Thursday, February 10, 2011

Hiking around Northern California

 
I have a new passion! It's hiking!  I joined a hiking group about a month ago through www.meetup.com.  Through that first hike I met John and Miriam who have their own hiking group and they invited me to join them on one of their hikes. I've been hiking with them for the past 3 weeks now and loving it!!!

We hike at different locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.  There are so many hiking trails in Northern California that I never even knew about!  All these photos were taken last Saturday at Monte Bello Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve. We hiked about 10-11 miles. The weather was perfect, it got up to the mid 70s that day!















At one point in the hike we had to cross a stream by stepping across the stones. It was harder than it looked but I made it. I was the holding the camera so no photos of me!
 









This is the only thing that scares me about hiking around here...

 We had a picnic lunch at the top of this hill.
















I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of Northern California! 


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35 comments:

  1. Rita's RecipesFebruary 10, 2011 2:20 PM

    Thanks for taking us along. I discovered hiking in NC and love it. It's amazing how much your trails look like the ones in NC.
    Cheers!
    Rita @May Days

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  2. Pamela GordonFebruary 10, 2011 2:24 PM

    Beautiful pictures of your countryside and all the different trees and plants. I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Pamela

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  3. UnknownFebruary 10, 2011 3:17 PM

    Ah Cindy, that looks like a lot of fun can't wait for it to be nice here so we can get out a walk and do things outdoors .. Glad your having fun

    Pattie

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  4. SusanFebruary 10, 2011 3:19 PM

    Good for you going hiking, Cindy. That is very commendable. Great photos, too, by the way. The one of that tree silhouetted against the sky was awesome.

    Thanks so much for sharing. I'd be afraid to cross that stream and drop my camera in the water! Take care. Susan

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  5. VictoriaFebruary 10, 2011 3:25 PM

    Wow, how beautiful those trails look! I enjoy hiking, we have several trails by us and I believe there's one that leads to the beach but I don't know if I'm up for that one!!! Thank you for sharing:)

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2011 3:32 PM

    So gorgeous and looks absolutely refreshing! I love the pic with the ladybugs. Xoxoxo

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  7. KarenBFebruary 10, 2011 3:35 PM

    And such great exercise! We're moving a little further out in the country in Southern California. Our property touches the Cleveland National Forest. I'm going to do some hiking myself. Although, my photos will be a little bit different, I'm guessing.

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  8. LoriFebruary 10, 2011 3:43 PM

    Nice little stretch of the legs!

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  9. Sue KFebruary 10, 2011 3:43 PM

    Loved your photos! I am originally from N. Calif. and these pics made me homesick. So much beauty there!! All the green made me envious. All I see out my windows here is WHITE!!
    Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
    Hugs, Sue K

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  10. NanaDianaFebruary 10, 2011 3:51 PM

    WOW~ Great photos! They look like pictures from National Geographic! Wonderful - and it looks like you had lots of fun hiking...watch out for Mt. Lions!!!! Diana

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  11. DonnaFebruary 10, 2011 3:53 PM

    Cindy..these are beautiful photos! I second Rita..thanks for taking us along! I posted photos of our hobby farm all ice covered. We took a much smaller hike around our seven acres and the neighboring woods for our 'photo shoot'. :o)

    BTW, I wrote a little 'mini-tribute' to you along with a few other people who bless us so much by their linky parties or other ways...on Tuesday. Just wanted everyone to know what a blessing people like you are to we bloggers. :o)

    xo
    Donna

    PS. Northern California is just the perfect place to hike! We have family there and love it. :o)

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  12. TanyaFebruary 10, 2011 4:00 PM

    I love to hike and a group sounds really fun. I'm going to have to check into that! I envy your weather but we'll be there soon.

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  13. DebbiedoosFebruary 10, 2011 4:28 PM

    Oh that looked gorgeous! Fun too..I would have loved it.

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  14. thefirstladyFebruary 10, 2011 4:45 PM

    I used to belong to a hiking group - Sunday Morning Steppers. It was so much fun and I met really nice people. Unfortunately, the group disbanded after the leader had her 1st child. Miss it. Glad to see (and read) your adventures.

