Angel Island State Park June 27, 2009

What a great day! Nikki, Davide, Rob, Kathleen, Jacob and I hiked to the top of Mt. Livermore on Angel Island (Kathleen actually took the perimeter road and toured the newly renovated Immigration Station). It was beautiful!! I sure hope they don't close this park.

Mt. Tam to Stinson Beach June 13th 2009

Today Rob, Jacob, Laura and I hiked what (in my opinion) is the most beautiful and ecologically diverse hike in the Bay Area. Where else can you get coastal woods, a rain forest, coastal scrub, and a beautiful beach, all in the same hike? Well - probably a lot of Northern California hikes... we're just lucky that way! We thought it was supposed to foggy and cool, maybe even some drizzle. But instead, we had a beautiful day - partly cloudy and warm, turning into sunny and warmer! I can do this hike again and again!

Sycamore Grove Park bike ride, May 17, 2009

Well - we have no pictures to prove it, but we biked the 5 mile out and back in scorching heat this Sunday! It was the hottest day of the year so far (maybe 100 +), but we left at 10:30 and made it back within an hour or so, avoiding the hottest part of the day. Me, Rob, Jacob, Jeff, Christa, Lisa, Hannah and Jonathan made the bike ride, joined by Laura and Jordan later for the bbq. Nice time on the back patio with the misters on, good food, great company (and lot's and lot's of cold beverages!). The kids all went over to the pool for a couple of hours to cool off. My camera is being repaired, as well as my ankle injury, and I hope to be on the hiking trail again soon.......(the short bike ride is about all I can do at this point!)

Morrison Canyon Road 4/22/2009

Ok - so it wasn't an official hike, and it was just Kristin and I, and there are no (incriminating)pictures since we were hiking during work hours, but it was 4 miles - 2 miles up and 2 miles down, then I dropped Rob's car off at Big O Tires in Pleasanton and walked 2 miles home in 84 degree heat....so I am counting this as a 6 mile hike! Felt good!!! I'll be sore tomorrow.

Redwood Regional Park 3/29/09

Today our group hiked a nice 3.7 mile loop through the North end of Redwoods Regional Park in the Oakland hills. We started at the Skyline Gate entrance and took the East Ridge Trail to Tres Sendes, down into a beautiful canyon with a stop for lunch (see picture). Then we made our way out and up along the Stream Trail to Prince Trail and then back to the trailhead along the West Ridge trail. It was a beautiful day for this hike! We're camping next weekend, and the weekend after that is Easter - so the next official hike will be the weekend of April 18th/19th....stay tuned!!

Black Diamond Mines rained out! 3/22/09

We postponed the Black Diamond Mines hike until next week because the weather was too "iffy", but Kristin and I decided on an impromptu hike up the Pleasanton Ridge. A grueling (I don't care what anyone else says!!) 5 miles or so STRAIGHT up (o.k....they may call it a 10% grade and there are some rolling hills at the top...but it feels like it was pretty much straight up to me) to about 1400 feet. It was absolutely beautiful! Green rolling hills, various oak species, cute cows grazing, wild turkeys trying to fly and crashing into trees, Turtle Pond, etc. It was an awesome kick butt hike, thanks Kristin!

For next week, 3/19 - we are meeting at 10 am on Sunday, at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Park at the end of the parking lot near the gate.

Coyote Hills Regional Park 3/15/09

Today Kathleen led us on a scenic 3.5 mile walk through Coyote Hills Regional Park. Lot's of birds - heron, ducks, nesting swallows, even a couple of hawks. Laura, myself, Rob, Sharon and her two kids, and Kathleen enjoyed a couple of hours of fresh air and bay area marshland wildlife. Good time!

Thanks Kathleen!!