Bonnie Preston and Katy Peretti led a rambler hike to the Guadalupe River area in SJ to see the new creative Mammoth Statue which was just installed. It’s a very creative statue located in the area where the skeletal bones were found in 2005. It stands 6 feet tall and weighs 3,000 pounds. These 12,500 year old bones are of the Columbian mammoth that roamed the lands around what is now North San Jose.
Sy Gelman led the ramblers on 4 mile hike in the eastern part of Golden Gate Park that most tourists miss. We visited the Arboretum and walked around Stowe Lake with a stream that flows up, and passed by several museums. Afterwards lunch was at Sy’s favorite “eatery” site on 9th St.
John Trudeau led the long hikers to the top of Montara Mountain. The start was from San Pedro Valley Park in Pacifica on a moderate hike of about 8.5 miles round trip and 1700ft elevation gain. The gentle, refreshing mist from the coastal fog and the “bracing” weather and “fog-shrouded views of the coast and hills made for a delightful gradual and steady climb to the top.
Johanna Bakker led the ramblers on a hike at Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz and enjoyed cool ocean breezes and mild temperatures. It was a trail that we looped around and some people went partway, rested, and then met up with the group on their return. We had a late lunch at a downtown restaurant Laili in Santa Cruz that had excellent tasty dishes with Silk Road flavors. Afterward eight long hikers returned for an additional four mile hike.
The long hikers on Saturday, July 25th led by Nancy Rumple did an 8 mile hike through the Redwoods with an elevation gain of 1200 ft from Saratoga up to Skyline Boulevard. The Ramblers visited other features of the park such as the Redwood log Welch-Hurst house (1908) that is now used as a Hostel.
Dan Kato led a hike with 11 ramblers of about 4 miles along Coyote Creek. After the hike 8 of us ate lunch at Oc-licious restaruant where the specialty is dishes made with mollusks.
Spicy and very tasty but not for all pallets.
On Saturday, July 18th Nancy Rumple led the long hikers on about 8-9 mile hike from Hwy. 9/35 intersection on the Saratoga Gap Trail, Achistaca Trail, and Sky-Line-to the Sea Trail to Summit Meadows and back on the mostly shady trails with a 1200ft. elevation gain. The ramblers led by Wendy Ledamun with an assist by Brad Hinckley hiked a different trail of about 4.3 miles also mostly in the shade.
Deb Siedband and Susan Brown led a walking tour of the 2015 Downtown Doors student art installations in San Jose on Wednesday, July 15th.. Art was placed in windows, doors, alleyways, and parking garages. The talent of the high school students was impressive, and lively discussions occurred over many of the artworks. Lunch was enjoyed in San Pedro Square Market.
Jackie Jones led a 6 mile hike with a 800 ft. elevation gain from the parking lot in Uvas in a loop returning to the starting point. We took a side trip to an observation point overlooking a water fall with very little water. The hike through the trees for most of the trail proved to be pleasant with temperatures remaining comfortable.
