Liz Giarratana led a Santa Cruz History Hike on Wednesday, September 24th. We explored Santa Cruz on a 3 mile walk through some of the history of that iconic coastal town. We parked in the downtown area and saw the sights on Pacific Ave and their pedestrian mall. Then there was a 20 minute walk to the beach area where we had lunch. Afterward we explored a historic neighborhood above the beach called Beach Hill. The trolley then took us back to downtown Santa Cruz.

Sandra Walker,John Walker,Eve Gebhardt, Tony Orlando,Nancy Rumple,Jim Beyer, Amy Meier,Faye Swanson,Akiko Giordono, Ruth Lee,Jackie Jones,Karan Foss, Brad Hinckley,Jane Ruona,Radhika Rajpal,Gisela Pearson,Subhash Bal Photographer:John Trudeau

Nancy Rumple led eighteen hikers to Mt. Madonna County Park on Saturday, September 20th . We hiked on shady trails that were new to some and visited several Giant Redwoods that were in the park on a 8.25 mile loop with moderate elevation gain. The day proved to be pleasant and cool.

Jim Beyer and Susan Brown led a self guided walking tour of the Stanford University campus on Wednesday,September 10th. It included visiting the Hoover tower and museum, the memorial church, Tresidder student union, and the Cantor Art Center. We ate lunch at the Tresidder student
 union food court.

Katy Peretti,Susan Brown,Cookie Hunley, Wendy Ledamun,Debbie Siedband,Charmon Ashby, Marion Horton,Jim Beyer,Faye Swanson, Rich Bainbridge,Jackie Jones,Tony Orlando

Richard Bainbridge led a hike on the pedestrian portion of the new section of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge on Saturday, September 8th. It was a total hike of 8 miles. The trail from the parking lot to the bridge was flat and about 2 miles and from the start of the bridge to the temporary end point another 2 miles with a easy 2% grade. There were a number of benches on the bridge where we stopped to rest before going farther. The day was cool and pleasant with a light breeze. We observed a ship being unloaded by large cranes and several interesting boats and ships within the bay. We ate lunch at a restaurant within  Jack London Square after the hike.

Charmon Ashby,Rich Bainbridge,Debbie Siedband, Jim Beyer,Tony Orlando,Katy Peretti, Faye Swanson,Jackie Jones,Cookie Hunley

Jack London

Bicycles mounted on a pole in Jack London square

Gary Holmquist,Dan Kato,Jim Beyer, Gigi Clarke,Amy Meier,John Walker, Sandra Walker,Katy Peretti, Jackie Jones,Debbie Siedband Photographer:John Trudeau

On Saturday, August 30th twelve members hiked on the many trails at Edgewood County Park in Redwood City. led by John Trudeau. At times there was nice cool marine-layer air coming in over the coastal hills that made for a pleasant day. We walked a total distance of about 6 miles and elevation gain of about 800 feet. There was a mix of shade and sun. We ate lunch afterwards at a local dinner in Redwood City.

Jim Beyer,Sandra Walker,Dan Kato, John Walker,Jackie Jones,Debbie Siedband, Amy Meier,Katy Peretti,Gigi Clarke Photographer:John Trudeau

Jackie Jones,Katy Peretti,Tony Orlando, Karan Foss,Peter Nicholls,Dan Kato, Amy Meier,Jane Ruona,Debbie Siedband, Susan Brown,Faye Swanson,Phi Grote, Kamini Patwari,Wate Bakker,Subhash Bal, Viren Patwari, Radhika Rajpai, Johanna Bakker,Peggy Grote Photographer:Jim Beyer

 Jackie Jones  led an eight mile hike with less than 1000 ft. elevation gain in a tree-lovers park on the Coyote Ridge trail. Some ramblers hiked a slightly different way. It was a cool pleasant walk with plenty of shade and breezes. We saw many tall beautiful redwood trees sprinkled throughout the trail. The visitors’ center revealed several glass cases displaying  local wildlife.

Peter Nicholls,Karan Foss, Jane Ruona,Susan Brown

Karan Foss,Susan Brown, Amy Meier,Jane Ruona

Dan Kato,Kamini Patwari,Jane Ruona, Amy Meier,Susan Brown,Phile Grote, Peter Nicholls,Subhash Bal

Matie Alesi,Vick Alesi,Arlyn Unruh, Rajni Bakhda,Cookie Hunley,Gita Bakhda, Dan Kato,Gary Holmquist,Bonnie Preston, Terry Holmquist,Wate Bakker,Katy Peretti, Barbara Knight,Faye Swanson,Johanna Bakker, Pam Thompson,Janet       ,Frank Veloz Photographer:Susan Brown

Nineteen people went to Elkhorn Slough National Research Reserve with Gary and Terry Holmquist today. Starting from the Visitor Center we hiked north toward the Hummingbird Island passing the old, abandoned barn.  Then we hiked to the North Marsh Overlook before turning back to the Visitor Center, about 3-4 miles. Around the marshes we saw lots of small and big sandpipers, a curlew and some godwits. While at the Hummingbird Island, we saw lots of white Pelicans in the water. On our way to Hummingbird Island ( didn’t see any hummingbirds there ) we saw this wall made of sea shells and burnt wood.  We had lunch at Phil’s Fish House in Moss Landing which is a very famous and large restaurant. The portions were really big there and some of us had to take  doggy bags home. 

Chicory (Roots used by cowboys for coffee)

Bonnie Preston,Johanna Bakker, Susan Brown,Wate Bakker

F:Bonnie Preston,Cookie Hunley,Arlyn Unruh, Amy Meier,Kamini Patwari,Wate Bakker, Johanna Bakker B:Jim Beyer,Dan Kato,Katy Peretti Viren Patwari Photographer:Ross Beyer

Wate and Johanna Bakker led a hike along the shore of San Francisco bay from Lands End, through Seacliff to Bakers Beach and back The hike was largely flat, except for a few short flights of stairs and was about 6 miles long. Views were great and fog remained all day long that created a great cool hike as there was no sun to deal with in the open spaces. The Seacliff section of San Francisco revealed many fabulous large homes. Afterwards we ate at the Golden Gate Park Chalet.

Johanna Bakker,Viren Patwari, Bonnie Preston

Seacliff neighborhood

Amy Meier,Wate Bakker.Katy Peretti

Dan Kato,Katy Peretti,Viren Patwari, Kamini Patwari,Jim Beyer,Wate Bakker, Amy Meier,Cookie Hunley, Arlyn Unruh,Johanna Bakker Photographer:Ross Beyer