El Sereno Open Space Preserve

On Sunday while our ill cat was undergoing tests at the veterinary specialist hospital, D. and I decided to head down the highway to El Sereno Open Space Preserve to get away from the stress for a couple of hours, and I took these pics.

From 2400' elevation, looking into the southern Santa Clara Valley.


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Faber-Laumeister and Ravenswood Marshes

On Sunday D. and I got out for a little while to the marshes at the edge of San Francisco Bay. We went to the Faber-Laumeister Trail in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, and from there on up to the Bay Trail in Ravenswood Open Space Preserve just to the north. Here are some pics I took ( Read more... )

Sweeney Ridge

On Sunday D. and I went up to Sweeney Ridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Sweeney Ridge is significant for being the site of the European discovery of San Francisco Bay (the native Ohlone Indians already knew about it) as well as the site of a Cold War-era Nike missile control station, and noted for its stunning views ( Read more... )

Coal Mine RidgeOn Saturday D. and I went to an open space in neighboring Portola Valley called Coal Mine Ridge. There used to be a coal mine there long ago but a huge landslide put it out of production. It never produced much coal anyway. But now there is a network of public trails all through the area, and we decided to go and see what spring ( Read more... )

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve: Black Mountain

On Sunday D. and I went to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve to go to the lookout on top of Black Mountain (the mountain visible from town). Here's the pics we took, starting with mine.

Who brings their dry cleaning with them to the nature preserve?
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Sunnyvale Levees

On Sunday D. and I went out to the levees around the salt ponds and water pollution control plant oxidation ponds in Sunnyvale. Here's some pics I took.

One of the water treatment lagoons.


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Antioch Dunes / Black Diamond Mines

On Saturday D. and I went on a special trip to Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was created in 1980 to protect 3 endangered species found nowhere else: Lange's Metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo langei), Antioch Dunes evening primrose and Contra Costa wallflower ( Read more... )

Stanford Dish LoopOn March 7, D. and I visited the Dish Loop at Stanford University.  The Dish Loop is a 3.7-mile trail on a portion of Stanford's Academic Reserve dedicated to field research activities and is also enjoyed by visitors for recreational purposes.  It is one of the last unbroken expanses of open space in the lower foothills.  It is ( Read more... )

Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, 12-27-08

A couple of weekends ago D. and I went for a drive and wound up at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. We took a walk and some pics. Mine first ( Read more... )