This time, we loaded up a couple of back packs. My handy-dandy camera backpack was fully-equipped with several lenses and other accessories including a tripod. Loretta carried our lunch, some snacks, and water this time. Funny thing...with all that planning, we didn’t open our packs once during yesterday’s trek. Since I was carrying my camera and snapping photos, I just never found the opportunity to use the other lenses or the tripod. And, we opted to have our little picnic lunch after we got back from the hike. Another one of Murphy’s Laws I suppose.
These last two little jaunts were just practice hikes...warm ups for some day trips we plan a little later on this Spring. One of which will be to Big Trees near Murphy's, about a 90 mile drive into the sierra foothills...gold country. We’ve been there a few times before. This is where one of the largest (and closest) groves of Sequoias reside. Being in the presence of these ancient giants are always inspiring and somewhat spiritual. Our planned trip to Big Trees will include a walk up one of the many trails originating from the parking lot. Previous visits didn’t stray very far from view of our Harley in the parking lot.Yesterday, we took the Stanislaus River trail all the way to it’s end, only a couple miles or so. But we did manage to see a few things we missed last week. The trail is actually several hundred feet above the river. To actually reach the river, one must traverse down one of the rocky trails set up by the park service. Some of these downward pathways have redwood ties for steps. Others are just well-worn footpaths through the green grass of the hillside that parallels the river. We were the only people there at 8:00 am.
I had hoped to shoot some wildlife with my long lens...but that opportunity didn’t present itself this time. It was very quiet and very sunny with no fauna appearing at all during our hike. There were a couple of flocks of vultures soaring just above the trees. I wondered if they were staking out some sort of carrion already there...or were they waiting for us rookies to make a fatal mistake, ie, fall down and break our necks! No serious injuries this go around.
The Stanislaus River widens between the narrow rock canyon near the end of the trail. The flow of the river is so slow at the wide points that some ducks were floating and swimming around in it as if in a lake. There are a few places where the river narrows down...we were able to see a few rapids from our high vantage point. It would be very interesting, and far more adventurous, to hike farther up the river some time. For some reason, I kept thinking about mountain lions on our walk. None made an appearance. But I was ready to do what the experts advise if we had an encounter: stand tall, make a lot of noise, and don’t run away!
It was a nice hike. Another validation for us that we can still do this sort of thing, despite some huffing and puffing we both did on the steeper sections of the trail. We made it back alive, healthy, and ready to do it again soon. And, of course, I took a lot of photos. None of the images turned out to be the “award winning” shot I always hope to get...but at least we have a photographic record of one of our little adventures.
Whenever I make overtures about backpacking, you know, real backpacking with a tent, and food, and all the other equipment required for overnight stays...Loretta says, "Have a nice trip. I'll meet you at the motel when you're done. I'll be in the hot tub with a pina colada". Maybe these day trips are the extent to which we become more adventurous in that vacation genre. For now at least, we have trudged up and down some hills, seen a river up close, and enjoyed the great outdoors. It's a start for us oldsters who haven't done anything like this for a while.
Now, planning that photographic trip to a Malaysian rain forest...let's take it one step at a time for now!
