Oakland Trick-or-Treat O' II
Date: (Tue.) Oct. 31, 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Event Director: 
- 510.681.6181
Course Setter: Rex Winterbottom
Type: C; Score-O -- Navigate amongst Trick-Or-Treaters and well-decorated houses!
Trick or Treat! Join us at a Hallowe'en orienteering event and potluck social. Come in costume or come dressed up as an "orienteer", whatever that is!
A Score-O course will meander you through the streets of Piedmont and Oakland's Crocker Highlands and Oakmore neighborhoods. Splendid, fabulously decorated houses and streets will delight you along the way.
Because I need to set the courses the week before the event to find the best scenery, I can't be too specific about the lengths now, but the Score-O will use Western Massachusetts rules. Meaning, get all controls, or 15 controls, or 10 controls, or 5, and each is a separate results category.
Each control shall be a street intersection, marked by street signs. A special trick, or treat, awaits at the bottom of each pole. And perhaps, I may be able to find a few friends or folks who might provide their front doors as safe control sites.
Registration and starts: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Courses close at 10:00 PM.
Safety Note: Although it is Hallowe'en and kids will be crossing the streets too, you should still watch out for cars! A reflective runner's vest and shoes, or one of those blinking bike lights, is recommended.
And it's a party — join other orienteers for a potluck social in my apartment, with haunted music, decorations, and a costume contest. I'll supply a few treats.
Ten highlights of this event:
- It's a Tuesday!
- Starts are available from 5:00 to 8:00.
- Social/partying available until midnight.
- It's a potluck, though not mandatory to bring something.
- Running around while people are trick or treating is a blast!
- The neighborhoods are beautiful, and the decorations on the houses and yards wondrous!
- Carpool – plan ahead – it's fun!
- Public transit: If you can get easily to downtown SF, the AC Transit V line goes on the bridge and freeway to Park Blvd., and my place is a couple stops up the street. Then catch a ride home with somebody else!
- Staging area: 4648 Park Blvd., Oakland, CA 94602, on the AC Transit V and 15 bus lines.
- Costumes are encouraged! I guess O' suits count. "I'm an orienteer."
Last year was a blast, do come!
Driving Directions
My apartment is on the corner of Dolores and Park Blvd. at 4648 Park Blvd (http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=4648+park+blvd.&csz=oakland%2C+ca). There is ample parking along Park Blvd. beyond my apartment and on an alley off Dolores. AC Transit stops right at my doorstep.
From Highway 13 heading North: Park Blvd. exit, left onto Mountain, then immediate left onto Park Blvd.
From Highway 13 heading South: Park Blvd. exit, bear right onto Park Blvd.
From Highway 580 heading East: Park Blvd. exit, make a left, go under freeway, cross light, then bear right at next light to stay on Park.
From Highway 580 heading West: 14th Ave. exit, make a right, then make a right at the dead end onto Park Blvd.
Public Transit
AC Transit V (http://transit.511.org/schedules/detail.asp?cid=AD&rte=12606&dir=E&day=1&dayid=3598) from San Francisco, AC Transit 15 (http://transit.511.org/schedules/detail.asp?cid=AC&rte=6166&dir=E&day=1&dayid=3631) from Oakland — stop just past the Chevron station!