Cracus Loves Playgrounds

Earlier this year Cracus completed an intro circus class at Canine Circus School in Oakland. It was obvious to everyone in the class that Cracus has two speeds - running fast and stop. He did all the training as fast as he could. He was impatient when he had to wait for his classmates to take their turns. He is a natural for doing circus tricks, so I continue to do the routines and make new ones with him at home.

Recently my "sidekick" Katie from next door has been going on walks with me and the pups. As we pass by different playgrounds, Katie always wants to go on the slides. Cracus is always eager to join Katie. He'd run up the stairs as fast as he can and also run down the slides!

We have played on the slide and the swing behind El Cerrito Library. Katie wanted to go to Cerrito Vista Park . I didn't know which park until we arrived. I used to pass by this park everyday on my way to junior high school. It didn't have these fancy play structures back then.  Cracus ran up and down the slides with Katie.  I wish I could get a slide for our backyard!

Lord of the Rings Filming Locations

Scenes from Fellowship of the Ring were filed on Mt. Victoria. This is the only sign.

I am having a lot of fun reliving the Lord of the Rings craze from 13 years ago. I don't know why I didn't come to Middle Earth sooner, but I know I want to come back here soon. Now that I have visited many of the locations on several express tours, I will be able to come straight here next time and only spend time at these locations. During Wellington Rover's Lord of the Rings tour, the guide took us to the top of Mt. Victoria in Wellington. Many scenes from Fellowship of the Rings were filmed here but the only indication is the little sign shown above. The guide showed us photographs of the exact spots and the scenes. It was a little embarrassing for me to admit that I have only seen Fellowship of the Rings once, but I remember those scenes vividly. That's how powerful that movie was.

on the way to Rivendell

The weather forecast for Wellington was rain almost everyday while I was there. Little did I know the rain was what we call sprinkle in the Bay Area. It was hardly anything. If I had known better, I would have booked an all day Lord of the Rings tour with Wellington Rover instead of a half day tour. I took a train and then a bus in the morning trying to get to Rivendell. The bus only goes as far as this sign shown above. I wasn't sure exactly how far 6km was. I was hiking uphills on State Highway 2 next to the cars trying to get to Rivendell. Eventually I found a fence and climbed over it into Kaitoke Regional Park trail so I didn't have to hike right next to the cars. Rivendell was all the way on the other end.  I will have to save it for my next Middle Earth trip.

down the hill from Edoras, capital of Rohan

On my first day in Wellington, I found a flyer for Hassle-free Tours' Lord of the Rings tour in Christchurch. I immediately made a reservation online to ensure a spot for the all day tour. We actually climbed all the way to the top of Mt. Sunday (the mountain shown in photo below), where Edora was filmed. A castle was built for the filming, and it was taken down after the filming was over. As I climbed up the hill with ease, I knew all the hiking I had been doing had paid off. A month prior to my trip, I hiked everywhere with a weighted down backpack so I could train myself for endurance. My purple UGG Adirondack Snow Boots have proven to be worthy. They are both skid resistant and waterproof. I was able to climb up and down the muddy hill  with confidence and then walk across the shallow creek to clean the boots without getting my feet wet. It felt amazing to be on top of Mt. Sunday.

Edoras was filmed on top of this mountain, Mt. Sunday

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Free Friday Night Concert

I got a text message two nights ago asking me whether I'd like to go see Blind Melon in Santa Cruz. I immediately responded with YES!  We used to go to the Boardwalk every summer when I lived in the Silicon Valley. That was our tradition. We have seen Eddie Monkey, John Waite, Survivor, Tiffany, Starship, and many other musicians on the beach under the stars. The Boardwalk is very special to me. It's where The Lost Boys (1987) was filmed. While all the actors in the film have aged over the years, the Boardwalk itself seems to be frozen in time. Whenever I am at the Boardwalk, it brings me back memories of my high school days, college days, dotcom days, and the memories just keep adding up!

