TimeOut

We never know what we will find on our walks!

Four years ago yesterday, we were in this same area, walking the same canyons, wearing a watch and taking pictures. You can read about that hike here. Today we walked a different fork of Ruffin Canyon.

As we climbed out of the truck at 8:15 am, a pretty young lady rode by on her bike, pulling a dog behind her. She smiled apologetically (the girl, not the dog) did a couple circles and rode back the way she came. A good start to our walk? and a bad start for the dog who looked exhausted?

Hmmm… now things are changing … the house at the top of the canyon was decorated with a Nightmare Before Christmas feeling. Tonight and tomorrow night are the last 2 nights before Christmas...

Our public signs don't last when the California sun is shining ...

At the top of the canyon we started down a wide and uninspiring path, which has to serve as an access road if there are problems with the sewers, so the city keeps it mostly passable for trucks.

We were looking for action, but found none. No birds of prey, no hummingbirds, no lizards. We did find a swampy section which later spilled onto the road.

Walking carefully, we stayed out of the mud and managed not to slip on the mossy rocks. The trail continued on a steep decline and seemed to get 1 degree colder every 100 feet.

The road got much rockier too, and I wasn't sure we should continue because this way be dragons (or twisted ankles; almost the same thing).

Walking very slowly and carefully!

We reached the bottom. The trail to the right went uphill (see the previous trip); the trail to the left went downhill. We consulted the map and concluded we better go back up or we could be out here for hours.

Plod, plod. No birds. I did see two sets of rabbits feet disappearing into the bushes before I could get the camera up.

Near the top, where the ground was level, we left the path to explore some massive yucca shoots.

My wife is 5'6" and so about 1/4 the height of the plants.

She was happy to oblige because she found a pretty (native) rock near one of the plants and near the next she found this decorated rock.

We climbed in the truck, drove about 2 blocks, and found this calm little rabbit just sitting between the sidewalk and the road.

The bunny was our first surprise. This castle was the second shock of the day!!@ I have been on this street before and I don't remember this in the midst of a 50's neighborhood!