Briones Reservoir (to the bottom, and up the spillway)

May 18, 2014
Contra Costa County
Hikers: Cathy, Laura
Distance: 9.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1,526 ft.


Briones Reservoir - always beautiful. The trails were lined with, and the hillsides covered with, Sticky Monkey flowers. Just beautiful.





 The yellow flowers are the Sticky Monkey flower.








 Sticky Monkey flower.







 Trails:

Bear Creek

(permit required)

To see photos of the spillway, see our hike we did in July 2012.

Sister Weekend: Monterey Bay Aquarium and Point Lobos State Reserve

May 3 - 4, 2014
Monterey/Carmel, CA
Hikers Walkers:  Cathy, Laura
Distance: 7.7 miles (Point Lobos)
Elevation Gain: 911 ft.


























 I could gaze at jellies all day long...






 The penguin exhibit was most popular - good thing for zoom lenses.




Roses, compliments of Old Fisherman's Grotto, where we had the most delicious appetizer of heirloom tomatoes and burrata cheese, that is drizzled with a balsamic pomegranate vinaigrette.


Get an early start if you visit this park. We arrived just after eight, and were fourth in line, with a line of cars behind us - extremely popular park.

























Got goose?


















We were told by the gentleman in the above picture, that John Steinbeck's ashes were scattered on these rocks. (This information has not been verified.)


























"The orange, velvety "stuff" especially noticeable on trees and rocks of the shadowed north-facing slopes is a green algae. Its orange color comes from carotene, a pigment which also occurs in carrots. The plant does not harm the trees." (source: park map)


























 




















Trails:
Granite Point, Cabin, North Shore, Whalers Knoll, Old Veteran, Cypress Grove, Pine Ridge, Lace Lichen, Mound Meadow, South Shore, Bird Island, South Plateau, Carmelo Meadow.

Point Lobos State Reserve 

Monterey Bay Aquarium