I 'm so out of practice that I've totally forgotten to update the bolg.
Here goes, working backward, since I started hiking again.
9/21 - South Shore, Briones Reservoir
Six of us walked the Bear Creek trail from the trailhead near Happy Valley Rd to the dam. It was a gray day which had started with sprinkles, but lovely for walking. It was definitely fall like (first full day of autumn is tomorrow) with reds of poison oak and rusty gold of bay along with multiple shades of brown from grasses and other leaves. The quarter to third of an inch of rain this week was enough to rinse away much of the dust, but not to relieve the dryness. 3.5 mi
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/1a4380ZCQw
9/14 - Huckleberry
There were just five of us today, but we had a very enjoyable visit to Huckleberry Preserve. Things are dry and dusty, but there were still several "water features" making music. It was cool enough for vests and long sleeves to start as the fog was still present; quite a change from last week's 100+ degree temperatures. Delia brought watermelon as a post-hike treat!!! Not quite 2 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/913d823W88
9/7 No hike. Temperatures over 100
8/31 - North Berkeley
John and Delia Taylor led the group of 6 around their north Berkeley neighborhood to look at the rhyolite outcrops - some prominent, some integrated into fences, and around homes, also gardens, houses, grand oak trees and views. It was a perfect day for walking in Berkeley, pleasantly warm instead of the beginnings of the heat wave on the east side of the hills.
Much of John's information is based, at least in part, on the book Berkeley Rocks, Building with Nature. Pictures by Jonathan Chester and text by Dave Weinstein. Berkeley: 10 Speed Press, 2007.
Our route started at the Taylor's house on Catalina, took us by the Church on the corner of Colusa where Delia and John have volunteered creating mostly native plantings, north on Colusa to Vincente to its end at Cerrito Creek canyon, back down to 1000 Oak Blvd to Stone Face Park, then below the park on Yosemite Rd to Contra Costa Ave, to the intersection with Solano, down Solano to a "secret" passage thru to Station Pl which ends right at the Taylor's house. A bit over 2.3 miles.
We also enjoyed the Taylor's garden where there were plenty of natives to enjoy; the Madia elegans are spectacular!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/314w4CP3AD
8-24 - Sibley
For the first time in two months I walked with the group. I had a misadventure with a collapsing stool which sidelined me for nearly 6 weeks and then there was a heat wave. It was great to be back on the trail with the group even tho everything is terribly dry.
We started from the main Skyline entrance and followed the fire road up the hill, bearing left at the split for the EBMUD water tank. Once out to the Volcanic Tr we wandered west and then took the trail up hill and east along the ridge rejoining the official trails at the overlook for the big labyrinth. Then we rejoined the Roundtop Loop Tr to return on the shaded south side. 9 of us; under 2.5 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9yN9K509fC
