01/08 - Redwood Regional Park

A dozen of us started from the Skyline entrance and made the East Ridge/Prince/Stream loop on a day which started with fog after overnight showers and ended with sun and clouds. It was seasonable for January, mitts and hats felt good. The moisture had brought out all sorts of mushrooms; the ladybugs were waking up; the mud was of the slick, stick to your boots sort. It was a good walk of about 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/07LKGP

01/02 Soup Day at Jeanne's

Fourteen of us started at the fire access road on Saklan Indian Dr. We all walked up to the Labyrinth, many paced its winding path. Nine walked back to Jeanne's and the other 5 rode back (Shirley took two drivers back to get their cars later). There the group was increased by 3. We had all sorts of delicious food from "befores" to soup to sweets, and lots of good companionship. The full hike was about 1.5 mile; I have a gimpy leg and only did the short bit (.3 mi) so you will need to wait for Phred's pictures to see the remainder of the hike

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/360879

Happy New Year to the Wednesday Walkers, even tho this was Thursday!

11/20 - West Ridge, Rossmoor

Susan and Geoff coordinated this hike on the west ridge of Rossmoor. We last hiked even part of it on the 30th of Dec. 2014, so it really was time to revisit it. It is a beautiful oak woodland with views to make the climb worth while. We went up Golden Tr, north on Clyde Wood Tr, down the fireroad (Sumner's Tr), took the single track Bypass, and ended up back at the starting point. Only a bit over 2 miles, but lots of up and down and switchbacks.

Jeanne invited us to come eat our lunches at her house; she had coffee and Shirley brought cookies. The other treat was getting to look at the new Stephen Joseph book of Mount Diablo views.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0V513P

11/13 - Benicia

Elaine led eleven of us on a clockwise loop starting from Turnbull Park at the foot of E 5th Street. After lunch at Arneson Park, we adjourned to the One House Bakery for coffee and treats before wandering back to the cars. About 3.7 miles +/-

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9107SX

11/6/2019 - Mt Diablo

It was a hazy and much warmer day than we anticipated. Ten of us walked from the parking area by Blue Oak picnic area out the Green Ranch Rd to the old home site. We returned via Oak Knoll Tr. Only 2.7 miles, but it seemed much longer.

We were too early for the grape color in Mitchell Canyon and Pine Canyon and almost too late for it on this hike. Most of the brilliant leaves had already fallen.

For some history of the Green Ranch see: https://patch.com/california/danville/on-mount-diablo-the-green-family-summer-home
The article I linked previously from the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association has disappeared.

For pictures of last year's hike with lots of grape color: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/62U4s3

For pictures from today's hike: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8j4uj0


10-30-2019 - No Hike
The combination of power outages, wind and red-flag fire warnings which closed most parks was enough to keep us home today.

10/23 - Pt Isabel

The flat route, not too long and with the heat tempered by cool Bay breezes brought a big group (18) out for today's walk.For most of us it was an out and back from Pt Isabel to the Friendship Park. Three hardy souls extended the walk by looping out around the end of the short peninsula (a little under another mile). For the rest of us it was a 4.4 mile amble.

We did see a number of birds...Delia id's a Long Bulled Curlew, there was a pair of Avocets, also possible Godwit sightings, several groups of Pelicans, lots of Gulls and Coots and begging Canada geese.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/T9Q0k5

10/16 - Pine Canyon and 10/2 - Mitchell Canyon

There were 11 of us today; we split into two groups with the more adventuresome hikers making the loop which descends the steep Buckeye Ravine trail to rejoin the Stage Rd. Those of us who stayed in the Canyon went thru the gate and about 1/2 mile into Mt Diablo State Park, so distances were nearly equal, about 4.25 miles.

The canyon group saw plenty of color in the grapes, maples and poison oak. You will have to wait for Pfred's pictures to see what the other group experienced. We met for lunch at the tables just before the state park boundary.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/H81WYi


10/2 - Mitchell Canyon

Sorry I missed posting this, but here it is...better late than never I guess.

A lovely fall day saw a dozen of us wandering up Mitchell Canyon hoping the shorter days and brisk nights had colored the masses of wild grape leaves. We were really too early, tho there were patches showing what is to come. BUT, we saw tarantulas...3 of them. When you get to the pictures, the 3rd one is a short video clip; click to play. Two miles each way.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/J5soj1