Mystery Date #24: Lake Chabot Hike & Picnic Lunch

Swimming, Swimming in Lake Chabot
​- Acorn's Favorite Camp Song

Mystery Maker: Kathleen
Date: 6/26/2010
Location: Lake Chabot, San Leandro, CA 

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Lake Chabot Park holds many special memories from every phase of my life and has shaped my love of nature. During my childhood I attended Little Trees summer camp there. Then every summer during college, I returned to the same songs and crafts, this time as a camp counselor. Outside of camp, I spent many days at the park hiking, exploring and camping. Lake Chabot was once written up in the San Fransisco Chronicle as the East Bay’s "hidden gem".

It had been years since I had hiked the full 8 miles around the lake and this time I was taking Chris along for the ride. I decided to start the morning with a little breakfast in bed. After all, every good hike should start with fuel. 

At the park, I felt my camp alter ego “Acorn” come back to life. I took Chris down memory lane, sharing many cheesy camp stories and legends (much to his delight). Once past the busy part of the trail, we had the place to ourselves. The trail curved around the lake, up and down through thickets of Eucalyptus and Live Oaks. We stopped at a shady bench to enjoy the brown bag lunches I packed. We watched the tree branches sway over the lake and it seemed impossible we were 10 short miles from a major Bay Area highway.

Chris and I were well into our relationship and planning our wedding, but these quiet excursions were an opportunity to reconnect. No cell phones distracting us or guiding our conversation. Just the two of us talking about our past, our dreams and what the future holds.

I was happy to create a new memory in a place that held so many old happy memories. If you ask me, Lake Chabot really is a hidden gem.