Whac-a-Pole

The bright yellow posts between Pet Food Express and Chipotle are built to be hit by cars and trucks that do not quite make the turn into the adjacent driveway. They seem to have done their job once again. Your Boulevardier noticed that the canary columns were all akimbo this afternoon, the asphalt at their bases cracking and lifting. Closer inspection showed that the poles, rooted in and filled with concrete, are set in position to protect the pipes hidden in the shrubbery behind them (and visible near the leftmost pillar in the picture; remember, readers, that you can click on any photo for a larger view). The sacrificial stakes served this purpose ably, and now resemble a Roman Numeral IX. Better nine than eighty-six.

Castro Valley Camouflage

Remodeling has been underway for some time on a house on San Miguel Avenue, not far from Castro Valley Boulevard. Normally a long, complicated construction project such as this would include an unwelcome feature: an unsightly honeypot parked in the front yard. The people doing this project have, kindly, chosen to disguise the portable facility, and have done so quite cleverly. Indeed, Your Boulevardier didn't realize what was going on until he had a closer look.