03/30 Perkins Canyon (Mt Diablo St. Park)

Twelve of us started from the entrance on Morgan Territory Rd just past the toxic pools. Sylvia and Ron split off early on as their time was limited. The rest of us followed the utility access road up the slopes which form the south east side of North Peak until it dead ended at a pair of PG&E transmission towers. After a lunch break we retraced our steps as far as the side trail which returns to the valley. A brief detour to the creek and then we went down to the dam. Ulla and Karen went on and found the 2nd dam. We all ended up back at the cars at close to the same time.

It was a short walk, a little over 2.5 miles for most; closer to 3 for Ulla and Karen, but with all the flowers and views we were not back to the pink wall until close to 3.  Elevation gain was about 660' in just under a mile from the cars to the lunch spot.

There were lots of flowers on the south facing slope we climbed before lunch; lots of regrowth with only occasional evidence of the intense Morgan Fire of Sept 2013.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/299459

03/23 Morgan Territory

There were 13 of us on a bright, breezy, post storm day. We started together walking north on Condor Trail, but soon split into smaller groups. One group (at least) looped out along Prairie Falcon Tr and then back to Volvon. Mary and Karoline cut across to Blue Oak via Hummingbird and 6 of us continued north to where Blue Oak joins Volvon, then circled back. Ulla and Susan made the lollipop loop out around Bob Walker Ridge. I'm not sure what John, Ed and Monique did. Distances ranged from about 3 to nearly 7 miles.

We were prepared to have mostly green with oaks, but were treated to the best display of Triphysaria eriantha - Butter 'n' Eggs or Johnny Tuck - that any of us can recall.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/H5624z

03/16 Lake Merritt

Eleven of us started from the boat house and walked clockwise around the lake. We visited the Oakland Museum (Thank You, Jeanne, for the guest passes) to view the Suiseki exhibit with Polly as a private docent, eat lunch and explore other exhibits and the museum shop. On the return part of the walk, a group of us detoured to the Cathedral of Christ the Light. 3.8 miles, not including walking about the museum!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/e4w4B4

Here is the link to a 1913 recording of "I Love You California" from The Library of Congress.

03/02 Rockville Hills

There were 9 of us today on what will (hopefully) be the last dry day before the promised March rains. We made a 3 mile, counter-clockwise loop from the parking area up Quarry Tr to Ranch Rd, then up to the Rock Garden, across May-December Tr, around the knoll, down to the big pond for lunch and back down Tilly Loop Tr to the cars. Plenty of flowers as you will see.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9hHg9U