10th Avenue Historic District:

We enjoyed talking to John and some of the kids at the park, who described East Oakland as “hyphy”; the cool shade was a welcome break from the day’s brutal heat. We asked John for some tips on local sites. He suggested that we cruise around some of the old mansions near 10^th Avenue. We climbed up 21^st Street, a tough chore under the blazing afternoon sun, but well worth the effort. On our way to 10^th Ave., we passed through some welcoming neighborhoods with 1920s homes and a healthy sprinkle of local businesses and shops.

We rode around to tour these fantastic victorian homes. We highly recommend the visit. Other than a few languid waves, we didn’t talk to anyone. The heat had made everyone move in thick, slow motion. Luckily our ride back was all downhill. The lake seemed very enticing as we rode by, heading towards home.