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Bay Area Backroads has been part of our landscape forever, exploring local places "through the eyes of those who know it and love it," explained host Doug McConnell.
Every weekend, Bay Area viewers could revel in our natural wonders, history, culture and places. For the past 15 years, McConnell and Carl Bidleman co-produced and aired these travelogues on KRON-TV. The station decided this was an ill-afforded luxury; they put the production on hiatus last month and show re-runs instead.
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1-Minute Sunol Vacation (OpenRoad.TV)
Don't fret, because these travelers will continue to tell their stories. They have migrated to OpenRoad.TV - where you'll be able to find more than what's typically featured, edited down and packaged into a weekly TV program.
As an example, check out this 1-Minute Vacation to Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness for a quick nature hit. You just listen to the birds and feel the place, without narration.
Due to sheer wanderlust, Doug and Carl now want to expand throughout the Western U.S. After completing their funding, these modern-day explorers expect to launch a new OpenRoad.TV show on KQED and other PBS stations nationally. They mentioned programming for The Travel Channel, as well.
Recently we asked the Backroad guys about their secret sauce. Carl said "the most valuable thing is our integrity." As I listened to them recount their experiences, they followed a few principles which made Backroads unique:
1. Let the locals tell their stories
2. Report things the public doesn't know
3. Don't accept gifts or perks for coverage
4. Genuinely love to explore places
As the on-air host, Doug has a real passion for the serendipitous stories and people discovered along the way. The Backroads crew simply shines a spotlight on everyone else, whether in Oakland's backyards or through the Bay Area. Here are few examples that Doug and Carl shared with me.
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Mendocino's Beloved Protector (OpenRoad.TV)
Spotlight: The Fire Chief We Love
You've probably been to Mendocino and admired all the New England-style wooden homes, and they needed a real fire chief to protect them over the years. Foggy Gomes was that protector, a local volunteer for a half-century.
Doug not only hung out with Foggy but also helped celebrate his retirement. You have to view the terrific parade scene, where you see Mendocino's heart and soul. All the local fire departments drove by to honor their long-standing colleague. When Foggy died earlier this year, Doug and everyone else remembered him fondly.
Spotlight: Sam's Hollywood Castle
Decades ago, Sam Mazza bought a run-down Pacifica castle and made it his own. Backroads visited this eccentric fellow, who collected all kinds of movie memorabilia - even a scepter used by Clark Gable. Doug was able to let viewers peek into the castle and experience the collector's sense of humor.
Today the local historical society supports the castle, which was built by former U.S. Rep Pete McCloskey's grandfather. It passed through a few more hands, and may have even been a brothel before Sam transformed the place. This summer the public was invited - for the first time - to see Sam's legacy for themselves. Even McCloskey came for the celebration.
Spotlight: Birth of East Bay Parks
Finally, I asked Doug about the Oakland Hills and what he might share with us. He quickly focused on the open spaces running from Berkeley down through the Castro Valley. "I love the Bay Area, the landscape," said Doug. "It's protected and is a unique urban landscape."
"I always wanted to say [there were] amazing people that made that happen," explained Doug. Land conservation wasn't a priority in the 1930s, when the East Bay Regional Park District was founded. It also put people back to work during the Great Depression.
Today, the 100,000 acres rank as the largest open space in the Bay Area, and the Backroaders were frequent visitors over the years. Doug waxed eloquently about these open spaces, along with the special charms of Tilden Regional Park and the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Both Doug and Carl sound like locals to me - wherever they wander.
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