Goodbye Marin County, until November
April 3, 2023.
At the beginning of the only section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail I hiked in April.
April 2023 proved to be another wet and cold period in Marin County and across northern California. We continued to do camp checks twice a day - sometimes fitting them in between showers - but I didn't spend a lot of extra time outside walking around anywhere. Rain or Shine I began every day walking to the bench about a quarter mile back on Pioneer Tree Trail before heading to the camp entrance station to begin the morning check in of campers. When the weather was good, especially on the weekends, the campground was pretty full, but rainy weather tended to keep folks home.
A group of Wake Robin Trilliums on the South Creek Trail.
A Pacific Trillium turned a pinky color after being pollinated.
Close up of Dutchman's Pipe Flower.
I didn't see any of the Pipe Stem Butterflies this season, not sure if they were around.
This young buck was by Camp Site 12,
This is the first deer I've ever seen in the campground - not sure where he came from.
There were lots of Trilliums at the Trail head.
Trail beginning in the trees.
Some Paintbrush flowers.
First glimpse of the ocean.
A view of Stinson Beach.
One Golden Poppy.
I saw several single poppies, but no big groups yet.
One purple Blue Dick.
Another view of Stinson Beach and Bolinas.
A pretty Buttercup.
The trail joined the Pantoll Road for a short bit and then went back into the grassland.
In Memory of Robert B. Cook 1950-1979
A memorial bench about half way along my journey.
The plague says that this bench was conceived as Bob Cook's Eagle Project.
Some Lupine just starting to bloom - no super bloom yet.
The trail winding along the grassy hillsides.
Baby Blue Eyes
Hounds Tongue
Some Milk Maid flowers
A rusted car frame that must have come down from the Pantoll Road above the trail a long time ago.
A tree framing a view of the ocean.
The trail looked like it went into space.
Shooting Stars
A seasonal waterfall as I approached the end of the trail.
So my "goal" of eventually hiking the entire Bay Area Ridge Trail (over 500 miles total, but only 400+ is complete) is off to an underwhelming start. I've only hike about 25 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge toward Samuel P Taylor State Park. I had really hoped I could hike the last section to our park (about 12 miles, of which I have previously hiked at least half of) along the Bolinas Ridge Trail and ending at our campsite before we left for the season, but weather and other commitments precluded that. It's something to look forward to next season!
Another pollinated Trillium - April 4.
On Tuesday, April 4, we headed over to Point Reyes National Seashore and hiked a short section of the Bear Valley Trail - something we've never done before. I had also thought of a goal of hiking all the trails at Point Reyes, but one goal is probably sufficient. Point Reyes has a lot of trail, but not over 400 miles worth! We were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful Bear Valley Trail, and on a Tuesday in early April it wasn't crowded - I think it's pretty popular on the weekends and in the summer.
Us on Bear Valley Trail.
A Bleeding Heart along the trail.
And a Chasmanthe.
At Samuel P Taylor I continued to enjoy the flowers that were blooming, and discovering new ones to me. Of course, I am particularly fond of the Trilliums. I'm kind of surprised how long their season has lasted this year with my first sighting of a budding one on February 1, and though most are done blooming late into April, I still saw new pretty white ones and even a budding Trillium on April 6.
Pretty little Wood Violets along Pioneer Tree Trail
Wild Cat Canyon Creek little waterfall by the bench - April 5.
Redwood Sorrel, fully opened in the rare sunshine.
April 6 - a group of still white Pacific Trilliums.
A brand new Trillium about to bloom on April 6.
A new tree fall that happened between the mornings of April 7 and 8 at the beginning of the Pioneer Tree Trail in Wild Cat Canyon. And it wasn't raining or windy.
Easter Moon Set at the Sunrise Service.
San Geronimo Presbyterian Church
Rob trimming the recent tree fall to make passage easier.
A Camper Van named Betty White!
Ranger Nick Turner in his truck he also named "Betty White."
I wish every ranger was as nice, friendly and no-nonsense as Nick!
A Banana slug - but not in the Redwoods.
I saw this one near our Colfax area home when we were there on April 11.
I don't think I've ever seen one in that area before.
Sutter Buttes and Beyond from my morning walk, April 11 near our home.
A pretty wildflower along my way.
Some more pretty flowers near our Colfax home.
Back at Camp Taylor I continued to delight in the myriad signs of spring.
See the little white flower peeking over the top of the top leaf?
If I hadn't seen the previous little flower flipped over the top of the leaf, I wouldn't have discovered the charming Fairy Bells dangling under the leaves.
Rob swept the campground roads just about every day it wasn't raining.
Anything to lessen the use of the dreaded leaf blowers!
Elephant Seal at Drake's Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore.
This was our only trip to this part of Point Reyes this season.
Friends came to visit so we went with them to check out the lingering Elephant Seals.
Can you see Shawn on the roof?
He's sealing various places on the roof.
We haven't had any signs of leaking, but we don't want to wait until we do.
Granddaughters Naomi and Sophia came with Shawn.
The girls and I did the noon camp check on our bicycles.
Here they are recovering Naomi's bike that went off the beaten path.
