Mike's original plan was to explore the Tarwater trail of Pescadero Creek Country Park. Unfortunately, he missed the turnoff from Alpine Road, and we ended up driving longer way past our destination and I developed motion sickness which led to me tossing my cookies :( So, we re-directed ourselves to the nearest park -- Sam McDonald Park again!
Nevertheless, this turned out to be one of our most favorite trails with several good points: (1) the most comfy trails covered with tons of cushy fallen leaves, (2) very diverse and interesting mix of plants from the marvelous virgin redwood trees to ferns to Douglas firs (i.e. Christmas trees) to open golden meadows, (3) close encounters with not one but eight banana slugs of every size, shape and reaction, (4) not-so-close encounter with a deer and interesting chat with Doug whom we met twice along the hike.
Shortly after we started hiking, I noticed a bunch of fallen pine boughs along the trail and was thinking these would make perfect Christmas wreaths.
Y: Look these fallen pine boughs. They are every where! Perfect for our Christmas wreath! Smell soooooooo good, too! Can I take a few home with me? I guess we're not supposed to take anything out of the Park?
M: They say. "Leave only foot prints and take only memories." In your case, thousands of photos :P
Y: Okay, I'll at least take pictures with them! I'll even carry them with me throughout the hike and part with them later.
Life Goes On
Look What I Found -- Fallen Pine Boughs
So Perfect for Our Christmas Wreath...
They Are Everywhere...
In Such Good Quality and Color With Lovely Smell...
Can I Bring This Whole Pine Tree With Me Home?
How About These Tiny Ones?
Okay Then... I'll Just Touch Them
Hug Them...
Smell Them...
Super Soft and Cushy Trail --
Even The FiveFingers Were Happy :)
Fat Chance Dear, Nice Try Though...
Where is Youngmee?
We Were Here
Eight Banana Slugs We Met
No. 1
As soon as we got close, this one retracted its tentacles super quickly. Also, bunched up (tensed up) its body so much so that the size reduced by half...
Original Look
Bunched Up Look
With Retracted Tentacles
With Extracted Tentacles
No. 2
Breathing Pore (Pneumostome) -
Banana slugs have a single lung which opens externally via Pneumostome.
No. 3
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No. 4
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No. 5
Good capture of 2 pairs of tentacles
the larger (upper) pair for detecting light or movement lower pair for detecting chemicals...
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No. 8 -- Last But Not Least
Some Nuts
Giant Maple Leaf?
Hello Maple Leaves
Leaf View
Banana Slug View
Golden Meadows
Is This Christmas Tree Big Enough For You?
Orange Highlights In The Meadows
Can You Make Out A Deer Near The Trees?
Introducing Doug Whom We Met Twice
Spanish Moss
Long Finger (?) Tree
Nature's Ladder
Mr. Map
Reminded Us of Tree Bones?
Checking Out The iPad Mini Retina
"What do you think of the new Mini?"
"I like that it's small like me."
Getting Back to Exploring More
Still Going Strong
Still Going, Though A Bit Tired
I Can Happily Live Here
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No. 5
Good capture of 2 pairs of tentacles
the larger (upper) pair for detecting light or movement lower pair for detecting chemicals...
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No. 6
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No. 7
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No. 8 -- Last But Not Least
Some Nuts
Giant Maple Leaf?
Hello Maple Leaves
Leaf View
Banana Slug View
Golden Meadows
Is This Christmas Tree Big Enough For You?
Orange Highlights In The Meadows
Can You Make Out A Deer Near The Trees?
Introducing Doug Whom We Met Twice
Long Finger (?) Tree
Nature's Ladder
Mr. Map
Reminded Us of Tree Bones?
The Usual Treat After The Hike
Checking Out The iPad Mini Retina
"What do you think of the new Mini?"
"I like that it's small like me."
Still Going Strong
Still Going, Though A Bit Tired
I Can Happily Live Here
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