Happy Birthday Barbie!

Today marks Barbie’s 54^th birthday so Sierra celebrated this special day the only way she knows how – with an ADVENTURE! It was a beautiful winter day with spring like conditions. A perfect day to ride Mt. Tamalpais and peddle up the seven mile fire road known as Railroad Grade to its popular East Peak. Mt. Tam at 2,572 feet is an outdoor wonderland! It offers more than 60 miles of trail within the park and connects to a larger 200-mile-long trail system. East Peak offers picturesque views of the Bay and beyond.

West Point rest stop.



We made it to the top!

 

Enjoying the spectacular views!

 

Fun friends we met at the top - Peter and Mary
It was Mary's Birthday too! Happy B-day Mary!
You ROCK on a Mt. Bike!



Posing in paradise.

 

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

-Albert Einstein

Backyard Adventure

Sometimes adventure lies in someone else’s backyard. Sierra recently traveled to Sonora in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Foothills. When we arrived there were a few inches of snow on the ground, a real winter treat at only 1,825 feet above sea level. By the next day most of the snow had melted but underneath the snow was a layer of dirt, and sitting on the dirt was a large fleet of dirt movers and shakers. Enjoy the ride as Sierra takes you on a dirty tour while posing with these earth moving, ground shaking, excavating machines. We hope you dig it!

The last bit of snow.



A sweet ol' tractor.

I am Adventure Barbie, hear me ROAR!

"I can walk for miles and miles" - literally, there are several miles of track to explore.

We sighted a giant jack rabbit hiding under this machine, spectacular!



She purrs like a kitten, or maybe more like a CAT.

Working on the chain gang.

How "below" can you go?

Yes, this machine is leaning. It's a slope mower.



I hope my tetanus vaccine is up to date.

A special thank you to Jen and Ken for sharing their lovely ranch. It’s always an adventure!

Flower Child

Just living is not enough.

One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Andersen

Lavishing in the beauty - top of Mt. Burdell

Checkerboard up close - Dwarf Oak Trail

Hiking with my Niece Carlene

Common Star Lily - San Carlos fire road

Mule's Ear - Old Quarry Trail

Flower Unknown - Old Quarry Trail

Hiking down the steep Quarry Trail

Unknown Flower

Hound's Tongue - Love this one - Dward Oak Trail 

Douglas Iris - Dwarf Oak Trail

Milkmaids - Dwarf Oak Trail

Shooting Star - Dwarf Oak Trail

Suncups - Dwarf Oak Trail

Unknown - Dwarf Oak Trail

Unknown - so beautiful - Old Quarry Trail



The photos posted in this blog were all taken on Mt. Burdell on three separate occasions. Viewing wildflowers along the trail while running or hiking has always brought me joy. But thanks to this project I got to really "see" a wildflower for the first time. Each discovery was a major triumph. Taking the time to get down close and examine the true beauty of each specimen was euphoric. This was my first attempt at identifying wildflowers and I still have a few mysteries to solve. I hope you take the time to go out and examine these delicate beauties yourself. They'll be with us for only a short time.