Villages Hiking Club

Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Hike

Saturday, May 28th. Nancy Rumple led a 9 mile hike with 1200ft. elevation gain for long hikers in Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space. The hike was on Mayfair Trail, Longwall Trail, and Bald Peaks Trail and looped back through Calero County Park with a variety of wildflowers along the trails. For the Ramblers, Gary and Terry Holmquist led a hike of about 4.5 miles in length with an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet. The views were spectacular.

Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Hike

Russian River Outing

Some of the club traveled to Russian River May 24th thru May 26th which is a beautiful resort town with a number of wineries nearby and lots of water activities plus one of the most spectacular Red Wood Forests in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve. Fern Grove Cottages was the location of the motel. There were trails for all to enjoy from easy to strenuous.

Russian River Outing

Villages Pathway Hike

Katy Peretti and Suzanne Pham led a rambler hike around the Villages pathways on Wednesday, May 18th. The first part was walking up Fairway Drive and entering Olivas then through Hermosa, Montgomery and Del Lago for a total of about 5 miles.

Villages Pathway Hike

Almaden Quicksilver Park Hike

Wate and Johanna Bakker led rambler and long hikes in the Almaden Quicksilver Park, starting at the Mockingbird Hill entrance on Saturday, May 14th. Johanna led a 7.1 mile hike with an elevation difference of 800ft. Wate led a 8 mile hike with an elevation difference of 800 ft. Both trails provided an easy pleasant experience. There were still many flowers blooming.

Almaden Quicksilver Park Hike

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”.