alameda Island where we spent our anniversary in 2007 and that was a very pleasant experience.  

We also stopped at the Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland to see the mass grave of 412 unclaimed bodies of the Jonestown mass suicide and where there is also a small group of gravestones for members of the Hells Angel’s motorcycle club.

Then we checked into the Rose Garden Inn, a historic mansion with lovely gardens, a gorgeous courtyard and murals everywhere.  Very beautiful!  This place was recommended by my cousin Jeanette who lives just down the street. 

Jeanette picked us up and we went off to a fabulous Italian dinner.  After dinner she drove us around to look at various spots, the highlight being a drive in the foothills where we were able to look down on Oakland and San Francisco at night.  It was spectacular and this photo definitely doesn’t do it justice.

She then took us to UC Berkley where last year they planted two trees, a dogwood and a magnolia, in memory of her husband, John who passed away a couple of years ago.

We’ve had a fabulous visit – can’t believe it’s been 8 years since we last came up to see her!  Very bad.