December 15, 2017 - Kaweah Oaks and Exeter

Title: December 15, 2017 - Kaweah Oaks and Exeter
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background :: Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Kaweah Oaks Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Sycamore, Swamp, Wild Rose, Grapevine

Destination:  Loops

Distance:  3.59 miles

Start Time:  8:28

End Time:   10:59  

Travel Time:  2:31  (1.43 mph)

Moving Time:  2:20 (1.54 mph)

Elevation Rise:  289'

Maximum Elevation: 384'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of Walk

We got to Eddie’s Bakery at 7:00am.  From there we have one person going down with us to Exeter. But first it is a stop in Farmersville to get coffee and a restroom break. We get to Kaweah Oaks Preserve at 8:15 where we are met by about half the group.

 
We are going on four loops. Kaweah Oaks Preserve, which is part of the Sequoia Riverlands Trust,  is one of those places which looks ordinary. It is home to a herd of cows which spend their day munching on grass. Oaks and sycamore's  are prevalent throughout the landscape. Grasses grow some, but they are not tall right now-maybe because we are about to start Winter. I have heard that a few years ago, a prescribed burn got away and burnt some of the north side of the Preserve.  The trails are very level-no challenge here.

I think that each and everything was put in a place for a purpose. When we serve the purpose which God gives us, there is beauty. This is no difference here. One of the lessons which we have learnt by our hiking is that Beauty is there. Find It! That is the mission for the day. (Well, also enjoy the friendship of those around us.)

The first two loops, Sycamore and Swamp, were OK walks. But I will admit, I was not excited. very little caught my interest.  There was signs of the recent burn in the Sycamore Loop, more than a year ago. Several burnt trees. But more just walking, adding in miles.  We entered the Swamp Loop from the north end. Pretty quickly we started following an animal trail, rather than a human. Several trees were down, causing us to detour.  Sort of fun when you know you will not get lost-the whole Preserve is maybe a mile square. When we exited, we found a sign saying area was closed due to the previous year’s storm damage.

People's Ditch

Gate Crossing

Wild Rose Trail

But when we go over the gates controlling the water flow from the People’s Ditch and Johnson’s Slough, we enter another world. Two loops:  Wild Rose and Grapevine. I assume the vines we see clinging to the trees are grape vines. The foliage is denser, blocking some of the sunlight, causing shadows to play with our eyes. Because we are towards the end of Fall, the greens have been long gone, with the reds fading into yellows. Most of the leaves are still adhere to their stems. But the light which filters through is something which you think may have been seen in Eden.  The lesson for Gary is to keep my mind clear and the vision receptive to beauty around me.

Vine enshrouded tree

But it is nearing 11:00am. We have a lunch date at the Cafe Lafayette. So we hustle to the cars and take off to Exeter.

Trail head: E St & Pine St, Exeter

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Exeter Streets

Destination:  Murals

Distance:  1.34 miles

Start Time: 1:47

End Time:  3:37  

Travel Time: 1:50   (0.73 mph)

Moving Time: 1:33   (0.86 mph)

Elevation Rise:  63'

Maximum Elevation: 483'

GPS Tracks

Description:

After lunch at Cafe Lafayette, Rebecca and Keith led us around the murals of Exeter. While Sherri and I have done this walk two times previously (maybe a third), it is an enjoyable experience walking around the town, seeing a 1950’s like town in 2017. What’s more, the mural’s are a way which Exeter shows its civic pride.  Each mural depicts a theme which ties in current day Exeter with its past. Also each mural has hidden pictures which makes it a hunt to find the characters in the mural. For more on the murals, you can go to Exeter’s site where the mural tours is laid out for any who wants to go on it.

Trail Lesson: Keep my mind clear and the vision receptive to beauty around me.

Background: During our hike, there was a discussion of what a Preserve was. From my understanding, a Conservancy is an association of people who are working to preserve a set of lands. While a Preserve is a place, a refuge.  Preserves, like the Kaweah Oaks Preserve, are privately owned. My understanding in how this system works is that the Conservancy is a non-profit. As a non-profit, they can offer land owner’s a tax deduction when the owner gives their land to the Conservancy. Often the owner will stipulate certain usages which they can continue on the land, such as grazing of cattle. Typically the Conservancy will “un”develop the land, minimizing the land’s previous use. Preserves may be open to the public to all for certain uses such as hiking and other enjoyable activities. At least this is my understanding




Extra Photo's

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants