Skip to main content

Two hikes & a hobble

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.


Oaks laden with moss
 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).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

But What If We're Wrong?

I attempted to read this book by author Chuck Klosterman backward to forward but it started hurting my brain so I decided to stop and do it like any other publication in the English language.  Start from page 1 and move to the right. Witty, caustic and thought provoking this is a book you want to read if you believe that the status quo might, just might be wrong. At times bordering on being contrarian about most things around us it tries to zero in on the notion of what makes anything believable and certain in our minds.  The fact that there is a fact itself is ironic.  Something analogous to the idea that you can never predict the future because there is no future. Many books and movies have tried to play on this concept - best that I recollect (I think I am) was 'The Truman Show'.  This book by Klosterman attempts to provoke the reader to at least contemplate that what they think they know may be wrong. He uses examples like concept of gravity, and how it ...