July 20, 2026 - Eureka

Title: July 20, 2026 -  Eureka
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: McKay Tract Parking area

Trail: Perimeter Trail, Bob Hill Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance:  1.15 miles ¹

Elevation Rise: 289 '

Descent: 269‘

Maximum Elevation: 334'

Minimum Elevation: 256'

 ¹Route was plotted on Google Earth, not with an actual GPS.

Description:

David&Sherri walking to skyway

I got up at 6:15. David is just finishing his morning limbering up time. I see that there is nothing to report as far as lightning is concerned. So I have my breakfast. Sherri did not sleep well last night, so she will be sleeping in.

David is working on providing a redwood worktop for his neighbor. A couple of years ago, there was a couple of redwoods in his backyard which needed to come down-they had become dangerous. He has kept the wood and has been making things such as benches out of the slabs. Much more talented in that regard than I am. Anyway, I provided a little bit of help this morning for him. He still has a ways to go before he installs the finished product.

Before we left Fresno, my cousin Susie had sent a video asking if I had been there. It was on the skywalk at the Sequoia Zoo. We had been to the Zoo several years back, but not the Skywalk. We decided to go to the zoo this morning and walk around. Then walked the Skywalk. These are permanent walkways among the redwoods. They certainly give you a different perspective being up there. While we are not at the top of the trees, more mid-way or at the bottom third mark, you see things differently.

Seems like I have done some skywalks recently. There were the urban skywalks in Minneapolis, and these among the redwoods. Sherri reminded me that there was one in Atlanta as well at their botanical gardens. Upon reflection, I think I like walking among the redwoods the best. Each has their redeeming factors.

Forest View from Skywalk

We came home and had lunch. I took a nap-the body needed it. Sherri watched a movie, The Seven Dials, an Agatha Christie mystery. David and I decided to go for a walk at McKay Tract. When I looked for Sherri, she was asleep.

So David and I went by ourselves to McKay. We got to the parking lot about 3:15. To start with, we walked the Perimeter Trail. We did this in reverse from before. David and I talked about things-you know how brothers talk. Kevin, David’s good friend, called him, describing how he got injured. David and Kevin talked for a while. A good thing is that David slowed down while talking with him, so I did not get into my huff and puff mode. Once the conversation ended, David and I resumed talking. I noted that my left knee has arthritis and at times can have pain when ascending, such as going up stairs. He suggested a knee brace, such as what Rachel suggested a couple of weeks ago in Minnesota.

Gary playing wingspan

Sherri  in the Park's Garden

We made it home by 4:15. Sherri is now up. By 5, David has dinner on the table-a repeat of last night. Sherri says that this is not left overs. All which I know is that I am content. We talked for a while. While David is showering, Sherri and I watch our TV addiction: Jeopardy! Don, David’s friend, and mine, comes over and we talk about an incident which happened to his family involving a bat.

After Don leaves, we sit around, mostly in silence. I take a shower. David goes to bed before I get out. I follow him to my own bed by 10.

March 20, 2026 - Eureka

 

Title: March  20, 2026 - Eureka
Hike Info : Description : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: David’s House

Trail:  Trails and Roads behind his place

Description:

I did not sleep in that long, getting up by 7:15. While I was eating breakfast, Sherri got up. Sort of a repeat of yesterday. After we consumed breakfast, we talked about a range of things, just enjoying each other’s company. There was nothing particular which our conversation wandered to, just the enjoyment with each other.

After a couple hours, I moved outside to enjoy the sunshine. David followed me out after about 20 minutes with a couple of chairs. That leads to more talking and enjoyment. Sherri joins us. By the time we start to break up, it is 12:30. I have my lunch, then go to my after lunch rest. I got up after 1:30.

David wonders if we would like to go for a walk. The options he gave were the forest behind his house, walking around Sequoia Park, or doing a Costco walk. I decided that going behind his house would be enjoyable. Before you say, that seems a bit lame, while not large-looking at Google Earth, the area does seem a lot larger and goes on further than I thought-it is a lush forested area, complete with a tributary of Martin Slough.

 

Sherri descending the steep trail

We left for our walk around 2:00. This walk starts right outside of his backyard. There is a deep ravine, heavily forested. A lumber company once owned it and I think may have logged it. The path slopes down behind several houses, until it bends to the creek below. The creek runs into Martin Slough-I do not think this segment has a name. When it turns towards the creek, there is a steep 40’ drop down a clay bank. If not careful, it would be easy just to slide down rather than step down this section. We all made it down without sliding.

