My old friend came in from the cold to the gold(en) state. Old as in I have known him close to two decades. Cold as in his permanent residence is Chicago. He visited me in San Francisco.
It was a fine Sunday in the bay area. We decided to utilize nature's bounty in the form of sunshine and crisp air to our advantage and set out on a walk.
First was an eight mile effort that saw us go along the north south corridor on the peninsula region in a county where 60% land is reserved as a natural habitat. That helps maintain abundance of foliage and wildlife. Helps to have the primary water source in the form of a reservoir along the edge of the trail.
Morning mist and fog was lifting as we began walking.
We took in an old water temple -
a monument to a heroic engineering feat to bring crystal clear snow melt from the Sierra some 200 miles to the east to the west coast of the state for consumption.
Next was a mansion and grounds named Filoli, courtesy of a former baron of some sort who left behind what he could not take posthumously.
Daffodils were in season. Reminded me of the Wordsworth poem from four decades ago that we memorized in school. It was written by this famous English poet of the 18th century and titled 'Daffodils' which ends with ....
And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils ...
What followed was a scrumptious meal inspired by Thai cuisine in a neighboring suburb with zesty spices and all. That tucked in we drove to the summit of Mt. Diablo in the east bay region around 40 miles due east of our first foray in the AM.
Summit is at 3,900 feet above sea level to which we drove. Then we set out to wander again and covered a few miles amidst vast open vistas - as far as the eye could see. Wildlife sightings here included some free range turkeys and some deer.
The day ended well with no major injury but spiritually uplifted and a very sore ankle (that led to me hobbling for a day) the latter mildly addressed by some good spirits as a night cap (of the Port kind).
It was a fine Sunday in the bay area. We decided to utilize nature's bounty in the form of sunshine and crisp air to our advantage and set out on a walk.
First was an eight mile effort that saw us go along the north south corridor on the peninsula region in a county where 60% land is reserved as a natural habitat. That helps maintain abundance of foliage and wildlife. Helps to have the primary water source in the form of a reservoir along the edge of the trail.
Morning mist and fog was lifting as we began walking.
We took in an old water temple -
a monument to a heroic engineering feat to bring crystal clear snow melt from the Sierra some 200 miles to the east to the west coast of the state for consumption.
Next was a mansion and grounds named Filoli, courtesy of a former baron of some sort who left behind what he could not take posthumously.
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| Oaks laden with moss |
What followed was a scrumptious meal inspired by Thai cuisine in a neighboring suburb with zesty spices and all. That tucked in we drove to the summit of Mt. Diablo in the east bay region around 40 miles due east of our first foray in the AM.
Summit is at 3,900 feet above sea level to which we drove. Then we set out to wander again and covered a few miles amidst vast open vistas - as far as the eye could see. Wildlife sightings here included some free range turkeys and some deer.
The day ended well with no major injury but spiritually uplifted and a very sore ankle (that led to me hobbling for a day) the latter mildly addressed by some good spirits as a night cap (of the Port kind).
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