Hiking No. 5 Memorial County Park

Hiking No. 5 on Oct 26, 2013

On our drive to the Memorial County Park, we realized that we didn't have any cash to pay for the parking. However, we kept driving hoping that they would take a credit card. Unfortunately, that was not the case. A ranger at the entrance gate advised us to drive for another 20 miles to a town called Pescadero. Along the drive, we met a few lovely llamas and two girls who kindly directed us to the cute little downtown with small shops and restaurants. At the ATM, we found that we didn't have a debit card with us and only a couple of credit cards. When we tried to use the credit cards to get some cash, we could not do it since we've never set up our credit card to get cash back. We called the CC company and found out that they only mail the password via snail mail. So, we started going into a few grocery shops and restaurants to see if they would give us some cash back if we purchase their goods with credit cards. But, none was doing cash back transactions :(

We decided to explore one furniture shop called, Made in Pescadero, before we said goodbye to this little town. The shop had gorgeous and fine furniture and art pieces handmade by local artisans. I ended up picking up a set of three piece ceramic vases and started chatting with the owner lady at the cashier. When she heard of our little failed adventure to Pescadero downtown to get the parking money of $6, she kindly lend us the money. How kind!!! She made our day! It was so nice to experience that such an act of kindness still exist in an old little town. We also met a cute little dachshund at the store...

By the time we got back to the Memorial Park, it was already getting close to 4 PM. So, we only had two hours till the park closes. Though, we started the hiking with the noise from Pescadero Road and a large group of students camping nearby, our hike was a beautiful, pleasant and above all solitary one. We were lucky again with the whole trail to ourselves except meeting two guys along the way. 

 A Dachshund Encounter

Three Ceramic Vases From Made In Pescadero

Made In Pescadero Yelp Review -- 

Leaving Pescadero With The Precious $6 and Smiles

Lush Fern Walls

Mt. Ellen Summit With Overgrown Bays & Madrones

 Always Leading Lady, Even If She Doesn't Know Where She Is Going

Forest Floor With Ferns, Sorrel & More

Hiking No. 4 Sam McDonald County Park

Hiking No. 4 on Oct 19, 2013 in Sam McDoland County Park

At the start of the hike at the Big Tree Trail, we got lost a little bit and ended up crossing into the Heritage Grove Trail. Though, we had to turn back without completing the whole loop of the trail, it was another beautiful park with varied terrain and gorgeous views of gigantic old growth redwood trees, open fields and lush green ferns. We also loved the fact that the trails were quite empty and quiet -- just two of us and the nature itself!

We are amazed again and again by the robust and resilient nature of redwood trees surviving severe fire damages.

Newly Sprouting Baby Redwood Tree

The view you get from looking up at the soaring redwood trees intertwined with shining sun and peeping sky through the leaves and branches (which totally reminded us of umbrella bones) as well as the multiple shades of green they created as a group is just breath-taking!!!

The Perfect Conductor of Forest Orchestra

Sam McDonald County Park Map

Hiking No. 3 Pescadero Creek County Park

Hiking No. 3 on Oct 12, 2013

Imo-nim (Mike's aunt) who was visiting from Korea joined us for this hike. There was a vast flat land which looked like a perfect location to build our future house at the start of the trail (It even had a electricity tower conveniently nearby) and then crossed into Pescadero Creek and other trails. The trails were very zen-like (?) and peaceful with rich woody smells of redwood trees. We took many deep breaths to inhale all the phytoncides out in the forest. We had the trails all to ourselves except when we met a couple of horseback riders at the start of the hike and a couple walking their dog crossing the Pescadero Creek at the end of the hike. 

Lot for Future Dream House?

Our Favorite Aunt & Mike

My Protector Husband & Me

The highlight of the trail was close encounter with a banana slug which was moving ever so slowly -- a perfect model for Mike's photo opp. Mike was so proud of getting a great frontal picture capturing both pairs of tentacles. Apparently, the larger (upper) pair are used to detect light or movement while the second (lower) pair are used to detect chemicals...

Super Model Banana Slug 

Can you see the two pairs of tentacles?

Pescadero Creek County Park 

Hiking No. 2 Sanborn County Park

Hiking No. 2 on October 5, 2013

Last week's hike turned out to be a little bit too much for me, so we've decided to do a short hike. Mike picked a nice little one called Sanborn County Park in Saratoga. It has camping and picnic areas in addition to the hiking trails. It looks that this park is also a popular place for weddings. When we got there, there was a wedding going on. Our hike of about 2miles took us through Redwood groves, a bit of hilly meadows, a little creek and back to the large lawn located at the center of the park.

Shortly after the hike started, we were led to a Fairy Ring of Redwood trees -- a group of Redwood trees growing in a circle. The redwood trees encircling the larger tree are clonal sprouts which grew from the base of the parent tree, which probably survived a severe damage such as a fire. The sheer scale and the robust ability to reproduce through sprouting are just unbelievable!!!

Fairy Ring of Redwood Trees

A broken Redwood &Me

Mike Counting The Age of The Fallen Redwood

Sun-tanning (?) Leaves Line vs. Clothes Line

So Called Korean Puppy Grass (강아지풀)?

Giving Tree Bench

 Flowers In The Central Lawn