A Hardy Hike for sure~~~~

The Harding Truck Trail is a 9 mile fire road that begins at the end of Modjeska Canyon Rd, across from the Tucker Wild Life Sanctuary. Ike Harding was an early homesteader who raised goats in the area. It was a first hike on this trail for all of us....Paul and Karen; celebrating their 20 yr anniversary next year... Sandy,(not Fanny, that's her grandmother's name!); co-worker with Paul, our biking friend Gary, Spain and myself. Paul, a 20 year client of mine and wearing his new polarized sunglasses had organized the hike. It's a 9 miler up a wide and well groomed fire road with an emphasis on UP. Our goal was the lookout at 3.2 miles, with a total of just over 6 miles back to our cars. Happy I brought the summer hiking hat because the temp was toasty at 8am. The hat protects the head and neck from burn and the extra brim of shade keeps me cool...well, cooler. In 2007 a wild fire blew through the area. Burned trunks were still visible in many spots along the trail. But the hills were covered in greens and spring flowers were rioting over any extra space found. Gary brought his Wild Flowers of So. Cal. book which has accompanied him on his hikes since 2004 I think. He has a tiny sample of each bloom and writes the date he found it. He trailed behind here and there when he spotted Red Maids and Perry Phesilias and doubled checked the photos in his book. Eureka! He found them. What a lovely way to remember the hikes and learn about the wildflowers. Many mtn bikers passed us up and down. Our biking buddy Dave Paul rode up with a tough as nails group churning their wheels all the way to the 9 mile 5000 ft peak and then, who knows, another 10-15 miles down Maple Springs or over and down to "the luge". They are tough....both hikers and bikers saying friendly hellos and informing what's ahead if you don't already know. More trail, that's what! It was a wonderful hike with friends, some new , some not. Oh, and chocolate milk. We always have cold choc. milk waiting for us in the truck after hiking or biking. My mistake is when I mention it when it's still too far away to enjoy. By the time we were finishing the hike I was afraid I'd have to fight everyone off when I finally got my sweaty hands around my cold bottle.