We went for a little hike in the woods, one of the Coal Mine Ridge trails near Portola Valley, in the Bay Area. I wanted to see ‘the tree’ – a tree that I have a beautiful photograph of, a present from C. After my last two hiking expeditions in Bhutan and Sri Lanka, I could not really muster up the enthusiasiam to go on a hike, even though it turned out to be a relatively easy walk, one which I did not have to curse and swear all the way up, or down.
Despite how I feel about hiking, I like being out there in the woods, spending time with nature, inhaling fresh air and the scents of wet grass. I like looking at trees, especially huge old trees with thick trunks and gnarled, twisted branches that form beautiful patterns against the sky.
Isn’t ‘the tree’ grand? I wish I had brought a wide-angle lens and a tripod so that I could capture more of ‘the tree’.
Trudging along. The area was so quiet, I think we were the only ones hiking in that area. The weather was quite lovely – a lil sunny but not hot.
The scene was so inviting I wanted to lie down on the grass and take a nap.
Smaller versions of ‘the tree’, but no less charming.
I don’t know what those ‘nest-looking’ things hanging from the tree are. For a very brief moment, my heart stopped beating ‘cos I thought they were bee nests.
We arrived at ‘the tree’ after approximately 45 minutes. Glad that it was a shady area where I could sit down and take a breather. From the certain angles, ‘the tree’ looks a little eerie, as though it has plenty of secrets of its own. It also reminds me of Enid Blyton’s ‘Magical Faraway Tree’ and I can imagine the tree coming alive at night.
C decided to attempt climbing the tree.
She made it!
Then she needed some help coming down. 🙂
Heading back along the same trail to get some lunch. It was quite a good workout and I think it was the first time I perspired since arriving in SF.
