After spending most of the summer hiking out near Point Reyes, we move inland this week and hike near Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
This is a "scouting" hike, so there is no fee (but also no guarantee that we won't get lost!), but also a SHUTTLE HIKE, so call or e-mail Wendy to let her know if you do plan to come.Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "This hike is a little longer than usual at around 7 miles, but has only 600' elevation gain. As usual for a scouting hike, I don't guarantee to get us back on time, so don't plan your schedule tightly!"
Directions to trailhead: Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita at 9:25 am. Otherwise, meet 0.2 miles west past the Shafter Bridge (and Cronin Fish Viewing Area parking lot which is closed this time of year) in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. There is some parking along the road here. We'll leave some cars and carpool to Buckeye Circle in Woodacre.
For shuttle drivers, here are directions to Buckeye Circle: Go east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn right on Railroad Avenue, right on Carson Road, left on Redwood Drive. This ends at Buckeye Circle. Go right to start the loop. There are few parking places. Park anywhere legal that you can find! Fire road is on the right as you head uphill on Buckeye Circle. (See Google Map below).
View Larger MapNo restrooms at trailhead or parking areas. (Closest restroom would well to the west at the main entrance to Samuel P. Taylor State Park).
Weather forecast: As of Sunday, August 9th, the weather forecast for the Forest Knolls area on Tuesday, August 11th was sunny, with a high near 91. South southwest wind between 3 and 6 mph. (
Click here for an updated forecast).
More on this hike: On this outing we'll be hiking through the
County of Marin's Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve. After starting up the Summit Drive Fire Road, we'll cross the edge of White's Hill, then head west along the San Geronimo Ridge Fire Road. (Click here for the MCOS District map which shows these trails). Barry Spitz' book,
Open Spaces: Lands of the Marin County Open Space District, discusses this area.
The following Google Earth image shows the area we'll be hiking through; click on it to open a larger image in your Web browser:
Silvia Lange has been hiking with Wendy for dog's years. But she's been playing Doggie Mama for the last three months and not been joining us for our weekly hikes, making only a cameo appearance with her Lab, Hettie, at our Spring "Final Exam" luncheon.
The Governator hasn't "terminated" Angel Island State Park (as yet), so we still have an opportunity to hike there in case the park is eventually closed. Here's Wendy's description of the outing: "We'll check out the outside of the new Immigration Station, but not do the tour, and then go to the top of Mt. Livermore, and take the 3:30 p.m. ferry back." Bring cash or check for the ferry ($13.50 round trip; no credit cards) and cash for the park entrance fee ($3.00). (Bring $17 in cash or check for Wendy, too!).
If you feel like you're just going round and round in circles when you're hiking on sunless days and moonless nights, don't feel like you've got a defective brain. You're actually quite normal. See this piece from the New York Times to learn more. Fortunately, during our meanders with Wendy we only go in circles on loop hikes.
Now that Dick Jordan is a member of the press, best to keep your lips zipped. You never know where what you say might show up in print!
For a complete list of all upcoming Tuesday Meandering during the month of August, click here. Monday Meanders are listed separately; click here to view and print that list. (Wendy should have e-mailed this information to you near the end of July).
Around 10 PM, look up into the eastern sky and you'll see the Moon. To its right, you'll find what looks like a very bright star: It's Jupiter. Point a spotting scope (or maybe even binoculars) at it and you'll see four of Jupiter's 63 brightest moons in a line (plane), two on either side. In about a week, the planet will make it's closet approach of the year to Earth. (Dick Jordan got a very clear view of Jupiter on Thursday, less so on Friday evening when skies didn't seem quite as clear).
Theresa Fisher of the Tuesday "Meanderers" and a frequent contributor to our on-line album of hike pictures, has submitted 2 photos to the WGNAmerica Photo Contest. Her first photo was submitted last week during week 6 of the contest. This week, week 7, she was excited to see that her picture, a panoramic shot of the sunrise over Monument Valley, was one of the "Top 12 Entries." If hers is the top vote-getting shot, she'll win a camera. Neither the photographer nor the location is identified on 12 photos shown on the WGNAmerica "My America" Web site, but Theresa's photo is the very last one you'll see. So click here to cast your vote in her favor.
Dick Jordan has become a an active member of the Bay Area Travel Writers, a not-for-profit, professional association of writers and photographers with outstanding achievements in travel journalism. These professionals share their unique stories in newspapers, magazines, books, internet publications, and travel industry publications.
Dick Jordan's "staycation" travel story about the Bay Model in Sausalito was posted to the Contra Costa Times Travel Section Web site on Friday, July 31st, as well as the sites for the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune. (The "hard copy" should be in the Sunday Travel section of the CCT and Marin I-J, and probably the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune, too).
