Henry Coe Hiking Feb 9 2008

Starting out on our hike, we passed the usual "No Dogs" "No Amphibious Assault Craft" sort of signs, but we were greatly puzzled by this "No Diving" sign at the beginning of a path that wor ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:53:11 -0800

elf1
Starting out on our hike, we passed the usual "No Dogs" "No Amphibious Assault Craft" sort of signs, but we were greatly puzzled by this "No Diving" sign at the beginning of a path that wor ...

The views of ridges, and of trails extending beyond the next ridge, and of ridges beyond the ridges, were lovely. Didn't make us immediately think of diving, however.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:52:05 -0800

elf1
The views of ridges, and of trails extending beyond the next ridge, and of ridges beyond the ridges, were lovely. Didn't make us immediately think of diving, however.

Near in to the headquarters, there were plenty of options for shorter, midlength, and longer loop trails. I wondered about the Flat Frog trail--maybe that Amphibious Assault Craft rolled ove ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:48:46 -0800

elf1
Near in to the headquarters, there were plenty of options for shorter, midlength, and longer loop trails. I wondered about the Flat Frog trail--maybe that Amphibious Assault Craft rolled ove ...

There were a few ravines, like this one, that were steep enough and deep enough--maybe 30 feet deep here--that one COULD dive, but I don't know why diving your head onto damp rocks would be ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:51:18 -0800

elf1
There were a few ravines, like this one, that were steep enough and deep enough--maybe 30 feet deep here--that one COULD dive, but I don't know why diving your head onto damp rocks would be ...

Stark naked white winter tree branches always look beautiful to me. I always try taking photos. They always turn out looking like a bunch of boring wood. Something I'm not figuring out, phot ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:53:38 -0800

elf1
Stark naked white winter tree branches always look beautiful to me. I always try taking photos. They always turn out looking like a bunch of boring wood. Something I'm not figuring out, phot ...

More buckeye. The sky was really lovely; I didn't use a polarizing lens. But these branches still mostly just look like branches in a photo to me instead of the smooth beautiful whiteness of ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:50:38 -0800

elf1
More buckeye. The sky was really lovely; I didn't use a polarizing lens. But these branches still mostly just look like branches in a photo to me instead of the smooth beautiful whiteness of ...

This oak tree was interesting for having so much visible mistletoe and the tree being in a location where it could be photographed in its entirety in this lovely hillside meadow.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:39:47 -0800

elf1
This oak tree was interesting for having so much visible mistletoe and the tree being in a location where it could be photographed in its entirety in this lovely hillside meadow.

But then I go to thinking that the photo was pretty boringly symmetrical with the tree smack dab in the middle, so I experimented with a little cropping. I dunno.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:49:49 -0800

elf1
But then I go to thinking that the photo was pretty boringly symmetrical with the tree smack dab in the middle, so I experimented with a little cropping. I dunno.

It was really too early for wildflowers. In over 2 miles of hiking, we saw only maybe half a dozen flowers. Not TYPES of flowers--flowers. This is a California Buttercup (Ranunculus californ ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:49:18 -0800

elf1
It was really too early for wildflowers. In over 2 miles of hiking, we saw only maybe half a dozen flowers. Not TYPES of flowers--flowers. This is a California Buttercup (Ranunculus californ ...

This is the Cardamine californica, commonly called the Milkmaid because its flower resembles the traditional cap of a milkmaid. At other times of the year, lurks in every nook and cranny of ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:56:42 -0800

elf1
This is the Cardamine californica, commonly called the Milkmaid because its flower resembles the traditional cap of a milkmaid. At other times of the year, lurks in every nook and cranny of ...

Steph, covered for protection against sun and early morning chill, gets that telephoto lens working on her new camera.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:54:41 -0800

elf1
Steph, covered for protection against sun and early morning chill, gets that telephoto lens working on her new camera.

An interesting fungus. Not sure what it is. I recall that it was about 8" tall, but I could be misremembering. It might be some kind of chanterelle?

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:55:09 -0800

elf1
An interesting fungus. Not sure what it is. I recall that it was about 8" tall, but I could be misremembering. It might be some kind of chanterelle?

The park has some nice views--much of which is still more of the park, which has been expanding greatly over time with the addition of more open space by the purchase of old ranches.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:56:07 -0800

elf1
The park has some nice views--much of which is still more of the park, which has been expanding greatly over time with the addition of more open space by the purchase of old ranches.

Interesting texture and color contrast between this lichen and the red bark of this Manzanita.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:57:23 -0800

elf1
Interesting texture and color contrast between this lichen and the red bark of this Manzanita.

More red manzanita bark.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:54:04 -0800

elf1
More red manzanita bark.