The parking meters on the streets still take only quarters (plus dollar coins but who carry those?) and are enforced until 8 p.m. The rides are still the same.  The food choices are pretty much the same although I am sure the prices have gone up over the years. I always get a giant corn dog. After the concert, we always stop by Marianne's Ice Cream. The ice cream shop has been there for over 50 years, and it's another place that looks like it has been there for 50 years. It's a coastal amusement park that seems to be a time trap that takes people back in time.

I hope to go there again this summer.

Another Awesome Park in Crockett

Since I had such a great time at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline yesterday, I was compelled to go back to Crockett to check out Crockett Hills Regional Park, which is pretty close to Carquinez Straits Shoreline. I headed over around 8 a.m. I am really starting to like getting out early on weekends. Everywhere is quiet and peaceful. There are very few cars on the freeway and on the streets in general before 8:30 on weekends.  When I got to the park, there was no other car in the parking lot. Near the entrance right next to the parking lot, there are some nice picnic tables and benches. There is also a very nice big grill that still looks almost new. One of these days I need to have a barbeque in a park! I think I will pick this park.

A friend with her two German Shepherds met up with us on the trail. The German shepherds are a lot younger than Kelsey. They were bouncing and running all over the trail.  Kelsey even got a little excited with those two young dogs around.  There is a tunnel off the main trail. Once we passed through the tunnel, it's just acres of open space with cattle grazing on the field. The German Shepherds even ran after a big cow. Kelsey also ran with them. We got worried and called them off. Kelsey came back right away, but it took a lot longer to get the shepherds to turn around. When they finally came back, they were wet. They ran all the way to where the big paddle was and took a dip. The grass was very tall on the open space. When the dogs ran off the trail, we couldn't even see them.

Kelsy and friends

We continued on to where there are some picnic tables and benches. We took a water and snack break there.  I took the opportunity to take a photo of Kelsey with her German friends.  Although Kelsey was having such a great time, she was limping on her bad leg.  There is no shade on the open field, and it was getting hot.  I decided to turn back while our friends continued on.  On the way back, I encountered a few more hikers who were just getting started. I was ready to go home and make a brunch for myself after a nice morning hike.
 

The tunnel to open space

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline

As the school gets to the end of the year, the days are increasingly stressful. After I left work today, I had the urge to go on a hike in the open space where I can see green grass and endless sky.  I took a short drive to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline in Crockett.

There were only a few cars in the parking lot when I arrived, and I didn't see anyone in sight. I felt that I had the park all to myself. It was a great feeling. I had some snack on a bench before taking Kelsey on the trail.

The view from the hill was amazing. We did eventually encounter a few people with their dogs. We all greeted each other. Some of them asked me what breed Kelsey is. One of them said that Kelsey looks like a Hovaward.  I get that from time to time.  I like what the man said, "It doesn't matter what she is, she is YOUR dog."  Yup, that is right! I always enjoy chatting with other dog parents.

On the way back we passed by quite a few cattle. We all looked at each other.  I love being outside in peaceful open space.

A Stroll in Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline

 

I often go to Point Isabel because it's just right down the street; however, it is very crowded on weekends. I also love to explore new sights and smell, so I am constantly referring to my "The Dog Lover's Companion to the San Francisco Bay Area for new places to go on weekends. Since I just went to Point Isabel yesterday, I flipped through the book this morning for a new park to go.  Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline seems like to good one to explore. It's very close by, it's close to the water, and there's no fee for parking or dog. I grabbed my day pack, water bottle, a banana, trail mix, and some dog treats and headed over to Miller/Knox with Kelsey in the backseat.

Kelsey always knows when we are getting close to a new place. I would see her stretching her head up, sniffing, and look out of the window in curiosity and excitement. As soon as I parked the car, she was eager to get out.  Miller/Knox has a lot of picnic sites, and there were some families barbequing already.  I started walking toward the shore with Kelsey.  I always like to walk along abandoned rail tracks. They make me feel nostalgic. In addition to the tracks, there were several abandoned buildings covered with graffiti along the shore near where the pier is. A few men were fishing on the pier, which didn't require a fishing permit. 