 

David and Sherri ascending

When we crossed the creek the area was muddy, but we were able to get across that area without too much slop on our feet. We came to a dirt road-David said it was an old logging road. It rose up a ways. We came to a Y and David asked which way did we go before? We take the other way, the upper end of the Y. The road is mostly firm, but steep. There are places where it is wet clay. We pick our way through it. The good part is the rise brings us into the sun which is enjoyable. We have seen trillium and Scottish Broom along the way, along with the usual assortment of pines.

 

On top, the rise was more gentle and we walked a ways. David does inform us that it is a way to go if we go back to David’s house via this route. Later on when I look at Google Earth, I think that is an understatement. Even though it seems further, we have only walked a bit more than a mile. At this point we decided to return the way we came. My legs are starting to feel the walk, even though it is only a mile I think the rise is more than they are used to.

We got back to David’s house around 4:00. I rest for an hour while David, being more energetic, gets dinner together. A shower really helps me feel better. David has dinner ready at 5:30. A neighbor had given him some venison and that is the meat for tonight. Pretty tasty. I washed dishes while David showers. Then we watched three episodes of Jeopardy. Then it is time to turn in, about 9:30.

Animals

Banana Slug

Banana Slug

 
Flowers and Plants

Scottish Broom

Skunk Cabbage

Pampas Grass

Pampas Grass

Ferns

November 26, 2025 - Eureka

Title: November 26, 2025 - Eureka

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type:Walking


Description:

 

Rachel, the Banana Slug

I do not think I was tired-evidently I was as it was about 8:30 before I got up. This is about an hour and a half more than I usually sleep. I think it was just feeling so comfortable under the blankets and comforter. I got up when Sherri got up for a quick trip before coming back to bed. Rachel and David were already up when I went into the kitchen.

I had granola for breakfast. After Steven and Sherri got up, Rachel went for a run. Seems like we all wanted to go for a walk. David recommended doing laps around the Sequoia Zoo while the rest of us walked around Sequoia Park. David would go and run an errand.

 

This turns out to be a good recommendation for the walkers. We head down to the pond, then up to the far end of the park, exiting onto Glatt Street. It is a nice walk through redwoods and a couple meadows. It is cool, which is nice for walking. I am glad I switched out of my sweatshirt. We meet several people, but only to say Hi or Good Morning. We worked our way back to the Zoo and our car. 

 

Light and Trees

Rachel found that running laps around the Zoo’s perimeter did not work out-too many people.. There is a school across the street which she ran around. She ended up at the playground by the Park. She thinks this would be a great place to do a family photo.

Someplace around 12:30 we returned to David’s house. With my late and large breakfast, I was not interested in lunch, even though later on I did munch on some cinnamon crunch cereal stuff while we played rounds of double fast solitaire. I also found myself prone, resting for about 45 minutes.

By the time 2:30 rolls around, and I am on the short side of several rounds of solitaire, Rachel, David and Sherri take off to pay a visit to a place David has taken lessons from: John Gibbons Glass. They were fascinated by the blown glass work, including a large turtle sculpture. All came back around 4, pretty excited. What did I do while they were gone? I washed dishes and wrote up some notes on Amy Tan’s book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles.

We played some more solitaire and a round of cribbage which Steven won. Then it was time for dinner. David made Jambalaya-much better than when I made it. When 7pm rolled around, we watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Then it is time to retire to bed and our showers. By 9:45, I think we are all tucked into bed. Andrea and Lawrence have made it down to Grants Pass. Tomorrow they will be coming in around noon for Thanksgiving.

 

 

August 13, 2023 - Eureka

Title: August 13, 2023 - Eureka

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Visiting

 

 

Description:

I woke up at 5:30, not sure if I really wanted to wake up or not. Then I remembered all the lightning alerts from last night and decided that I needed to get up and work on my lightning report. It is a good thing I did. It took me a full two hours to produce it.There was that much lightning. By this time, Sherri was up and David had already gone for his morning walk. I had my breakfast. Then after talking for a little while, we got ready for church.