April 18 - 20, Rob and I headed to Christ the King Retreat Center in Sacramento for a gathering of retired United Methodist clergy and their spouses. We were a small group gathering together for the first time since the beginning of COVID, but we had a wonderful time visiting with friends new and old, and enjoying the lovely setting.
The Labyrinth at Christ the King Retreat Center.
Lots of Turkeys at the Center!
One beauty strutting his stuff.
Beautiful woods on the grounds
And some flowers
And a yellow one.
And one white rabbit!
Formerly domestic, I'm sure.
Do you see the white Egret in the water?
On Saturday, April 22, while Rob stayed in camp to fulfill our Camp Host obligations I went to Richmond to help celebrate granddaughter Sophia's 10th birthday. Shawn had engineered and created an elaborate set up of challenges for the children to complete before locating a piñata under a volcano! It was themed after a favorite series of books that Sophia loves and I can't remember the name of.
The volcano erupting before being lifted off to reveal the piñata.
Sophia blowing out the candles with Naomi nearby.
A fun National Parks puzzle.
A wild Iris in the Redwoods.
The waterfall by the bench on April 24 - notice the rock cairn on top?
Cairn above the little waterfall.
Another pollinated Trillium - April 24.
Star Flowers along the beginning of Pioneer Tree Trail on April 24.
Our youngest daughter Ruth did a most unusual and most generous thing on April 24. She donated a part of her liver to the step mother of a casual friend. The recipient of the liver was not very high on the list to receive a liver from a deceased donor so the family reached out via Facebook to see if anyone was willing to see if they were a good match. Ruth responded to the invitation, not really thinking that she would be a good match, nor that her unusual medical history would qualify her, but she passed all the tests, scans, probes and interviews and willingly, literally gave up a part of her body so that someone else would have a new lease on life. This was major abominable surgery for both donor and recipient, requiring a week long stay in the hospital (UCSF) and a long recovery. Ruth's wonderful boyfriend Jody, stayed with her at the hospital throughout her initial 7 day stay, brought her home and then the next day had to take her back when she "flunked" discharge because of severe unmanaged pain in her neck and back. One of the things about Ruth's medical history is that she really doesn't respond to the usual medications given for pain - she kept begging for ibuprofen, and finally got it after returning to the hospital. I spent part of six days of her initial stay in the hospital and part of 3 days of her return and brought her home to Colfax on May 3. She had a follow up check up on the 9th when the doctor said that her regenerating liver is already fully functioning. We saw the recipient that day too, and she is recovering quite well as well.
One benefit of Ruth's long stay in the hospital was occasional walks around San Francisco that I got to take. The hospital is just a few blocks from Golden Gate Park and the famous Haight Ashbury district.
It was raining off and on the day I walked to the Haight.
On Ruth's last day in the hospital she did a Zoom job interview!
She was offered the job as an Associate Electrical Engineer!
Casa Loma
The hotel in San Francisco Ruth and I stayed in when she went for her checkup on May 9.
We parked the car in the UCSF garage when we arrived about 9:00 PM on Monday and then took a LFYT to the hotel. Tuesday morning we walked the 2 miles to the medical center. It was hard to keep up with Ruth climbing the San Francisco hills. She is well on the way to recovery!
Pretty new ferns on April 29 as we prepared to say goodbye to Marin County.
Goodbye to the pretty little seasonal waterfall until November.
Since returning to Colfax on May 3, my main enterprise has been supporting Ruth in her recovery, including being her chauffeur, but she is now cleared to drive. I of course also fit in some walking around the beautiful country side near our property. Rob spent his time moving lots and lots and lots of cut up pine trees and splitting some of it.
Back in Colfax there is definitely a super bloom of Lupine.
There are other pretty wildflowers like these.
And these.
A partial view of rounds Rob has moved to dry off the ground.
Friend Janie and me in front of Colfax UMC, Sunday, May 7.
Janie lived in Colfax over 20 years ago. She now lives in Washington State, where we visited her in our travels 2 1/2 years ago. In October, 2022, we visited her in West Virginia where she was visiting her home state and celebrating her 60th birthday. Wonder where we'll meet next!
My favorite walk near our Colfax property is a 4+ mile out and back up to an irrigation canal and then up to the top of a hill where I can see the eastern crest of the Sierra and the western coast range. The route to the canal crosses private property that has not been developed for years, but now has been sold to a new owner who is in the process of preparing to build a home there. The route is currently impassable due to mud - well it's passable, but not worth the journey. So yesterday I drove a couple of miles where I could walk into Weimar Institute and access their beautiful trail system.
The mud bog I mistakenly thought I could somehow cross on my way to the canal.
The result of the crossing!
Pretty iris and blue dicks on the Weimar Institute grounds.
Red Bud blooming on the Weimar Institute grounds.
I had a lovely walk there!
Today, Saturday, May 13, 2023 Rob and I head southeast to Richmond where we will spend the night. Tomorrow morning we head to the San Francisco airport where we will fly to Vancouver, BC to begin an 18 day adventure in Alaska beginning with a 7 day cruise.
Straus and Elsie will be under the care of Ruth while we are away.
Straus
Elsie
enjoy alaska
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