Next to the lagoon, there were many Canadian geese including some chicks and juvenile geese.  They hurriedly moved away as they sensed Kelsey's presence. On our way back, there were a lot more families all over the picnic area. Some of them were having children's birthday parties. The smell of bbq started to make me feel really hungry. You would never see these many people grilling meat at Point Isabel because all the dogs just gather next to the food and refuse to move.

Point Cabrillo Light Station

Point Cabrillo Light Station

Last night I noticed a deli called Mendocino Market just a few doors down from my hotel room on Ukiah Street. This morning I headed over there with Kelsey and got a grilled chicken and Swiss sandwich before heading over to The Ford House Visitor Center to get some maps.  The Ford House Visitor Center is right on Main Street. I passed by it on my way to the hotel yesterday. It's a beautiful house that was built in 1854.

I wanted to go to Point Cabrillo Light Station first. From the light house, whales can be sighted. The Light Station is now a State Historic Park. On the way to the light house, we passed by 3 beautifully rehabilitated lightkeepers' homes. I could only dream of living in one of those houses looking over the ocean everyday. 

Point Cabrillo Light Station

After spending a couple hours walking through the trails in the Light Station Park, we headed over to Russian Gulch State Park. Self registration of $8 per vehicle is required for entering the park. After I entered the park, I realized that the main trail, Fern Canyon trail, does not allow dogs. That was quite disappointing. I was only able to drive up to the picnic area and take a short walk around it. The view was beautiful, and I had a snack break at one of the picnic tables overlooking the ocean. 

Russian Gulch State Park

Sunday in Golden Gate Park

Gold Gate Park Map

This morning I woke right before 8 am. I got up, packed up, and headed over to Golden Gate Park with Kelsey in the back seat. Do you know there is free parking in Golden Gate Park? It's limited to 4 hours during Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, it is unlimited, but you must get there early. I got to the park at 9 am, and there was plenty of parking. As I was parking, I could see one car after another pulling up and parked behind me. I was pretty sure by 9:30 it would be hard to find parking.

Banjo Stage of Bluegrass (photo taken 2011)

I can see why people love the city. Every weekend and every day there is so much going on. One can never and should never be bored in this area. Many of the weekend activities are free, and if you don't mind taking a little time to plan and pack your own food and drink, you don't need to spend any money at these events. This weekend was the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. It always runs for 3 days starting from Friday to Sunday. People come from all over the Bay Area to enjoy this free music festival.  It is also SF Fleet Week. I am not sure whether that's free, but I am sure if you know where to go, you can see the air show for free by looking up the sky.

The Golden Gate Park Band

Today there were 6 stages on one side of the park for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. On the other side, just across from De Young Museum, The Golden Gate Park Band was having their last free performance of the season. After I checked out several stages of Bluegrass Festival, I sat on one of the green benches in the shade to enjoy a different kind of music. Kelsey seemed to be pooped after hours of walking, loud music, and being surrounded by people.  She just laid down to take a nap.

Wildcat Canyon Hike

Since I returned to the world of full time workers, I haven't had much time to spend in open space. Yesterday I decided to hike in a park that I discovered recently, Wildcat Canyon Park. I drove pass by the park over a month ago while on my way to a birthday party. A few days ago, a dog walker at Point Isabel mentioned to me that Wildcat Canyon is also good for walking dogs. Yesterday I looked into Kelsey's eyes and promise her that I'd take her out on a real hike. This morning I arrived at Wildcat before 10 a.m.

I love reading historical facts of our regional parks. It's a little sad that most of these native wild animals are no longer here. In Alvarado Area of the park, there are many picnic sites and a children's playground. After encountering a few people walking with their dogs, one dog owner described to me various hiking trials with good views. I took one of his suggestions and went up the hill. Dogs need to be on leashes in populated area, but they don't have to once they are out in the open space as long as they listen to voice commands. As usual Kelsey walked close to me as we hiked up the hill to the top.

We were able to make a loop coming back down and return to Alvarado picnic area. I brought a jar of peach smoothie and a sandwich with me. I gave Kelsey some water and shared small bits of ham with her while I ate my lunch. It was a pretty good two-hour outing. I felt that Kelsey and I had a pretty good workout. I plan on going there again soon.

