9/29 - Wildcat Canyon

 

Delia and John Taylor were our leaders today. The route was an out and back of just under 4 miles along the Wildcat Creek Tr from the Alvarado staging area off McBryde Ave. That took us halfway to Jewel Lake in Tilden

It was a largish group (12) and would have been larger if not for an unfortunate start to the day for Phred and Elaine. They misjudged the entry to the parking lot and ended up with 3 punctured tires from the tire spikes at the poorly marked entrance. This required a flatbed tow truck from AAA and an expensive visit to Les Schwab in Martinez

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/t30100 for pictures.

The walk started on pavement and Delia told us that at one time a development of 3000 homes was planned in the canyon. Read about it at http://www.friendsofwildcatcanyon.org/?page_id=55

And Gayl half remembered something about an even earlier history of the area. In 1914 a sanitarium opened here. If we had know more detail, the site would have made for an interesting side trip as it is only about 1/4 mile up the Belgum Trail. There is not much left as the house was burned by vandals in the 1970s. Read about it at

https://brokeassstuart.com/2018/03/22/hidden-east-bay-wonders-ruins-of-the-belgum-sanitarium/

09/22 - Chabot

The intent was to start from the upper bend on the road on the hill to the east of the marina. Turns out it is closed except for service vehicles, so we defaulted to parking along the road and walking the east shore trail. Thank goodness for cell phones as I reached everyone and we managed to meet. Bit by bit members of the group pealed off and in the end it was just Lee, Ed and I who made the 4 mile walk. Very dry, but not as dusty as Redwood was last week. And the promised cool down wasn't as much as had been promised, so it was over 80 by the time we returned to our cars. Still it was good to be out and moving and have time to talk with each other.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/qzTh58

09/14 - Redwood Regional Park

There were a dozen of us today plus Oscar and Sunny. We made a loop from the Skyline Entrance to Redwood RP, following the West Ridge Tr to Tres Sendas, then down to Stream Tr and back up to the parking lot. We started in dense fog and ended with sunshine and bright blue sky. Shirley sent chocolates and Susan baked cookies to celebrate three birthdays (Sylvia, Karen and Martha). Even tho the trails are quite dusty and everything is terribly dry, a  good time was had by all. Under 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7YmLR8

9/1 - Briones

 

A nice group today: 14 for the hike (plus Oscar and Sunny)  and then 17 for lunch and a party to celebrate Jack's 90th Birthday (today!!). We huffed and puffed up the Briones Crest Tr and then returned via the Deer Creek Tr. It was under 3 miles but we all felt that we earned our cookies!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/67d8fQ