SATURDAY......A gorgeous Southern California summer weekend.....marine layer in the a.m., sun by noon and a lovely 78 degrees....perfect hiking and biking conditions..so guess where I was......Saturday we hiked O'Neill park for the first time. I've biked some sections but today we discovered wonderful hike only trails. We had the trails to ourselves. Horses had passed through earlier and voices from other hikers below and headed the other way, could be heard. Otherwise, we enjoyed the sounds of birds, bees, squirrels, and our own shoes making our way up the trail. Spain is really enjoying his moccasins, while I use trail running shoes; much lighter and cooler than hiking shoes. We started up Edna Spaulding trail, a 1 mile loop with good views, then picked up Coyote Trail to Homestead Trail. We were glad for some cover under some oaks and bushes...it got a bit hotter as we walked. We had planned an hour or so, but we were feeling so good, two hours showed up before we knew it. O'Neill Park offers the great outdoors for families and first time hikers as well....the campground was full as usual on the week-ends!

SUNDAY.......An easy 14 miles mountain biking into ALISO WOODS....our favorite spot and every time we ride in, I'm so happy to be there. We kept it simple on the fire trail, I was feeling so good, after months of neck and back issues, so I was being careful. We met Louisa, fellow mtn bking friend; running in the park, pushing granddaughter Harley in a double -wide stroller making very good time! So sorry I didn't think to take their picture! Louisa looks fabulous at 40 something....grandmother of 3 now! Her great energy and positive vibe always makes me happy to see her! Little Haley was having a good time looking for deer.....

On the way back I was influenced to sneak a ride on the OTHER SIDE.....hey there was no sign that said STAY OUT....HONEST! It was really no big deal..but it felt like a bit more adventurous than staying on THIS side of the chain every time! Discovered a hidden spot where someones got the bees busy, making honey...............

A rather low-key outdoor week-end and that was just fine with me....

Oh, yeah, the outdoor concert Sat eve. at the San Juan Mission Library....boy what a treat at $10 a head. A great venue, comfortable seats, an intimate setting, great music!! Dori Caymmi is an Emmy winning, Brazilian guitarist and composer with a fantastic group of musicians that accompanied him. A great two days off...yeah summertime and the livin' is easy.............

Wagon Wheel PIX

THE OAKS WERE AMAZING!

Tatantula Hawk attacks Tarantula

Wagon Wheel Wilderness Park

Officially, this smallest wilderness park located next to Coto de Caza off Oso Pkwy, is called the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, after a longtime OC Supervisor.
The 5 miles of multi-use trails for bikers, equestrians and hikers is surrounded by Western Sycamores, Coast Live Oaks and monkey flower. We have hiked it once before so getting out there on our bikes was a great way to spend an hour and half early last Saturday morning. The rolling hills, grasslands and canyons of Coastal Sage Brush make for a wonderful, easy and quick escape into nature. I'd recommend this park to first time hikers, bikers, families with small ones in tow. You can wander out into wild and still see your car if you don't or can't walk too far. The views of Saddleback peaks is great from most viewpoints in the park. We rode up Oak Canyon Trail up to Skink Vista point; quite a tough bit of climb but not too long. The string of boy scouts hiking on the distant Pheasant Run Trail looked like munchkins so you get a sense of some space out here and at the same time, neighboring homes surround you...not too close...not too far....a great beginner spot as I mentioned.The history of the park begins.... "In 1769 when Captain Gaspar de Portola and his entourage of 63 soldiers and two priests made their way through this area in search of suitable mission sites along the California Coast." This park became part of a land grant from Governor Pio Pico to his bro-in-law, big time English trader John Forster, in 1845 . Times got tough however, and Forster's heirs sold the land to James C. Flood and the Irish cattleman, Richard O'Neill, Sr. The park was ranch land until it was acquired by the County of Orange from the land owner, Coto de Caza in 1983. We rode under some of the biggest scrub oaks I've ever seen. For such a small wilderness park, the trees were colossal. We always stop and look and listen hoping to catch site of any bit of wild thing moving about. Today it was just lots of bunnies, flies and a tarantula hawk. Now that creature requires a whole blog on its own. An amazing creature, every tarantula's nightmare!!!!!! I'll try an download a video of a tarantula hawk in action....Yikes!!