Author: Jim Beyer

Mary Wu,Michelle Prest,Nora Chang, Quincy Chang,Phil Grote,Kevin Prest, Gigi Clarke,Bernie Loth,Carolyn Tornay, Nancy Rumple,Jane Ruona, Jackie Jones,Karan Foss Photographer:Brad Hinckley

There were 14 people that stayed in the Villages to climb the hill today. The only thing that was unusual was a tree fell across Rawhide trail between Power Line Road and Indian Trail.

Dan Kato,Katy Peretti,Rajni Bakhda, Amy Meier,Gita Bakhda,Stan Pegram, Kamini Patwari,Viren Patwari,Trish Smith, Arlene Holmboe,Arlyn Unruh,Faye Swanson, Bonnie Preston Photographer:Jim Beyer

Trish Smith  was our docent for a historical tour of the Montalvo Art Center which included a short adventure into the main house where we  saw the unusual architecture and furniture chosen by James Duval Phelan the original owner and the former three term mayor of San Francisco. The mission of the villa Montalvo is to advance the arts, music,and environment through diverse programs. Many artists showcase their work through unusual structures and art forms. Then a hike to the top of the Montalvo hill for some while others decided to take a tour the grounds. We had lunch in Saratoga.

Dan Kato

Faye Swanson,Katy Peretti,Gita Bakhda, Kamini Patwari,Stan Pegram,Viren Patwari, Jim Beyer,Dan Kato,Amy Meier,Arlyn Unruh

Akiko Giordono,Jackie Jones,Chuck Wyatt, Dan Kato,Gisela Pearson,Jim Beyer, Debbie Siedband,Nancy Rumple,Amy Meier, Kamini Patwari,Viren Patwari Photographer:John Trudeau

On Saturday, July 12th twelve long hikers did a 9 mile hike with a 1200 ft  elevation gain from the park up to Skyline Boulevard near Castle Rock Park led by Nancy Rumple. The day turned out to be cool and pleasant as we were able to walk in the trees almost the entire time.

John Trudeau

Debbie Siedband,Jim Beyer

Gisela Pearson,Jackie Jones,Jim Beyer, Dan Kato,Akiko Giordono,Debbie Siedband, Amy Meier,Viren Patwari,Kamini Patwari, Chuck Wyatt,Nancy Rumple Photographer:John Trudeau

Gisele Pearson,Jackie Jones,Jim Beyer, John Trudeau,Akiko Giordono,Debbie Siedband, Amy Meier,Viren Patwari,Kamini Patwari, Chuck Wyatt,Nancy Rumple Photographer:Dan Kato

Amy Meier,Cookie Hunley,Bonnie Preston, Arlene Holmboe,Faye Swanson,Richard Holmboe, Debbie Siedband,Nancy Mosher-Williams, Dan Kato,Jim Beyer,(Docent), Susan Brown,Arlyn Unruh Photographer:Brad Hinckley

Thirteen Ramblers joined Susan Brown and enjoyed a docent led walking tour of Japan Town in San Jose  seeing how the Japanese have changed with the times by changing a gas station into a coffee shop plus other changes We were treated by a local  Ukulele Store owner to a street concert. The tour started at 10am on N. 5th St. and ended at 11:30am. After a wonderful lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant, we toured the very unique Japanese-American Museum at 1pm.

Susan Brown,Peter Nicholls,Gigi Clarke, Faye Swanson,Nancy Rumple,Mike Warfield, Dan Kato,Jackie Jones,Debbie Siedband Photographer:John Trudeau

John Trudeau  led a hike to Castle Rock State Park, off Skyline Blvd on the Peninsula. The hikers hiked to Castle Rock itself, then down to the waterfall overlook. Elevations for that portion of the trail were up 200′ to the rock, down 600′ to the fall overlook, then back up 400′ to the parking lot.The group then continued at that point along the Saratoga Gap trail and looped back above Goat Rock, the round trip was about 6 miles, elevation gain about 800′ from the fall overlook. Very nice views of the Santa Cruz range; much of the trail was shaded and relatively level.

A week ago(6/25/14) 27 members of the hiking club went to Santa Cruz and had a wonderful time. They hiked along the cliff by the lighthouse
and had lunch on the pier.
On the same day eight people hiked the Villages hills. This was the last day all the roads were graded for fire protection. It takes three days to grade everything and the same person has been doing this for a good number of years. He recommend that the trees be pruned up over eleven and a half feet so the firetrucks can get through without ripping off their lights.

Wednesday July 2nd the Ramblers hiked the Meadow trail and we encountered some  turkey buzzards. Our hiking club president, Dan Kato, was able to get rid of the buzzards before they  started eating the slow hikers.

Marc Siedband,Rich Bainbridge,Susan Brown, Gisela Pearson,Amy Meier,Nancy Rumple, Faye Swanson,Debbie Siedband,Katy Peretti Frances Wilson,Jim Beyer,John Stratakos

12 long hikers did about 6+ miles Saturday morning 6/28/14 on the North and South Rim trails in Alum Rock Park. The sun was already bright when we parked our cars at the Alum Rock Avenue entrance and hiked in from a wooded trail. Because of  the North Rim trail hilliness the ramblers had to turn back and take a shorter route through the visitor’s center and the Inspiration Point Trail. They consisted of Cookie Hunley, Barbara Knight, and Arlene and Richard Holmboe. The long hikers climbed up to the Eagle Rock Overlook to see the spectacular 360 view of the city first and then enjoyed the beautiful, cool, and shady trails on the South Rim Trail. Everyone liked their lunches at La Perla Mexican Restaurant on McGennis Rd off of Story Road.