Part 3, Sixth Season at Samuel P Taylor State Park

Family game time in our tent.

Me, Rob, Emma and Jacob.

March 1, 2026

This blog post begins in January and ends the end of February.

January 10, 2026

As Spring approached there were more ducks in Lagunitas Creek.

And occasionally we heard about some Steelhead Trout in January and February.

The newly installed bench near my special spot in Wild Cat Canyon.

The pretty creek just below the bench - January 15, 2026.

A work in progress on the Pioneer Tree Trail.

This area has always been wet, and at first the Trail Crew intended to build a bridge across it.

Instead they installed bricks to help it drain.

The finished fix - better than before, but a bridge would have been better I think.

See the reflection of tree leaves on the trunk?

A beautiful affect.

Sunday, January 18, we headed east to our home in the Colfax area for a couple of nights over our days off. I saw a beautiful sunset in Rocklin, and explored a bit in the Regional Park in North Auburn, in addition to of course spending some game time with family.

January 18, Sunset Sky in Rocklin.

A squirrel at Regional Park.

And an Egret in the pond there.

I came upon this on my morning hike on the Pioneer Tree Trail, January 23.

It was a bit challenging to get around it, though the fallen tree had been cut.

From the other side.

Notice the dark clump to the left.

This was the next day after that clump fell across the trail.

It was even harder to get around this.

This tree falling across the trail happened before they'd finished with the trail restoration, and fortunately the trail crews were still around to remedy it. I talked with one of the leaders who told me the plan was to winch the large pieces of tree trunks down the hill from the trail, but they gave up on that plan and cut back the stumps as much as possible and rerouted the trail.

The newly rerouted trail.

Part of the beautiful Pioneer Tree Trail.

Part of the trail crew using this tripod to lift large rocks to move them on to a small tractor.

Monday, January 26, was a day off from camp host duties and Rob had a dentist appointment at the VA clinic in Santa Rosa. After his appointment we decided to take the long way back to camp via driving along the Russian River out to the coast where we had lunch in Jenner, explored a trail in an area new to us south of Jenner, and enjoyed a beautiful day.

The Cozy Nest where Rob has lots of childhood memories.

Rob's grandmother had this little summer cabin in Guernewood Park on the Russian River.

She spent her two week vacations here until she retired and then she would spend the whole summer.

The family sold it many years ago, but the new owners kept the name.

Looking north toward Jenner.

We walked a short distance on this trail.

There were beautiful vistas of the ocean.

And some pretty flowers.

Rob heading back to the car.

Elephant seals, including new pups, January 27.

Friends came to visit and we went to see the seals at Drakes Beach

and then had lunch in Point Reyes Station.

Friends brought a gift of a Trillium from another friend!

Thursday, January 29, Rob had an Endowment Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento, followed by a retirement lunch for the board's Executive Director. During the two hour meeting I went for a long walk to William Land Park before joining Rob for the lunch.

The Zoo and Fairy Tale Town at William Land Park were part of my and my children's childhood.

A pioneer statue in the park.

A dry fountain in front of the statue.

January 30, first sighting of a Trillium at Camp Taylor.

A little rain logged!

One more open looking after the rain.

Circinate Vernation.

A fern unfurling!

North Cascades National Park.

First puzzle completed this season - February 1!

I started this puzzle in November, but the old tent collapsed on it more than once.

I had to wait until it dried out to finish and it was warm enough to work on it.

Surprisingly I only lost one piece!

Abbot's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Sea Shore, February 2.

Rob and I walked here, hoping to see river otters - we didn't!

But it was a beautiful hike anyway!

Saw these twining wild strawberries in the sand there.

Strawberry blossom up close.

We saw many birds including this one.

February 3 - back at Taylor.

The Trilliums here are mostly small like this one.

Redwood Sorrel starting to bloom, February 3.

February 3, I headed south to attend a Gathering of Spiritual Leaders at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. This annual gathering of UMC clergy in our conference is always a good time of reconnection with colleagues, and especially wonderful when it is held at Asilomar. On the way I stopped in the Santa Cruz Mountains to have lunch with daughter Erin and to enjoy a walk at Henry Cowell State Park with Erin and her dog Shadow.

A view of the Monterey Bay from Henry Cowell SP.

Beautiful beach at Asilomar.

Snowy Egret in a tide pool.

One of the many deer on the Conference Center grounds.

Me on the beach.

The tide rolling in.

February 7.

Granddaughter Naomi in her new sweater.

