D Park and Hiking in the Pennin

Ok, so I've been slacking. Here's some fun stuff from this past weekend

Saturday was 70s and sunny, a beautiful day in the city. Went down to Dolores Park to meet up with Rose. After chilling for a while, we saw a group of people, dressed up for either some sort of 80/90s prom or wedding get into what looked like a pie fight. Turns out it was just platefuls of shaving cream. We found out after Rose went down to join in on the fun and returned smelling like 'Cool Wave'

Then, her and her friend Jen found hoola hoops, and got a free lesson

Looking good ladies!

Sunday, Jeremy and I met up with the Miller family for some good ol' fashion hiking. First attempt was the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. (Check out the last time I was here!) It was windy, and pretty chilly considering how warm it felt in the city. We braved it...

Butt...we ended up turning around when we found out the beach was closed due to the sea lions being in town!

Yay!
So, we walked around to the cliff overlooking the beach and had a look at a safe distance

Instead of giving up, we found another hike up in Pacifica, called the Brooks Falls Trail. Supposedly during the 'wet season' the falls are supposed to be one of the best in the Bay area. Unfortunately it wasn't flowing as hoped. Either way it was a fun trip. Jeremy did some death-defying stunts

We saw trees that looked like they were covered in chocolate ganache (see Dayana trying to lick this one)

Surreal looking orange trees

...and a nice view at the top

ya, we know how to strike a pose

Coast Trail Hike in Point Reyes National Seashore

Originally there was a plan to go snowboarding this fine weekend - thinking everyone will be off watching Superbowl and we'd have the mountain to ourselves, but with it being sunny and in the 60s we slept in and decided to go on a hike up in Point Reyes National Seashore. After stopping at the info center we settled on the Coast Trail and headed off. Leaving the visitor we spotted about 3 deer, and continued to see quail, condors and birds hanging out throughout the hike.

At first the terrain was mainly shrubbery and on this fire road path.


Then we headed into a woodsier area


Then we caught a glimpse of the coastline in the distance, right where we were heading.

The sea grass and shrubs were beautiful, as seen here by Jeremy's good eye (you know, versus the fake one :))

This guy seems a little early for the season, but with the weather we've been having...


Then we found this path to the beach...

and decided to take a little detour. The water really was this blue and beautiful. I couldn't believe it.

We found this dead crab shell, he still had his eyes! Creepy, but awesome!

Jeremy got all ghetto with some driftwood and seaweed, but honestly, who wouldn't???

Then I pleaded for Jeremy to take a photo of me on this gorgeous beach (you can see the desperation in my face)

After wandering along the beach for a bit, we found our way back to the trail to loop back to the car. Saw this tree that I nicknamed the 'picnic' tree (because of the log ont he side of the tree that looks perfect for a picnic).

You can see some quail ahead on the trail here

closer up...

even closer....wait, that's not quail! That's the rarely seen bare-assed sell, known to be extremely skinny and sprightly.

At the end of the trail there were these really cool haunting trees


I have to say, not only is it cool that we've managed to go on 3 hikes in the last 4 weeks, but also that each hike has been different - different location, different terrain and fauna, different smells, but all so awesome.
With that said, we went home and made some delicious steak quesadillas

yum!

pleasanton ridge trail hike

so, sometimes I think about NH and Boston and then sometimes I go on a hike in 70 degree sunny weather in January! This weekend Mari invited Jeremy and I to go on a hike with her along the Pleasanton Ridge Trail. It was great! Oh, but first we started off with 3 waffles a piece (ok, so Jeremy really had 3 1/2!) using Amanda's xmas gifted waffle maker! So good, but I think that may be the last time I eat three waffles in a row.
Enough about waffles, now it's time for photos

mmm, cow patties!

the cows

sunshine head

moon walking

some scenery

Pan

my awkwardness never ceases to amaze me still...

mari climbing up the 'shortcut', which wasn't really a shortcut, just a really steep hill.

a kickass tree



if you look real close you can see mari and i framed among the twigs

lichen, or some other neat looking tree growth

back at the car, hike is over, we are tired!