9/19 - Tilden

It was a big group today, including Delia who has not been hiking for quite a while and Charlotte who had been on a cruise to Alaska; 15 plus Oscar. With the weather warming, we hoped for some shade and breezes along with views from Seaview Tr. Shade we got, but it was very hazy so views were not great, especially to the west; breezes were almost non-existent. We had lunch in the shade at the junction with Lower Big Springs Tr. and took that down to So Park Dr. Drivers were shuttled back to the cars at the Steam Train parking lot. Just under 3.5 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Y5171F

09/12 - Pine Canyon

Only 9 of us today, but it meant we could all sit at one table for lunch.  It was only 10:45 when we reached the gate leading into Mt Diablo St. Park, so we kept going for another half hour before returning to the planned lunch spot just back into the Diablo Foothills Regional Park. The grape vines were only beginning to show color, but the poison oak was fully red. It is a good trail and altho there were other hikers, it is always a quiet and very peaceful place. A good walk on a warmish early fall day. About 4 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9zExc7

09/05 Lake Chabot

A dozen people and two dogs (Oscar came with Ron and Sylvia & Bob brought Bacchus) visited Lake Chabot. We walked the Eastshore Trail to the bridge and then went further up Cameron Loop, then back to the little trail which parallels the main trail and wanders thru the flood plain to find a spot for an early lunch. Finally there was the long tromp back and a stop at the snack shack for ice cream. Susan and Ulla each added additional distance by completing the Cameron Loop, Susan CCW and Ulla clockwise. 5.25 miles for most, 6 for the two adventurous ones.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/DM85j8

I didn't realize how much I depend on calflora until it was unreachable this afternoon. But I found helpful plant lists on the EBRPD website; one a district wide checklist and others specifically for the individual parks. Why didn't I know this sooner? http://www.ebparks.org/about/stewardship/plants/checklist.htm#District