Hiking Laguna Wilderness Park. Laguna Beach, CA

Another hike into Laguna Wilderness park on Saturday the 29th August. Jane Kadoich joined me for her first hike into the park. It was surprisingly cool at 7am for a day that was promising 100 plus. By 8:30 the sun got serious and it cooked us before we finished our hike at 10am.

But we were prepared, had on our hike hats, sunblock, water and hiking shoes.
I shared my new birthday hiking poles with her. I'm a devotee of hiking poles now. They add stability to the climbs and balance to the descends. I also find they help me with my pace and gate. I miss them on even simple hikes. Poles are also a good upper body work out.

Jane kept up really well, so well, I had her lead us back. (She doesn't know how tired I was before we made the top. But I was TIRED and HOT......should have carried more water too! She's a good hiker!)

We also met up with my biking buddies, Steve, Al, Ladera Dave and Bob. They were finishing up their ride in from the Nix Center which joins up on our trail. The sun beating down on us prevented a long stop by chat, so we said hi, bye and off we went.

The plus about the Laguna Wilderness trail is how much shade we can hike under. The cooler cover suddenly shows up enough after being exposed to direct sun. It's a beautiful trail in spring. I've taken some great photos of previous walks there, I'll try and post soon......

Always good to get OUT THERE..........

"Girl on Bike"...finished writing...

Well, I finished the last chapter of Girl On Bike yesterday......whew..... Now it's time to read through it, make sure I've covered the bases, answered my own questions and told a story that others would really enjoy reading! So far, those who have read some chapters could NOT put it down so they say! I feel like I've given birth...and I have!

This mornings' hike on West Ridge had to be the most amazing one yet. The clear sky, the pink glow above the blue that reflected from the ocean, the orange glow behind Saddleback, views that were unending, clear and crisp. There was a vibration to it all that surrounded me and my companion. He said he could see the glow around me. We walked in silence and breathed deeply, the coolness of dawn and scented sage brush. Pictures taken can never capture the true color. I'm learning that being there, being a part of it and capturing it in my mind, and then on paper, allows me to remember it more completely than photos. I'm always disappointed in the flatness from photos.

You think, "Oh, I'll get a picture of this." Once in awhile you might get a feeling of a moment, but life is about living it, not holding on to a picture of it. I'm getting to the point where it's almost like trying to steal the sunrise. God's creative majesty bursts on the scene so quietly at sunrise. And only those who get OUT THERE are the ones who are blessed with the communion of natures' dawn. This morning we were surely an audience to a birth that included...US.

As I looked up ahead and marveled at the colors of the dirt trail ahead and its' winding, gentle curves, a deer appeared. It stood there for a moment, turned and looked back at us, then disappeared in a blink, back into the brush..........Gentleness, the message of Deer..................

Just another Monday, wishing it was Sunday so I could ride, or hike and get back to the dirt. It always seems the best times are increasingly...out there. The outdoors is my church, my temple and my happy place. All my cares are left behind in the parking lot until I return to pick them up once more. But I always return with answers to questions, and fewer aches and pains then when I set out that morning.
Here on my blog where I'll share some stories about the trails I ride or hike. I'm almost finished with "Girl on Bike", just a couple more chapters to go. My plan is to complete it by summer's end.
Later.....