All this is possible because I have an amazing partner, Myriam, who is holding down the fort for me as I train for the 3 day. I think she knows, when I am not walking, I am not at all balanced or as efficient.
When I reached PaloMarin Trailhead, a trailhead on the Coastal Trail, the skies were still blue. But if you looked to the coast you couldn't really see anything... it was still socked in with the "marine" layer we have come to know, love, hate and live with. I knew it would be clear on my way back from wherever I was headed.
hanging around like they didn't get the memo... it's summer.
I know you cant see it but behind this flower there was a squirrel hiding out.
The trail was rutted from rains and some of the trail hadn't been groomed in some while. You definitely have to watch where you are going.
I found out that this was one trail where it hadn't been maintained in awhile. The grass was tall and it was hard to find the trail underneath all the brush, but I kept pushing through. I got a little nervous thinking a BIG old Mountain Lion could be hiding in the grass. Then I thought about Olivia and somehow I wasn't so scared anymore. Chemo as a 2 year old, Mountain Lions as an old tough lady... I knew I could scare a Mountain Lion, I hope Olivia knows she can scare off the Cancer.
I know the trail was called Ocean Lakes. This was almost all I saw of a lake and it was the shallow end, reeded up.
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After passing this bench I started heading downhill toward Wildcat camp. Along the way I passed three guys with lawn mowers. Yup Lawn mowers.
Even though they had cut all this grass I didn't really want to walk on that part. I was sure there would be some hole hiding under the grass. So I hugged the side of the trail. Then all of a sudden, I ran into some sort of sticker bush. It stung like a ...... both my arm and my leg.
Yup we are talking hills .... and this would be classified as hiking not walking.
And here I am at Wildcat Camp. this is a camping spot in easy walking distance to the beach. It is around 5.7 from PaloMarin trailhead and about 3.8 miles from Bear Valley Trail.
I walked over to the beach to find somewhere to sit down and cool off. By now even the beach had sun.
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But just the beach, just off the coast the fog lingered. I ate a granola bar, and some sharkies, drank some water and planned my walk back.
Seriously how lucky are we to live in such a beautiful place?
Walking back along Coast Trail I passed more of the Ocean Lakes than I had from the Ocean Lake trail.
All along the alk back just as I predicted you could see the ocean and beyond. That equalled, sweat! I passed about 6 people who had just gotten on the trail from Alamere. They were obviously rested as I walked I heard them right behid me. I said "Hey go ahead and pass me. I think this 58 year old is getting alittle tired and I dont want to slow you up." They did, walk quickly past, then about 10 minutes later I came up on them again. They were beat. I passed them and didn't see them again. Take that whipper snappers!
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Pretty Pretty Pretty...
This was really a pretty great day. It was very warm in the sun and cool but not cold in the fog. It was almost as though you could pick your temperature.
This bench will have a view in about 20 mins.
I said "Boy this trail needs you!" and he responded, "I know we are a little late this year."
I could see anything like a scratch though, but it was decidedly uncomfortable. I knew on the way home I would put on my new handy dandy compression sleeves to avoid further "surprises." Later including today, both my leg and my arm were numb, as though someone had injected lidocane. What was that bush?
Pretty Pretty Pretty...
It's all clear now.
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Here's the map that is at the trailhead. Doesn't look too far dows it? But when I got back to the car the GPS told me I walked 11.8 miles.
And you know what it felt like 20.
How about you are you doing yours?
Here's the map that is at the trailhead. Doesn't look too far dows it? But when I got back to the car the GPS told me I walked 11.8 miles.
And you know what it felt like 20.
How about you are you doing yours?
Have you bought your ticket to Cheers to a Cure? You wouldnt have a better time anywhere Friday July 29th.... I promise.
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