Memorial Day Hike

On Memorial Day, I took my two favorite people to hike Valencia Peak in Montana De Oro State Park. It was sunny and cool with a little bit of wind.  Hubby was a trooper while my 12-year old daughter complained every few feet of climb, but she did it.  We ran into a number of blue bellied lizard.  Hubby is a crafter when it comes to making nooses. So out of grass, he deviced a contraption to catch and release the reptile.  Daughter loved it and at the same time she screams and gets the willies.  I would have loved to see a snake or something, but it was just lizard city today.

Up at the top, we were greeted with a fantastic view of Morro Bay and the surrounding beach towns. The fog lifted.  Hubby even caught a glimpse of a whale which jumped out of the water.  What do you know, I missed it. What else is new?

It was a great day to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Funny how that is, when you live so close to someplace awesome you forget about it. Meanwhile there's folks out there who traveled from afar to experience this paradise. Here we are, it's in our backyard, and we can't even remember that last time we've been out here to hike.  Well enjoy the pictures!

Yeah, not a fan of cougars and rattlesnakes?

Good thing didn't bring Summer along...

Elena reading the caution signs...cougars, rattlesnakes...

Hubby, also reading the precaution...

I'm cheesing at the cougar signs...

You saw the sign?

Complaining...what else do 12 year olds do?



I keep telling these guys to look back to see how far we've come...

There they are...

One foot in front of the other...we're in the fog...

That's where we had to go, up the mountain...Notice we're below the fog?

Me running for a little bit...

...so I can pose for this shot...

Looking backward to see what the hold up is...they found a lizard...also, now we're level with the fog.

Still got a ways to go....



Getting closer, I can make out the trails...

About 10 minutes to the peak...

Ah finally, they are close...the fog is almost below us...

Closer...

...All smiles after knowing they are 10 minutes to the top.



Five minutes to the top

Me posing again.



Breath-taking view of the trails below and the Pacific Ocean on the horizon...the fog is below us...

The grass noose

 

Finally, a moment to rest...

We made it!

We're here!

Time to head down the mountain...

...But not until we make a noose to catch a lizard...

I can't believe they're on top of Valencia, and the noose is more important...

Don't worry little guy, they'll set you free...

Go in peace, young Jedi!