A thorough documentation of my wanderings, Sunday, February 24, 2008:

WHEREBY our hero makes $2.71, fights a malevolent storm, crosses 2 (almost 3) states, and plots future trespasses.

A cold and rainy morning in Berkeley, CA. It's been raining for a few days, and it looked like today would be the day for it to break. Woke up, did some laundry, ate and strapped on some boots, ready for wherever it was I was about to go.

This dérive started with a simple chore, a visit to the local hardware store. I had nails to return that I thought I had needed for some project but ended up not using.


Before going, I made a little map.

North of this store ("down" on the map) was a big blank spot on my mental map. I vaguely recalled a deli there, but that meant nothing. So I went to the hardware store.

The first part of my task was easily accomplished. Return money in hand, I set out to begin. But a quick glance back at my map revealed it to be slightly simplified. There was no clear route north. So I headed out in back of the store.

Immediately, a huge blocky building appeared in my path. What was this modernist atrocity, and why had I never noticed it before? I drew closer.

The building and its surroundings appeared to be in a state of neglect. Nothing had fallen off, but it clearly hadn't been cleaned up in a while. The door was blocked off so I couldn't inquire as to its purpose, but I soon found a helpful sign:

Abandoned! I wanted in. But the building was determined to keep me out.

Even the lower level windows were covered with fences. I wasn't going to get in. Circling the building had brought me to another main street. While I was looking for entry points, it had begun to rain. I pushed down the street, but the wind picked up and the rain continued.

This street clearly didn't want me. So I took the nearest side street I could find and started to get as far away from the cranky street as I could. At the end of the little side path I found some greenhouses.

I gave my regards to the caged up plants and moved along, drawn down the street by a sweet smell. I followed my nose.

So that's where the student produce stand is getting their local veggies from, I suppose. The source of the smell had been ascertained, and I looked for a new distraction.
A street sign at the intersection caught my eye.

I have to admit, I've been thinking about Virginia recently. I just went to a Thao Nguyen concert (which was amazing) and she grew up there. Also, how could you NOT want to follow those joyous bicyclers in the sign?
So I walked toward Virginia.
All of a sudden, foliage, previously contained within fences and plots, began appearing everywhere.

I honestly thought this house was going to eat me when I walked past it.

All the while the rain had stopped, and I actually started getting warm, resulting in me removing a layer.

Warm temperatures...tropical plants...humidity...this wasn't the way to Virginia, but Hawaii!
And now the signs tell me that Virginia is in two different directions?!

I chose the path that would bring me higher up. At this point, I had no idea where I was, so I needed perspective.
Heading up, a squirrel jumped in front of my path. Proof I wasn't in Hawaii, at least, so I made chase in order to document it. The squirrel got away, but it lead me to a clearing.

The Campanile! So I knew where I was. The next street I saw was Leroy, a guaranteed route back home.
I was getting tired, but I spotted another sharp hill. I still wanted to get higher, so I took the path.
My journey ceased being about nails, or Virginia, or anything else other than getting to the top of this urban mountain.
Or maybe suburban. The homes started getting nicer and nicer as I ascended, and less people were on the streets.

But up I went. The roads got smaller and staircases appeared.

Then the roads disappeared completely. I walked through someone's driveway and ended up at a muddy path.

A couple and their dog were coming down the path, just ahead of me.

"Hey. The gate's locked up there", they said.
"Is it usually open?"
I had no idea.
I rushed up to the gate. Was it just going to end like this?

Just as I was about to lose hope, I turned around and saw all of Berkeley stretched out before me, emerging from the fog. And out on the Bay, far in the distance, sunlight was breaking through.

Then my camera died.

Nothing in the modern world (and especially in SFZero) exists without its corresponding documentation. My dérive was over. I climbed back down, went back home as the sun emerged above, made myself a bowl of rice, and packed up my camera for another day.

There remain endless paths in the city to traverse and record. But I'm tired now. I'll do it later.

Hope it wasn't too long!
,
T.



postscript: Heading back home I spotted this sign, pointed in the direction of the summit where I came down from. With the last few watts of my dying camera's energy I managed to get out a quick picture:



I guess I found Virginia after all. Someday I'll come back, and maybe it'll be open. Or maybe I'll just work up the courage to hop that fence.