Thursday, September 16, 2010

Z's Boston

I'm the only one in the family who travels with a camera and actually uses it. Thus, it can get frustrating at times since the documenting of our trips, be they near or far, invariably falls on me. As a result, I have very few photos of myself as I'm the one always snapping away. Oh well, I know what I look like!! More frustrating, however, is when F or Z take off on their journeys without me and neglect to take even one photo. To me that's astounding! How could you not want to have some photographic images of where you were!?

So, not wanting to be the pestering and nagging mother, I cautiously asked Z on his last day in Boston if he had taken any photos. His response, "Uh, well, no." So I gently suggested that it might be fun to shoot some off with his cell phone camera, the only camera he had... And so on his last afternoon in Boston before he flew home the next day, he raced around and did as I asked. Here are the results...just a few shots, but they're quite enjoyable nonetheless...










Hope you enjoyed Z's view of Boston. He sure did!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Pleasanton Ridge

Are you looking for an enjoyable and interesting place to go hiking where you won't see hoards of other people, but you'll be able to enjoy sweeping vistas of the Livermore and Pleasanton valleys?

The Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is just the the perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon taking in nature and getting a little bit of exercise. There are a variety of trails you can follow - on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Some of the trails wind through the majestic oak trees and grassy fields, and some lead you all the way up to the top of the ridge.

On Saturday, Z and I decided to take a short hike along the Sycamore Grove trail. It doesn't go all the way up to the ridge, but it does provide some shade and offers picturesque views of the valleys and hills below. Check it out...

That's the parking lot below.
It was probably empty because it was so HOT!
What did they say?

"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun."

We were mad alright!

Some energetic bikers quickly passed us by...

That's Interstate 680 down below...

An old oak strikes a graceful pose
against the blue skies...

Here's one of those typical Californian vistas
we've all grown to love...

Autumn is coming...

That's Mt. Diablo off in the distance...

There are ticks in the grass,
so you'd better stay on the trail...

Looking toward Sunol...

Fallen oak leaves...

Oak trees soaking in the sunshine...

The poison oak is turning red. Don't touch...

An oak tree provides some much needed shade...

The thistle plants are drying up...

Even the sycamore trees are starting to drop their leaves...

The colorful bark of a sycamore tree...

Oak trees dotting the hillside...

I hope to come back once the weather cools down a bit and hike all the way up and along the top of the ridge line. Anyone want to join me? Maybe we can even hit up one of the local wineries afterwards!

Click HERE to find out more about his lovely East Bay park.