Point Reyes National Seashore, Olema, CA - Sept. 24, 2008
ON OUR JOURNEY TO POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, WE PASSED CLOSE TO SAN FRANCISCO, AND IN THE DISTANCE WE SAW THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND FISHERMAN WHARF. WE CONTINUED ON NORTH TO POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE.
THE EQUESTRIAN CAMPGROUND PROVIDED HIGH LINES TO TIE YOUR HORSES WITH WATER SCATTERED AROUND THE CAMP. A NICE BATHHOUSE WITH HOT SHOWERS WAS A HIT WITH EVERYONE. AFTER SETTING UP OUR CAMP, WE JOINED OUR GROUP AROUND A CAMPFIRE
AND SHARED HORSE TALES FOR AWHILE.
AS THE SUN ROSE THE NEXT MORNING, WE WERE ALL UP AND READY TO RIDE. WE RODE OUT ALONG A VALLEY UNTIL THE TRAIL LED US INTO A DENSE FORREST OF DOUGLAS FIR AND REDWOOD TREES. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH WE HAD ENTERED A TROPICAL RAIN FORREST, AND, IN FACT, WE WERE ON THE EDGE OF A TEMPERATE ZONE RAIN FORREST. THE OCCASIONAL FOG THAT HANGS OVER THE FOREST PROVIDES ENOUGH MOISTURE THAT AT TIMES IT DRIPS OFF THE TREES. NATURAL SPRINGS WERE SEEPING OUT OF THE HILLSIDE ALONG THE TRAIL WATERING THE LARGE FERNS GROWING ON THE FOREST FLOOR. SEVERAL COLORFUL WILD FLOWERS WERE BLOOMING WITH BUTTERFLIES FLUTTERING AROUND THEM.
AS WE WERE RIDING ALONG, SONGBIRDS WERE SINGING THEIR SONGS AS A FLASHY GOLD FINCH FLEW AMONG THE LUSH GREEN PLANTS. THIS EASY TRAIL OPENED UP INTO A GOLDEN FIELD OF GRASSES, AND THE LANDSCAPE CHANGED FROM THE RAIN FOREST.
THE SUNSHINE FOLLOWED US UNTIL THE TRAIL LED US UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS INTO A FOREST OF REDWOODS, THE GIANTS OF THE TREE WORLD. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 70’S AND VERY COMFORTABLE. SOON WE STARTED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK TO CAMP.
THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK ANOTHER TRAIL ALONG THE EDGE OF THE FOREST THAT LED TO THE POINT REYES VISITOR CENTER. LOOKING OUT ACROSS A FIELD OF GRASSES, WE SPOTTED A COYOTE SEARCHING FOR FOOD. WE CAUGHT HIS ATTENTION, AND HE WATCHED US FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RETURNING TO HIS HUNT. AS WE CONTINUED DOWN THIS EASY TRAIL, WE PASSED SEVERAL SMALL MARSHES WITH CATTAILS GROWING AMONG THE TALL MARSH GRASSES.
SOON THE TRAIL LEFT THE FOREST FOR A LARGE GOLDEN FIELD WITH CATTLE GRAZING PEACEFULLY. THIS PASTORAL VIEW BATHED YOUR SENSES WITH A FEELING OF TRANQUILITY. THE CATTLE WATCHED AS WE RODE THROUGH THEIR PASTURE BUT DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND OUR PRESENCE.
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE ON THIS TRAIL WAS THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF SEVERAL GATES DIVIDING PARCELS OF LAND. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RIDING, WE RETURNED TO CAMP.
POINT REYES WAS A GREAT PLACE TO RIDE AND CAMP WITH MANY MILES OF EASY TO HILLY TRAILS ALONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF TERRAIN.
SOME POINTS OF INTEREST:
SIR FRANCES DRAKE, AN ENGLISH EXPLORER, LANDED HERE ON THIS PENINSULA IN 1579.
ALSO ,THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT LIES ALONG THE POINT REYES PENINSULA.
THIS WAS A GREAT PLACE FOR WHALE WATCHING, AS THEY MIGRATE ALONG THE COAST.
THIS IS THE LAST INSTALLMENT ON THIS YEARS WEST COAST TRIP.
THERE WILL BE MORE TRIPS TO FOLLOW…..UNTIL THEN WE WISH YOU MANY “HAPPY AND SAFE TRAIL”.
BOBBIE AND LARRY
