Jewels At Our Feet
            “How long has that new store been there?” I ask as we drive along a row of shops in our neighborhood.
            “Mom, that store has been there for two years now. Don’t you pay attention?” 
            My older son tells me I’m oblivious to changes along our neighborhood streets. I drive along the same blocks so often that I don’t bother to look carefully.
            Most people probably have selective attention levels, depending on their life activities. I never drop my focus when working on a translation project, because the nature of the job is to be detail oriented. When I’m just driving along, though, I let my mind wander and don’t try to visually record every detail.
            Fortunately, special visual treats we come across by happenstance usually stand out enough to catch our attention.
            I love the idea of seeing various wildflowers that dot the landscape from spring into early summer, but I don’t always make a concrete plan to find them.
            Whether it’s poppies on an ocean bluff path or wild irises on a mountain forest trail, these jewels of nature usually manage to attract our view, even when we’re not searching for them.
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands, a short, relatively flat walk with broad views of the Pacific and dots of color along the trail in wildflower season.
            May we all appreciate the unexpected treasures lining our paths. Keep putting one foot forward!
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 130: Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands

Better Late Than Never
            Pink, white, yellow, red and purple explosions of color burst from green bushes. We marvel at the colors as we walk through the Rhododendron Dell in Golden Gate Park.
            We almost missed them. 
            As a kid, I knew when the daffodils or tulips were blooming because I walked by them every day when I went in and out of our house. I never missed a spring bloom.
            Here in a city like San Francisco, some flowers are featured in specific garden areas, and they don’t always bloom at exactly the same time each year.
            Rhododendrons are hard to miss when they’re blossoming if you know where to look for them. We missed the early peak in Golden Gate Park this year, but there are still plenty of blossoms to enjoy.
            What is your favorite flower to watch for? They merit appreciation even if they’re a little past their best blooming point!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll, introduces readers to one of many special feature areas in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 179: Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll

Tranquility
            Nuanced shades of blue and gray blend like a landscape painting. Patchy grass in the foreground, soft ripples mark the water until the eye reaches a blue mountain peak under a mottled sky of white, grays, and pale blues.
            There is something about horizontal lines and muted blues that bring me a sense of serenity.
            Tranquility is something we need in times of personal and social turmoil. What makes you feel calm? 
            May you find a peaceful view when you need it, whether actually outdoors or looking at a picture. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes, Point Pinole Bay View Trail Walk, takes readers on a walk along the Bay View Trail at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, which parallels San Pablo Bay, a place where the sky always has a magical glow.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
 
New this week:
Hike Notes 218: Point Pinole Bay View Trail Walk

Breathe and Regroup
            Sky. Trees. A distant horizon. Setting one foot on the trail after the other, I focus only on the feel of dirt and stones under my feet, the sound of birds and insects, and the feeling of the sun and breeze on my face.
            In my many decades on earth, there has never been a time when getting outdoors didn’t help me clear my head, even when I was facing the most difficult life challenges.
            Loss of a loved one, a scary diagnosis, worries about caring for family and the future—we all face myriad challenges over the course of our lifetimes.
            Life can throw curves at us that feel so overwhelming we almost give up. It’s okay to curl up in a fetal position and have a big cry, but then we need to get back up and find a way forward.
            That is true not just for individuals but for entire societies. Hammer a group of people with political and financial turmoil long enough, and they start feeling hopeless and helpless. That’s when it’s time to stop, breathe, find a sense of purpose, and fight for something better.
            The Hike Notes from the archives this week, Carson Falls, leads readers along a short but strenuous trail in the Mt. Tam Watershed to Carson Falls, home of a rare yellow-legged frog. There are easier trails to get to this waterfall than the one described in the Carson Falls Hike Notes, but challenging paths can make reaching the destination all the more satisfying. 
            There is usually more than one way to achieve a goal. May we all take a quiet moment to clear our heads in an environment that lifts our hearts, and keep putting one foot forward!
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
Hike Notes 133: Carson Falls