Gaviota Peak Nature Hike
led by Al and Dawn King, Saturday, March 9, 2013
O Mother, Father,
whenever I think I am lacking.
help me remember
that you are within me,
and all around me,
providing everything I need.
Amen
Al and I wondered what to do when we awoke to wind-driven low clouds, scudding across the dawn sky. A neighborhood rainbow gave evidence of some lingering precipitation. It seemed to be a cool gusty day, no matter our thoughts of climbing Gaviota Peak. After some discussion, we decided to hike up the trail anyway and simply turn around if conditions became uncomfortable. Sharon, Craig and Barbara joined us.
Despite generous rainfall the previous day, the porous trail was mainly dry. The cool air was invigorating. We avoided the wind for most of our hike, traversing a little used offshoot of Trespass trail. This gave us access to interesting plants and flowers which varied from those of the main Trespass road, as well as ocean views.
We saw Wood Mint, Sugar Bush, Blue Dicks, Encilia, purple and white-flowered Nightshades, native Morning Glory, Toyone, Purple Needle Grass, Lupines, Poppies and Amole (native soap plant). A busy Flower Fly was at work, one of our many native pollinators.
The higher we got, the windier it seemed. After some searching—the brush has grown—we found our favorite table rock and had a snack before heading back on the main Trespass road. There Milk Maids, first flowers of spring, sang their “final hurrah.” Red Indian Paintbrush was exceptionally vibrant due to the weather. Gooseberries bloomed, as did Hummingbird Sage, Fiesta Flowers and Manzanita. Beautiful large rocks displaying fossils and multi-colored lichens bordered the road.
The scarlet flash of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird let us know we were too closely admiring his favorite flowering sage. Loud chirps nearby, alerted us to the presence of a Sage Sparrow, which seemed alarmed as well. Not far away a normally nocturnal Jerusalem Cricket (“Potato Bug”) tried to avoid us as it traversed the road.
In summary, it was a delightful excursion into Nature with dear friends. What more could one ask of the day?