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  15. nanniepannieFebruary 10, 2011 5:00 PM

    Oh what fun...exercise and nature...does it get any better. Your pics are great.

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  16. The GoadsFebruary 10, 2011 5:05 PM

    What a beauty! That looks like a lot of fun.

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2011 5:10 PM

    Are you kidding??! Ten to eleven miles?
    No wonder you look so wonderful!

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  18. Amy ChalmersFebruary 10, 2011 5:10 PM

    Cindy that looks so fun and really a good thing to be out and active and you get to be in such gorgeous scenery. I went ice skating today for the first time in 40 years and I really am excited about learning to ice skate! I did pretty darned good too. There was no one on the ice so hubs and I (he skates) had it to ourselves. New physical activites are invigorating! Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Brenda PruittFebruary 10, 2011 5:18 PM

    Good for you, Cindy! Great exercise and fantastic scenery. That pink grass toward the top looks like a natural Muhly grass.
    Brenda

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  20. MaryFebruary 10, 2011 5:49 PM

    Oh, that is so beautiful! I love hiking here in NJ, but it's a little too icy here at the moment. your pictures are wonderful, Cindy. Thanks for taking us along!
    Xoxo

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  21. The TablescaperFebruary 10, 2011 6:20 PM

    Wow! Such amazing photos. Looking forward to seeing more of your hikes.

    - The Tablescaper

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  22. ElsieFebruary 10, 2011 7:03 PM

    Thanks for the hike Cindy. Heck I'm tired now.LOL. That is some
    beautiful country. I would be
    digging up wild flowers and sticking in my pocket....would I
    get arrested? I just don't know if
    I could pass up all those ferns.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  23. ShirleyFebruary 10, 2011 7:29 PM

    What beautiful scenery. All I can think of is how wonderful it would to be on horseback there! But then that's me. Either way you get to see the details of the beautiful country side.

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  24. DreamgirlLisaFebruary 10, 2011 7:33 PM

    I Love that you are doing this...when I first got divorced, I joined an online hiking group in the East Bay. It was so out of my comfort zone, but I wound up loving it and loved seeing all the beauty all around this area! I haven't gone on a hike now in a several years, I am so out of shape, but I have been thinking lately of how much I miss it and how good I felt when I was doing it. Maybe you will inspire to get back on "the trail"!

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  25. SunnysidesueFebruary 10, 2011 8:11 PM

    Great photos Cindy! This sure is a lot more fun than running on a treadmill at the gym isn't it?! :)

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  26. KellyFebruary 11, 2011 5:38 AM

    Too pretty. I wish I were there now to escape the cold!

    Kelly

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  27. JanFebruary 11, 2011 7:39 AM

    Thanks so much for sharing. Never know when I'll make it up that way.

    Jan

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  28. RochelleFebruary 11, 2011 8:36 AM

    Oh how I miss the bay area and it's mild temperatures this time of year....you are so lucky! These are gorgeous pictures too!
    Cheers
    Rochelle

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  29. JoaniFebruary 11, 2011 8:43 AM

    Beautiful. I'm tired already. Lions scare me too.

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  30. Carol MaryottFebruary 11, 2011 7:42 PM

    Stunning photographs. Thank you for the fabulous tour !

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  31. LydiaFebruary 12, 2011 9:19 AM

    Thank you for taking us on the hike with you!

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  32. Steph. :)February 12, 2011 6:55 PM

    Gorgeous! I love hiking and would totally join you if I were still in NorCal!

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  33. Katherine February 13, 2011 9:01 AM

    Lovely post, great photos. What a wonderful way to make memories. Hugs!

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  34. JanayFebruary 15, 2011 10:22 AM

    Thanks for sharing these gorgeous pictures of "my" California! I do miss the Cali landscape as I've lived in NH the past 24 years. If I were to hike right now I'd have to wear snowshoes, and I'm not into snow. My eldest daughter now lives in Chico, CA so I get to go back once in a while.

    Janay

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  35. cozinhas planejadasFebruary 16, 2011 10:50 AM

    Beautiful place!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment! ~Cindy