January 29, 2014 - Nightmare Gulch

Title: January 29, 2014 - Nightmare Gulch

Trail head: Abbott Dr.

Hike Info:

Trail: Nightmare Gulch Trail

Destination:  head of canyon

Distance:  6.76 miles

Travel Time: 4:35 (1.47 mph)

Moving Time: 3:37 (1.87 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,0000'

Maximum Elevation:  2,834'

Description:
We left Kohl's in Fresno around 6am. Rachel is taking her RV, so we hopped a ride we her, rather than drive the three hours to Cantil, close to Mojave. It is only the second time which we have not driven on our meetup hikes, so riding in Rachel's RV is really going in style for us.

Scenic Cliffs

Another View of Scenic Cliffs

Red Rock Canyon State Park is close to Cantil which 20 miles north of Mojave. We get to Red Rocks Canyon State Park a touch before 10am. After a brief bathroom stop break, off we go to the Abbott Rd parking area. Since October, this area has been closed to motor vehicles. So we pretty much have the area to ourselves.

We start down a moderately taken care of dirt road. After a brief, very brief climb, we drop down into the wash where we will spend the rest of the day. When we reach the bottom, we make a left turn and head north. We pass by our first set of scenic cliffs, which coincidentally is the name of the cliffs. These cliffs are the opening shot of a Huell Howser California Gold episode.  There is a reason why. These red colored cliffs rises 350' above the gulch floor. They are rutted with the years of water cutting curtain-like texture through this soft stone. In a few days, raptors will be mating in the area.

Our Dry Creek

Secret City

Now the edges of Nightmare Gulch start narrowing in. After another 3/4 of a mile, red dropping rock loams to the west of us. We have entered the "secret city". And it does resemble a city of high rises with windows and curtains looking down on us. Some place behind us is a rock called Ronald Reagan's rock. In one of his Western scenes, he was shot from here.

As we continue on up Nightmare Gulch, the dried creek wanders and winds around, where ever the stone would let it. In places the cliff still appear as high, but they are lowering, particularly on the east side of the gulch. But the group still looks up and examines our surroundings. In other words, we do a lot of gawking. There is much speculation on the type of stone we are seeing. There is some volcanic rock and formations which resemble cement castings-my guess this is gypsum.

Lunch Break

We come to an area where the creek head east and we head up. Lunch is held while enjoy the surrounding area. Most of us head off to another outcropping a couple of hundred of yards away. I take the way least traveled, that is going to the top of a ridge and head on down to where everybody else are.  The top gives a good view of the surrounding area.

Maze of Creeks

After our break, Jerry K leads us up another ravine. While there is nothing extraordinary about the ravine, we enjoy a short walk up it. We stop at 1:30pm and start our return trip back to the parking lot. It is the reverse of our hike up. Still good seeing these interesting cliffs from the reverse perspective. The afternoon soon now start to make its prescience known. The direct sun turns several faces red with heat and perspiration. Still it may be only in the upper 70's-what would this hike feel like in June? Of course, the early folks who crossed the desert experienced this-some died.

Hiking in the Creek

We got back to the parking area around. 2:45pm. John and Cathey had arranged a picnic lunch at the Visitor Center-which was closed in the winter and summer. Nice affair. Somehow it was cooler here, with a slight breezing coming through. Then off to Bakersfield. Here we visited Dewar's for ice cream. Tasted soooo good. We finally got back to Kohl's. Around 8 after a good and pleasant day of hiking.

January 22, 2014 - Pt. Lobos Trails

Title: January 22, 2014 - Pt. Lobos Trails

Trail head: Whaler's Cove Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Trail: North Shore Trail, Cypress Grove Trail, Sean Lion Cove Trail and Whaler's Knoll Trail

Destination: Seal Lion Cove

Distance:  3.09 miles

Travel Time:  2:49. (1.10 mph)

Moving Time: 1:44. (1.78 mph)

Elevation Rise:  585'

Maximum Elevation:  261'

Blue-Bird Island; Red-First hike

Trail head: Bird Island Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Trail:  Bird Island Trail

Destination: Observation area

Distance:  .74 miles

Travel Time:  0:33 (1.35 mph)

Moving Time: 0:21  (2.12 mph)

Elevation Rise:  102'
Maximum Elevation:  125'

Description:

Two hikes, really walks or strolls which we took with our meetup group. The first started at Whaler's Cove, going along the North Shore Trail. This trail climbs above Whaler's Cove and heads west towards the end of Point Lobos. Along the way, we get to see Bluefish Cove and the East Grove. Close to the west parking lot, we go on the Cypress Grove Loop, through the Allan Memorial Grove, where we properly oooh'd and aaah'd. This is followed by going to Sea Lion Cove-the point itself was closed for restoration.  Our return trip takes us back to the North Shore Trail. But instead of following the shoreline, we climb up the Whaler's Knoll Trail. From there we descend back to the Whaler's Cove Parking Lot.

What makes this place worth a three hour trip from Fresno, not to mention the trip back? There is something magical in the air when sea meets land. The crashing of the surf, the sounds of birds, and the wallowing of seals all draw our attention. Just starting off the hike, we shed our cooler clothes to bask in the sunshine. Then we spot some porpoises with there little blows of water-we do try to see if they are whales, but the size leads us to believe they are smaller mammals. The moss in the cypress trees gives a feeling of the old South. When we come to the cypress trees of the Allan Memorial Grove, we see our first clear view of the ocean. Here we first hear the harbor  seals. Shortly afterwards, they become visible on an rock island bellowing away with the ocean surf not quite reaching them.  Finally, we spot the spouts. The air mistized with water from the exhale of migrating gray whales. These magnificently huge beasts were heading south, about a quarter mile offshore. Fascinating watching them.
 

We then went down to Toney Pines picnic area and had lunch. After that, it was time to head down to the Bird Island Trail parking lot at the southern end of the park. The Bird Island Trail is a short one, maybe about 3/8's of a mile one way. It is ADA compliant and has a pretty easy grade. It takes you right along the ocean cliffs, past China Beach, which was closed. Then loops you to an observation area, facing Bird Island. We saw lots of Cormorant's-not sure what brand of them.  Then back to the car and just about ready to call it a day. We make one stop to enjoy a beach view and then head on home. In San Juan Bautista, we stopped at a favorite restaurant of John and Cathey's: Jardines de San Juan Bautista.

February 2, 2014 - Birthday Party Invitation

CS Lewis says that in friendship, that one feels humbled before all the rest and that sometimes he wonders what he is doing there among his betters, lucky beyond desert. We, Sherri and Gary, feel so blessed to have a circle of friends who have been so good to and for us.

So what better way to show our appreciation than to invite family and  friends to celebrate our 60 years of life on this earth? (we turned 60 in October. I guess we are slowing down) On Saturday, February 8th we will be holding our celebration between 4 and 9 at our home. It will be more of a drop in, enjoy some eats and company. Stay as long as you would like and leave when you would like.  No RSVP is necessary, but if you do let us know that you are coming, it can help with our planning. To us, the important thing is we get to enjoy your company.