 This would be at the First Baptist Church of Arcata. David went to church here when he was in college. The sermon was on Psalm 28. The pastor talked about the need to rely on God during our times of need, I think the music ensemble was meant to inspire more college students, which I am far from being. There is a reason why I stick with First Pres Fresno: the music there is much more in line with what reaches me.

When we got back to David’s house, it was a bit after noon. I am feeling tired, so I take a nap. An hour and a half later I got up. Sherri and David have gone for a walk at Sequoia Park and have already returned.

At least I feel a bit better.We will have an early dinner. David BBQ’s chicken breast in his Traeger and Sherri cooks the Fresno corn. Me? I just loiter around, tagging along with David. The food is good.

After our meal, we went for a walk at Sequoia Park. This is a jewel. The redwoods give a feeling of an old forest inside of a populated area. We walked around for about 50 minutes. I feel pretty good.

When we get back, I take a shower. Then fiddle around with the laptop. We then get on our Sunday family Zoom call. Always good to see our daughters. By the time we get off, it is 8pm. I read for a while. We talk and then David goes to bed at 9 and we start heading to bed at 9:45. Glad we are up here, even though it is a non-eventful day. Just a good day to be with my brother.

 

January 21, 2022 – Eureka: Big Lagoon and Sequoia Park

 

 Title: January 21, 2022 – Eureka: Big Lagoon and Sequoia Park

 Description :  Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Description:

I slept long-finally got up a little before 8am. David and I went for a walk around his neighborhood. While my two mile walk in Fresno has only a slight rise, his dips down into a ravine, then climbs up the other side. This old man was huffing and puffing by the time we reached the top. It was another ¾ of a mile walk back to his house. By this time, Sherri was up. David fixed us French toast in-I consumed a hearty amount.

David "Harvesting"^*.MONSTER agates

After getting cleaned up, we set out for a bit of beach walking. David has a county park he likes to go to called Big Lagoon. It has a $3 entrance fee for seniors-at times, it is good to be old. We park and then walk north on the beach for a ways. Seems like it is more of a stroll, but a bit more challenging. The sand is pretty loose. It seems like it is a real effort to walk on the sand and gravel. David occupied himself with looking for agates. He found several; I only found what he called sugar stones-non-clear clear pepples. We stopped at a log between the ocean and Big Lagoon and had lunch. I sat and did a cat nap after lunch. There are ducks and a couple kayaks on the lagoon. The beach is pleasant enough, but the ocean looked like if it caught a person, it would chew them up and probably not spit them out. It was both very silty as well as rough.

We walked back to the car. Then David drove to Costco to pick up some supplies. I go in with him. When we get back to his house, I take an hour nap before being woken up to go for another walk at Sequoia Park.

Andrea got out of her substitute teacher job about 3:15. Her school is close to Sequoia Park. We drove there-she was waiting for us. Andrea

led us along several trails. Lawrence met up with us about ten minutes into our walk. We walked down to the duck pond. Then Andrea led us further to the west and around that end of the park, back up the street and then back down to the duck pond. We figured out that the signage was due to a Frisbee golf tournament on Saturday. Then we came back next to the zoo, before heading to the parking lot.

 

 

David left to get dinner ready and Andrea left to pick up her car. This left Lawrence to chauffeur Sherri and I. He took us to their AirBnB where we talked for a time, until dinner was ready at David’s. David made us a BBQ teriyaki chicken. Good stuff. We talked for awhile until Andrea and Lawrence left. We then went to bed.

Background

Agates. common semiprecious silica mineral, a variety of chalcedony that occurs in bands of varying colour and transparency. Agate is essentially quartz, and its physical properties are in general those of that mineral. From the Britannica web site

^*David prefered the term "Harvesting" of the agates rather than the original term of beachcombing.


Extra Photo's

 
Flowers and Plants

Places: CA Sequoia Park (Eureka)

 

 
Sequoia Park-___' (Quad) (lat, long)
Legal: T__S, R__E, Sec__

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:
Redwoods park and zoo in Eureka.

Trips:

• January 21, 2022 - Evening trip to walk in the park with Andrea, Lawrence, Sherri, Gary and David
• August 13, 2023 - Walk around the park
• November 26, 2025 - Sherri, Steven and Gary walking the park over a visit during Thanksgiving. 
• July 20, 2026 - Sherri, David ad I went to the Sequoia Zoo and walked the Skywalk.
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References:

• Sequoia park and zoo web pages and Facebook
• TripAdvisor
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Pictures:

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