January 10, 2018 - South Shore Trail

Title:  January 10, 2018 - South Shore Trail
Hike Info : Description : Animals

Trail head: South Bay parking lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: South Shore Trail

Destination: Winchell Bay parking lot

Distance:  3.47 miles

Start Time: 1:23

End Time:   2:58

Travel Time:  1:35  (2.19 mph)

Moving Time:  1:29  (2.34  mph)

Elevation Rise:  435'

Maximum Elevation: 600'

GPS Tracks

Description:

After two days of rain, Sherri and I felt we wanted to do something outside-weeding? should do. Mow lawn, the grass will do nothing but keep growing. Hiking? Yes, but it would need to be short. So we decided to put our new California Parks Limited Use Golden Bear pass to use at Millerton. We would do a short hike there on the South Shore Trail. It is an easy trail, about 3½ miles, pretty level. Just right for a quick walk.

We leave home around 12:45. Oh how I love being old-at least so far. We get our pay envelope at the station, fill it out and put in our pass code and away we go. No Paying! We park at the South Bay parking lot of Millerton State Recreation Area. Then get ready and are gone.

Towards Winchell Creek

The hike is pretty level with minor ups and downs. Right now, we are more trying to get a rhythm of walking. We come to McKenzie Point. I would not say that we exactly stopped here, but Sherri went down and looked around at a bench here to see if there was a better sight before rejoining our walk. Nothing really significant, it is a good place just to stop and observe.

Across Millerton towards Pincushion

But today we are not about observing and definitely not stopping. So on we go. Sunshine envelops us with a few clouds overhead to offset the blue sky. The trail is firm and we keep moving.

We pass by Willow Cove and move on to Winchell Cove. There is one place as we enter Winchell Cove or Bay, where there is few rocks to walk over and down. Nothing to be concerned about. Also log which, which easily step over. We noticed someone had built a small bank, maybe to help a bike over.

 

Pincushion

We reach the end the trail, after a brief pit stop earlier. There is a bathroom here. But as a note, it looks like the Park is not stocking toilet paper during the winter. We have a few jelly bellies and turn around.

Sherri Speeding Ahead

Not much in the way of wildlife. A few crows, a squirrel or two. Not much else. I should not say much.else. On the way back we see something we did not see coming over-people. First a trailrunner, then an older man. Sherri is starting to go faster than I am. I get behind an.older woman who does not expect anybody on the trail on this beautiful day.

We get back to the car. As I change my boots, I sport a hawk making his lazy circles, hunting for prey, overhead. A nice way to end a good afternoon walk. Now for dinner with a friend.

Animals

Dead Tarantula