4/16 - Shell Ridge

 

There were 7 of us brave enough to hike on an extra warm spring day; it was 82 on the car thermometer at then end of the hike. We started from the Sutherland Dr entrance (absolutely hoards of people) and walked north to the Briones - Mt Diablo Rd and then south until the last junction with the Indian Creek Tr which took us back. The restoration garden at the entrance was bright with poppies, tidy tips, Chinese houses, etc. while the remainder of the walk was mostly wonderful green with patches of color here and there. 3 miles

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04/19 - Skyline Gardens

 

Rather than use a shuttle at the end of the hike as we have done in the past, we turned around when the trail started down toward the Fish Ranch/Grizzley Peak intersection. You would never guess it was barely over two miles from the time it took us. There was so much to see and the day was about perfect. I took over 100 picture, the first time for so many in ages. 

The best news today was that Martha joined us for the first time since the initial pandemic lock down (three years)...hugs all around!

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04/12 - Black Diamond Mines

 

The hike didn't turn out the way I had planned, but the Wednesday group is adaptable and it was still a good day. The intent was to hike the River View Loop, clockwise from the first parking area. As you will see in the pictures the trail was a mess from cows walking in muddy soil. We were really tired by the time we had navigated the first mile from the parking lot to just past the old barn you may remember at a curve in the road. Conversations with a PG&E inspector and a park ranger convinced us to turn around and walk back along the road. That still gave us a two mile hike, but we were very lucky that no one fell, or twisted anything on the terribly rough trail.  We did see plenty of  flowers along the road, so it wasn't a total loss.

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4/5 - Ring Mt.

 

Just seven of us today on the first dry Wednesday since 3/15. We made a CCW loop starting from the end of Westward Dr. Most of the trails were in good shape, tho some portions were a muddy mess; the creeks were singing their way down the hills. A wonderful day to be out on the trails. A bit under 2.5 miles.

It was early for lots of the flowers we look for, but just right for the Oakland Star tulip (Calochortus), buttercups and Cream cups. I ran out of battery life and my external charger didn't work as advertised, so I missed pictures of the only Sun cup we spotted as well as of a delightful little bright pink star, single open flower per stem, leaves reedy and under 5" slight oniony odor. It doesn't match any Allium, tho. For these and others you will need to wait for Pfred's pictures.

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