February 21, 2023 - China Creek

 Title: February 21, 2023 - China Creek

Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: China Creek Gate

Trail: West side of park

Destination: Walking at least a mile

Distance:  0.88 miles

Start Time: 10:49

End Time:   11:42

Travel Time: 0:53  (1.00 mph)

Moving Time: 0:50   (1.06 mph)

Elevation Rise:  144'

Descent: 166‘

Maximum Elevation: 426'

GPS Tracks

 Description:

Today is a day to be with friends. Sherri and I enjoy China Creek County Park and look forward to sharing it with John and Cathey. It is a bit cold, so it will be a late morning walk there. I mosey around until it is time to leave. We get to John and Cathey a little after 10 and drive 25 minutes to the Park.

 

 

Live Oak

Well almost to the Park. I miss the turn off and drive a couple miles out of the way, but it is a pleasant drive. The comments even before our boots on the ground is that it is beautiful. There is a sense of lushness in this Winter scene. Sherri and I have only visited here in the Winter and early Spring, so we are used to it looking like this, It is a little, sedate jewel in the middle of our world.

Usually Sherri and I have done the trails in this Park clockwise. But today, we will do it differently-counter-clockwise. I guess we are living wild and dangerously, :-). We grab a park guide and are off. 

 

 

 

 

Sherri, Cathey and John

There are signs explaining what we are seeing, like the live oaks, and how they fit into the area. This gives us plenty of opportunity to stop and gaze. It is that kind of a trail, not one to hurry through, but to enjoy the area. But even a laid back trail can offer some excitement. There is a pond just beyond a line of trees and vines. But a calf and a couple cows come charging out of the trail to the pond. Not only do they come out, but they start advancing towards us. This is where Sherri earns her trail name, Cow Shouter. And she does a wonderful job of herding the cows away from us.

We continue on our walk. Towards the western part of the loop, we come to several sycamore trees. We also notice a new huge mansion going up-that was not there before. Wonder how that will affect being out here or how annoyed these people will be with people looking over at their home. But not my problem.

 

 

Red Lagoon

Now we travel along the south leg of our loop. This takes us along a tall berm which Vulcan put up to hide their gravel pits. We see an occasional vehicle going back and forth on top of the berm. But below, we look at the rushes which are in a dried up marsh. At least the part where the old rushes are. We shortly get to water. This lagoon is covered by something red. An algae? Plants? I do not know and it is beyond a barbed wire fence on Vulcan property so I so not explore further. This lagoon is just a little apart from Collins Creek. On the map it shows it disconnected, but I suspect there is some place where the Collins seeps into it. It is a fascinating view of water, redness and logs.

Shortly afterwards we come to a place where an old road bisects the park. We decided that this was enough for one day and we took the road back to the car. While the skies held some light clouds, we could see the snow on the Sierra . This is always a good sight for me.

We drove back to Cathey and John’s house. Then chatted there for a while. Then it was time to get back home for us. It is good to walk with friends. 

 

Trail Lesson: It is good to walk with friends.