Kelsey is a Lover Not a Hunter

I have been pretty lucky that I don't seem to have gopher problems although I have seen a mound of dirt in my front yard, which is an indication there might be gophers. I don't grow anything edible in the front yard other than some herbs and self grown blackberries.

I always suspected that Kelsey is incapable of killing anything. Today I took her to Point Isabel, where you will often find evidence of gophers' presence such as holes on the ground and mounds of dirt in the meadow. Kelsey and I walked pass a hole next to a mound of dirt, and I immediately saw a gopher head popping up and down. Kelsey just kept on walking, but I was curious. She was observant enough to notice that I noticed something on the ground and turned around. She poked her nose in the hole. I told her no because I was worried that her nose would get bitten by the gopher!

The gopher seemed to think of it as a game. It popped its head in and out as to tease us. Kelsey just sat her butt down and watched. She was curious, but since I told her no, she just stayed put. My previous dog, an Alaskan Malamute, would have snatched the gopher, shake it left and right until it was dead. There would be no stopping with the Malamute. Kelsey just wants to be friends with every living thing whether it's a cat or a bunny. She sat there watching the gopher in the hole until I was done taking pictures then we moved on.

Happy New Year!

My New Year's Day visitor

One of my readers asked me how come I haven't posted anything new since picking wild mushrooms. I realized that December has passed, and I didn't write anything for the entire month. Between being sick, rain, and pulling out dead plants, the month just flew by. Today is the first of January, 2012! It's going to take a few weeks to get used to writing 2012.

When I stepped out this morning, I saw a hummingbird resting on the clothesline. I use the clothesline  for drying bedding or towels when the sun's out. I don't see the point of turning on the dryer if  there's time to hang it out to dry naturally. Additionally, I often see hummingbirds taking an advantage of the clothesline to rest. I like to be around wildlife and living things. I was able to take a few shots today before the bird flew away.

My pet rabbit, Dusty, is still going strong. I call him bunny all the time, but he's about 7 years old now. Rabbit's lifespan is about 5-10 years. Dusty used to be gray, and now he's more brown although he happens to look more grayish in the picture above.

To celebrate New Year's Day, I decided to go down to Point Isabel for a walk. Point Isabel is a dog heaven. It is one of the largest public off-leash dog parks in the nation with over 500,000 dog visits per year according to its website. I love going there because it's less than 2 miles away from Sand Village, and I enjoy the company of all the dogs. It always makes me happy to see the dogs running, swimming, and playing together. I am also fascinated when I see some rare breeds in the park, such as Leonberger and Caucasian Shepherd.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Dogs playing in Pt. Isabel

The High Line in New York

parts of the railroad tracks are preserved

For the last few days I was in New York, and one of the highlights of my trip was The High Line, a park built on an abandoned historical railroad. The High Line was opened to the public on June 9, 2009, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to stop there during my visit. The park is located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. I took E line of the Subway to 14th Street & 8th Ave then walked a few blocks to one of the park entrances on Washington Street and Gansevoort Street.

What fascinates me about The High Line is that it is built on a railroad 30 feet above the ground, which was abandoned since the 80's. In late 90's, the historical railroad was under threat of demolition. People got together and formed a community based non-profit group in 1999, called Friends of the High Line, to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The rich history of The High Line dated back from 1847. The railroad tracks were originally on the street level. Many accidents occurred between freight trains and street-level traffic that 10th Avenue became known as Death Avenue. In 1929 the West Side Improvement Project was passed, which included the High Line.

There are many installation art works in and around the High Line. Many student groups go there for field trips. Office people get a chance to take their breaks in a more natural setting away from the traffic.

"Plenty IS Enough"

I hope that as the plants establish in the park, more bees, butterflies, and birds will visit the park as well. I saw very few bees and birds and didn't see a butterfly during my entire time there. The park is  an ongoing project as only first section is open to the public. More sections will be open in the future. The official website of the High Line has detailed information on maps, history, schedule of art works and performances, and information on how to get involved.