Jim Beyer

Variety Show and Potluck Event

The Hiking Club on Thursday, May 12th held our First Annual Variety Show and Potluck at Foothill Center. It was a resounding success with all going away buzzing about the talent in the Villages. The evening started with the Ukulele club conducting a sing along followed by Karen Carlson playing “Send in the Clowns” on the piano. Dan Kato followed with a blues guitar solo. Sy Gelman dazzled the audience with his magic act or was it a comedy act? Next came Barbara Knight and Marion Logie with a comedy reading based on Abbott and Costello’s “who’s on first”. Betty Stednitz performed music from the “Phantom of the Opera” on the piano. Dan Kato and Vera Hutton then performed guitar, ukulele, and flute duets. Wendy Ledamun and Rich Bainbridge conducted a mind reading act using cards. The entertainment concluded with Dan Kato performing Marty Robbins song and lyrics of “El Paso”.

Los Gatos Hike

Cookie Hunley and Johanna Bakker led a rambler Hike hike in the historical part of Los Gatos. The group learned some things from the past and admired the beautiful gardens in the old neighborhoods

Evergreen Library Hike

Jackie Jones led a rambler hike to the new Evergreen Library on Saturday, April 30th. The hike was a 4-mile round trip with a stop for coffee at the Evergreen Coffee Shop.

Uvas Canyon Park Hike

Susan Brown led a group of long hikers on a 6 mile hike at Uvas Canyon Park on Saturday,April 30th. The hike started at Waterfall loop Trail and we found our way to Swanson Creek and then went up to Alec Canyon Creek to the Triple Falls where we had lunch and back. We were able to see some water in the waterfalls. The weather was sunny but cool and the wind didn’t bother us.

Japanese Friendship Garden Tour

Kathy Tanaka led a tour of the Japanese Friendship Garden at Kelley Park where she is a docent. There were beautiful grounds, plants, ponds and koi fish. After the tour the group had special permission to use the tea house for tea and cookies.

Russian Ridge Hike

Wate and Johanna Bakker led long and rambler hikes in the Russian Ridge/Mindego Hill area along the Skyline Boulevard on Saturday, April 23rd. Wate led an 8-9 mile hike through the flower area on Russian Hill to the recently opened Mindego Hill open space with 1900 ft elevation gains. Johanna led a 3-4 mile hike along the Russian Ridge, where flowers were most plentiful

Rancho San Antonio Hike

Terri Molloy led a rambler hike at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. There was little elevation for this hike.

Sierra Vista Hike

Nancy Rumple led 8-9 mile hike on a new trail for the long hikers with a 1400 ft.elevation gain on the Lower Calaveras Trail in Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve on Saturday, April 16th. They saw thirteen kinds of wild flowers. The ramblers hiked on the other trails in the Preserve on a 3 mile hike and saw great views and flowers. At one point they spotted an object down in a canyon and was told by the ranger that it was a Honda Civic that had been down there about 3 months.

Harvey Bear Hike

Johanna Bakker led a rambler hike to the flower area in the Coyote lake/ Harvey Bear county Parks on about a four mile long trail with less than 300 ft elevation gain. There were many flowers.

Katy Peretti led a Villages trail hike on Wednesday,April 6th. The hike started at the upper garden at 8:30 A.M. and then walked up the hill.