Northern CA vacation
Kathy with her 6 y/o daughter Shelby and I are on vacation in Inverness CA at Leah & Ivan's retirement chalet. All members of our Havorah. This has been lots of fun if not a forced march as we are being run ragged by activities to do in this region. Pt Reyes Light House 309 steps down and then up, repeat. Beautiful farm country. San Francisco the Golden Gate Park and then Japanese garden. Found Patxi's Chicago Pizza nearby for a stuffed pizza very worthy outside the city of Chicago. Drove over to Ghirradelli Chocolate factory for ice cream after paying a fortune to park. Took the cable car at Powell & Hyde to the end of the line and walked back through Chinatown and dined at "The Stinking Rose" for an appetizer dinner as the pizza tided us over. We drove home and only saw a couple of racoons in the dark. Yesterday after Shelby was seen in Stinson Beach for a jelly fish bite we did Muir Woods. Far more people there than I have ever recalled. Tourists I suppose as opposed those of pure hearts such as ourselves. We chatted up a young ranger and asked if we should take a higher trail. 2:45 hours later we ascended well above finished the Ocean View/Lost Trail/Fern Creek trail enjoying exhaustion as well as exhilaration there is no describing the red wood forest, 211 pictures I took can't scratch the surface.
"Ocean View Trail
In brief:
4.7 mile loop through Mount Tamalpais State Park and Muir Woods.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.7 mile loop hike is moderately easy, with about 1100 feet in elevation change. Trailhead elevation is around 925 feet. The featured hike's high point is around 1050 feet, and the hike drops to about 200 feet, then climbs back to the trailhead. The descending/ascending trails are moderately steep. "
Ocean View Trail - Although no longer having a view of the Pacific Ocean (due to recent tree growth), the upper part of this path affords partial vistas over the surrounding hills. The trail climbs quite steeply up the east side of the Redwood Creek valley, winding around half a dozen side ravines, through thick, dark, cool woodland containing a mixture of Douglas fir, madrone, bigleaf maple and tan oak, with redwoods only at the lower end. It gains 600 feet in just over a mile, meeting the Lost Trail just outside the park boundary.
Lost Trail - This path starts along the Panoramic Highway a short distance north of the national monument, descends a little to a junction with the upper end of the Ocean View Trail then drops very steeply through pleasant, airy forest via many wooden steps, (250+ according to another source)down to the upper end of the main valley, where it meets the Fern Creek Trail. All is just outside the monument boundary.
Fern Creek Trail - Beyond the end of the main paved loop, the Fern Creek Trail leads further up the valley beside a tributary of Redwood Creek, passing the fallen Kent Tree then joining the lower end of the Lost Trail. The route is only half a mile long and an easy walk. The creek does have ferns growing alongside though the scenery is not much different to the land nearer the visitor center, just with fewer people.
Huge thanks to my dearest for caring for the herd as I get to gallivant. We share texts throughout the day and touch minds. Today's planned attack is looking for Tule Elk along another walking trail. My toyed with plans to leave my round physique behind are being beaten into reality! I woke at 7am joined by Ivan who has since left for his hiking group, Shelby made an appearance but has wandered back downstairs, the house is brisk and quiet. Everything about this house sheds weight, and worries from shoulders, it has such beauty and softness, it is amazing.
This past week has seen much sadness for friends who have lost parents. Mark's mother, Steve's mother and I heard that D's father as well have all passed. Mark now joins me in the orphans club. Membership always seems to be increasing. Other friends have lost dear pets as well. I keep feeling as if this year bombs are blazing overhead as we sit in our shelter knowing anyone of them could hit here as well. But we aren't in a shelter, we are out and about living life because you can't stop rain, bombs, or life attacks. You can but be friends to folks and be available for bandaging, glasses of wine and adventures.
Last evening I #($*&@!! the Shutterfly account that has been pressed upon by the dissolution of Kodak. I do not approve. I would share albums with ease but apparently now you have to make "sites" and invite people to view these sites. Grumbling isn't going to change things just forcing myself to keep pace and reworking mistakes into delights!
OK ladies, I think it is time everyone woke up, we have ADVENTURES AHEAD!
"Ocean View Trail
In brief:
4.7 mile loop through Mount Tamalpais State Park and Muir Woods.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.7 mile loop hike is moderately easy, with about 1100 feet in elevation change. Trailhead elevation is around 925 feet. The featured hike's high point is around 1050 feet, and the hike drops to about 200 feet, then climbs back to the trailhead. The descending/ascending trails are moderately steep. "
Ocean View Trail - Although no longer having a view of the Pacific Ocean (due to recent tree growth), the upper part of this path affords partial vistas over the surrounding hills. The trail climbs quite steeply up the east side of the Redwood Creek valley, winding around half a dozen side ravines, through thick, dark, cool woodland containing a mixture of Douglas fir, madrone, bigleaf maple and tan oak, with redwoods only at the lower end. It gains 600 feet in just over a mile, meeting the Lost Trail just outside the park boundary.
Lost Trail - This path starts along the Panoramic Highway a short distance north of the national monument, descends a little to a junction with the upper end of the Ocean View Trail then drops very steeply through pleasant, airy forest via many wooden steps, (250+ according to another source)down to the upper end of the main valley, where it meets the Fern Creek Trail. All is just outside the monument boundary.
Fern Creek Trail - Beyond the end of the main paved loop, the Fern Creek Trail leads further up the valley beside a tributary of Redwood Creek, passing the fallen Kent Tree then joining the lower end of the Lost Trail. The route is only half a mile long and an easy walk. The creek does have ferns growing alongside though the scenery is not much different to the land nearer the visitor center, just with fewer people.
Huge thanks to my dearest for caring for the herd as I get to gallivant. We share texts throughout the day and touch minds. Today's planned attack is looking for Tule Elk along another walking trail. My toyed with plans to leave my round physique behind are being beaten into reality! I woke at 7am joined by Ivan who has since left for his hiking group, Shelby made an appearance but has wandered back downstairs, the house is brisk and quiet. Everything about this house sheds weight, and worries from shoulders, it has such beauty and softness, it is amazing.
This past week has seen much sadness for friends who have lost parents. Mark's mother, Steve's mother and I heard that D's father as well have all passed. Mark now joins me in the orphans club. Membership always seems to be increasing. Other friends have lost dear pets as well. I keep feeling as if this year bombs are blazing overhead as we sit in our shelter knowing anyone of them could hit here as well. But we aren't in a shelter, we are out and about living life because you can't stop rain, bombs, or life attacks. You can but be friends to folks and be available for bandaging, glasses of wine and adventures.
Last evening I #($*&@!! the Shutterfly account that has been pressed upon by the dissolution of Kodak. I do not approve. I would share albums with ease but apparently now you have to make "sites" and invite people to view these sites. Grumbling isn't going to change things just forcing myself to keep pace and reworking mistakes into delights!
OK ladies, I think it is time everyone woke up, we have ADVENTURES AHEAD!