More Parks and Mountain Lions
Arastradero Park Preserve
One place that is nearby and good for a hike this time of year is Arastradero Park Preserve at 1530 Arastradero Road, 1/4 mile north of Page Mill Road. (http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/community-services/nat-arastradero.html) In the summer months, this park can be uncomfortably hot unless you get there in the early morning or later in the evening. But in this season, it's quite comfortable and less crowded than The Dish and the Baylands. I've seen coyotes at this park a few times. Once I wasn't paying attention and my daughter put out her arm to block me from moving forward while a coyote crossed the trail directly in front of me. I've also seen wild turkeys and lots of other birds. I haven't seen any mountain lions. But they have been sighted here and elsewhere recently. So the city has posted warning signs here and even at The Dish to be alert and avoid walking alone in the early morning or closer to dusk.
Yesterday, I was walking on The Dish in the mid-afternoon (between 3-4). My friend was telling me about a recent mountain lion attack on some goats at Hidden Villa (http://www.hiddenvilla.org/), which is another nearby spot with trails and eco-environmental educational programs for children. At the Dish, there are generally enough people on the walking path that I think the risk of attack is very unlikely. But on our way down the last portion of the trail, we did pass some women who nervously asked us if we'd seen any mountain lions. We admitted to being disappointed that we hadn't seen any.
Short Confession
After an initial burst of activity on my Palo Alto blog, I skipped town for a while. First to a folk-dance workshop. Then for a long overdue visit to the San Diego area.
My husband and I did visit the still beautiful, historic but vibrant Hotel Del Coronado while there. Now that's a hotel that I'd love to stay in! Unfortunately, it doesn't quite fit our budget.
When I returned to Palo Alto, the weather was frosty and I was busy catching up on coursework for the short-story and memoir classes that I've been taking this semester at Foothill College. Yes, your part-time Palo Alto Blogger and Young at Heart Diva (see www.tangodiva.com for my articles about travel outside of Palo Alto) is actually a wanna be fiction/memoir writer.
In my spare time, I go to yoga three times a walk, dance two nights a week, take numerous walks on The Dish and the Baylands. I've been meaning to go on for a walk at one of the other local places that I like to hike--so I could take pictures to post on the blog.
I decided to go ahead and tell you about them anyway. I can always post pictures later.
