on the rinconada trail

We a-go-gos managed to get up for a hike after not hiking for far too long. We drove up to Santa Margarita and along highway 58 to the Rinconada Trail in the Los Padres National Forest. it's not difficult (I could muster it...somewhat) but it does start you off going up, up, up. Phew!

This was before the rain so who knows what it looks like right now. I like the colors in the grass. With all the up, up, up it was nice to have a few resting places for those of us with sad lungs.

 We didn't continue once we hit this summit of sorts. It was a bit gustier than usual and my wheeze was a bit wheezier. It was beginning to warm up and well...I got hungry.

 Eee! I love fat little acorns. There were acorns everywhere and surprisingly we did not hear many birds. Go figure.

 The gate was locked but you can step through on the left there. Just past the gate is where the big oak tree was. It was open and really pretty. Windy and gusty as well but really pretty.

The view as you near the top is ridiculously pretty. This is not a summertime hike as there is not much trail shade. We did this hike two weeks ago and it got warm even though it was a bit early in the morning. I got a bit too much glare in the photos but it was clear enough to see layers and layers of hills, valleys, and trees. Going back down was actually more trying for me than going up. It is semi-steep, easy to traverse, not too much loose rock...I just have middle-aged knees. Once we made it back to the small parking lot, we refilled out water bottles and headed out for a breakfast burrito from Frank's in SLO.

ode to the ozarks

after settling in for the night in our day-glo tent, we awoke bright and early to the dulcet gobble-gobble of a wild turkey peppered with the mad cackling of a pileated woodpecker. after a round of cereal we crossed the bridge and began the short hike up to eden falls.to hike anywhere in the ozarks, we a-go-gos need to head out as early as possible, otherwise the beastly humidity has us melting in our shoes. it wasn't terribly hot but the sticky was super duper icky and we really wanted to see the green that was all around us. after passing through a multitude of spider webs, we came to a fork in the path that directed us towards the falls. having rained somewhat recently we were hoping for something spectacular. luckily we were able to adjust our expectations when the roar we were expecting sounded more like a fountain from the americana in glendale than a roaring waterfall.still, it was very pretty. the ozarks are as lush as lush can be. the greens are potently green and the air is thick with it. one of the benefits of heading out early is getting to hear all the birds sing their morning songs. so we meandered along, enjoying the moss, the tunes and the scenery.after our tiny hike that seemed not-so-tiny (oh the humidity!), we packed up camp and headed out, stoping along the way for an apple snack along Little Buffalo Creek where we enjoyed jumping fish, dozens of butterflies, a multitude of dragonflies and the company of each other (and a few skeeters that seem to think i am quite tasty).