When Sophia and Naomi were in the park at Thanksgiving they both requested items knitted by me. Naomi's request was for a sweater that was dark blue on top, light blue in the middle, and purple on the bottom - request fulfilled. I gave it to her after an indoor soccer game where Naomi scored 2 goals!

On Sunday, February 8, we headed to Colfax for our Monday and Tuesday days off from camp host duties.

A tree with hundreds of woodpecker holes on a neighbor's property.

February 9.

Beautiful sky in Auburn as I went for a walk while the car was being serviced.

And some beautiful blossoms on a tree I passed in Auburn.

In the fall we had learned that the top of a very tall Redwood tree near the Park Host camp site in the picnic area of the park was going to be cut down sometime this winter. The tree was one that had a hollowed out area at its base, and had been monitored for a long time. It had developed some new cracks and it was determined that there was a good potential for it falling in the future. Removing the top part required the Park Host, Woody, to move his trailer out of his campsite while the work was to be done just in case something fell where it shouldn't. February 11, was the day a large crane, a lumber jack and crew arrived to cut the tree in sections. It was quite an impressive feat! The lumber jack rode up to the top of the tree on the ball of the crane, secured himself to the tree trunk and began his work. First all the branches had to be cut off the trunk and then he would cut a section 10 to 12 feet long while the crane had it secured so it could lift off the section when it was cut through.

The lumber jack on the tree cutting with the crane securing the section above him.

This picture is to give a perspective of how far up that crane reached.

The top of the crane is visible in the center left with clouds behind.

And there's the truck that was the crane support.

The last section being lowered down at sunset on February 11.

The 9 removed sections were moved to an unused area of the park.

We were told they plan to use the wood in the park, but I suspect they will rest here for many, many years!

A section of the Pioneer Tree Trail, February 12.

I never tire of the varied light coming through the trees.

And I never tire of Trilliums.

Most here at Samuel P Taylor are small!

Another puzzle finished, February 15.

February 16, another fallen tree in the park.

This one was near the entrance.

It required PG&E to send crews to remove it as it threatened power lines.

Tuesday, February 17, was our day off, and it was raining. Rob and I decided to do a public transportation day. We boarded a Marin Transit bus right in front of our park which took us to the San Rafael Transit Center where we were able to connect to the SMART train which we then rode to it's northern most stop in Windsor.

The SMART Train.

Free for anyone over age 62!

Looking across to old town Windsor from where we got off the train.

We found a nice Thai restaurant for lunch and an ice cream parlor for dessert.

Then we walked back across the parking lot to board the train back to San Rafael.

We didn't explore Windsor as much as we wanted since it was raining.

A view from the train.

And another.

And the bus that would take us back to camp.

I figured that a way to get more familiar with the California Veterans Home is to become volunteers there, so on Wednesday February 18, I headed over to Yountville for an orientation. Following the training I walked around the grounds, had lunch with my friend who lives there and got another tour of the facilities. It is really a beautiful and special place.

The cemetery at Yountville Veterans Home.

A stream running through the cemetery.

Doesn't this tree scar look like a bleeding heart?

Back at Samuel P Taylor on the Pioneer Tree Trail.

Wild Cat Canyon Creek is flowing high after a February storm.

On February 19, I discovered this fallen live electric wire near our campsite.

Rob had heard a tree fall and looked outside but didn't see anything.

Here is the fallen tree that took down the power and blocked the camp road.

Back on Pioneer Tree Trail - a new bench built by the trail crew.

And a newly fallen tree partially blocking the trail.

Rob cut out a lot of it so it was more easily passable.

Much better!

Even horses can get through there now.

A tributary to Lagunitas Creek outside the park at Leo T Cronin Fish Viewing Area.

On February 25, I headed there to view fish, but there were none to view.

Alas spawning season was coming to an end.

On February 27 and 28th, my friend Judith and I participated in a writing retreat at St. Columbas's

Episcopal Church and Retreat Center in Inverness. We had a lovely time writing and sharing with others, and on a long afternoon break I went for a hike up in the hills while others wrote or rested.

A closed gate next to the trail I was on.

Wished I could have explored this, but this trail was closed.

A tall Celtic cross above the church.

Looking down at the church on my way back.

I keep promising myself to work on the blog daily, but it doesn't happen, so here I am at nearly the end of April and our time here in Marin County with only reflections and pictures through the end of February. More to come - soon I hope!

Still some pictures of mushrooms to share: