Hike #5 - Pinnacles National Monument - 3 miles

Since the cousins were in town we went to The Pinnacles.  It's been about 14 years since Michael and I hiked there.

We had a picnic lunch at Peaks View then hiked up to the bat caves.  The rock formations were fabulous and the boulders were breathtaking.  The trail continued to Bear Gulch Reservoir, from here we took a loop back to the picnic area.

The hike was about 3 miles.  Here is a trail hiking guide

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Hike #4 - Castle Rock State Park - 1 mile

The cousins were in town so we took them to Castle Rock State Park.  My original intent was to hike but our party was too slow so we settled for climbing boulders.  The round-trip walk was about 1 mile total.  Climbing boulders takes a lot of leg and arm strength so I consider that good strength exercise.  The rock formations at Castle Rock are awesome!

One of my favorites!

Action shot!

Look at the root system of this tree!  I love the rectangular shaped rock  too.

My sister-in-law and I peaking out of the holes.

Hike #3 - UCSC Campus - 3 miles

If you would like to get out into a peaceful environment, but not too far away from civilization, go visit the UCSC campus during the spring months.  I'll list a few highlights:  the arboretum has a beautiful collection of plants.  Wild flowers growing around the fields of the campus are beautiful too in the spring.  There are female deer, bucks, and babies wondering around that may cross your path at any time.  You will likely see hawks, kites (the bird kind), and man-operated gliders.  There are several biomes:  the dry area of the arboretum, the redwood forest, and the grassy fields.  The hills will give you a good work out too.  If you have young children, bring the stroller and get a better workout!  The multipurpose trails weave around the campus, through trees, over bridges, past libraries, and high enough to get a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.  

If you park at the Barn Theater on the weekend, the parking is FREE.  To do a 3-mile round trip loop it will take about 1-1/2 hours with three children and a stroller.  Here is a good walking map.

For the first time in the 40 years that I have lived around this area, we saw a Golden Eagle!  It was a juvenile that had caught a rodent and was peacefully eating it in the field.   Immediately, I thought of God's word in Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Lime Kilns near the start of the hike.

A beautiful flower from the arboretum.

UCSC is a beautiful campus.

Old farm equipment nestled in a meadow of wild flowers.

Orchard with yellow mustard flowers.

Here is a cell phone photo taken of the juvenille Golden Eagle.

Hike #2 - Ano Nuevo State Park - 3 miles

The children and I went on a field trip to Ano Nuevo which included a 3-mile, round trip,docent-led hike to view the elephant seals.  David did a great job by walking the entire time while I carried Jonathan in the baby backpack.  Three other families from my homeschool group, BASIC.  The weather was fantastic, cloudy but not too cold.

I love the Nexus Galaxy camera with face recognition.

Trooper!

Three troopers!

A baby elephant seal skeleton.

Elephant Seals - see the black colored babies?

Hike #1 - Lo Data - 1-1/2 miles

We hiked for 1-1/2 hours at Lo Data Park.  The hike is easy, about 1-1/2 miles round trip, up some hills and along a ridge then down.  We took all the children, the baby backpack, and David walked most of the time.

This is a huge root system from about six trees that must have recently fell during the wind storm in January 2012

I love this photo!  Michael is a great dad and Jonathan loves him so much!

Cool fungus on the end of a broken tree.

These three had to work hard to climb up the root system.