Columbine Trail post

It's been a while but I have had trouble with my computer and web connection. The computer is fine, the web connection is if-fy, but here we go.

Kate and I camped at Chabot Regional Park near San Leandro last weekend. This park is known for its marina - kayakers and people who like to fish abound here. We have kayaked and enjoyed it a lot. It isn't wilderness; city noises and gunshots from the nearby shooting range can interrupt a hike or boat ride. But Chabot also shares natural history treasures to folks who explore.We left the campground and hit the Columbine Trail early Saturday afternoon. This trail winds through some eucalyptus and hits a bay-oak forest after a half mile. These great trees twist at all angles like dancing Shivas to catch sunlight We were surprised to see that the hillsides here were still green, given the ongoing drought. Wildflowers covered the hills. Blue eyed grass, actually a blue- purple iris with yellow sepals surprised us; we though we’d passed this beauty’s season. We were also stunned to find some small rust colored mushrooms. Fungi tend to grow in rainy times; these must have found enough left over dampness to survive.

Sticky monkey flowers thrived in sunny spots. These shrubs boast leaves covered with sticky resin to hold water in dry times. Their trumpet shaped flowers add butterscotch yellow to the forest’s collage. Globe lilies, delicate spherical flowers glowed like round candle flames. The day was hot, but cool wind caressed us like a full body kisses.

We sat on a bench for a while and listened to the white crowned sparrows that surrounded us. I felt like we were at the center of some undefined geometrical shape and the birds sang at its vertices. Turkey vultures cast drifting shadows on the forest floor. People associate these scavengers with death and shun them. They are actually very intelligent and curious birds who like to watch passing hikers. If you threaten them, they defend themselves by losing their last meal. I’m told the smell is bad enough to discourage any predator.

Chabot surprises us with its wildlife. We generally see black tailed deer. The Columbine trail crosses the territory for the biggest and most beautiful rattlesnake we’ve seen in the wild, although we haven’t met it in several years. Great horned owls love this park. We’ve watched them perching above Columbine Trail; one woke us with its hoot at 3 AM on Sunday.

The lake itself is full of life. Large fish – I am guessing they are carp – leapt high and scattered the surface. A lone swan drifted close to shore; we wondered if birds spend time alone to think about the meaning of love. Western grebes and coots passed the hoards of Canada geese. Three ospreys circled the lake; the fish remained still when these fish hawks passed.
This mini-vacation ended too soon, they all do that. We did come home refreshed. It is always good to see how many living things survive on the edges of our lives.