A Bounty of Color
After years of drought in California, a string of atmospheric rivers combined with runoff of record snowfall from the mountains has a lake reappearing in a long empty lakebed. We are in a time of extremes. Nature’s mercurial temperament brings not only risks but great rewards. The wildflowers after the historic rains have been stunning, with a wide array of flowers still blooming in abundance in late May. We see wild irises on Mt. Tam, waves of California poppies painting orange brushstrokes across hills, seas of yellow along coastal bluffs, and patches of pinks, purples, and whites adorning city parks. In this glorious year for wildflowers, my joy at seeing favorites like purple lupine has been taken to another level by the appearance of large patches of yellow lupine. Nature has a way of reminding us of what is good in the world, countering the constant negative news cycle blasting at us from technology. The humble act of stepping outdoors—or simply to a window or open door--to see a flower growing through a crack in the sidewalk or hear a bird singing out of view has amazing power to restore our spirits. Stop for a moment each day to sense what nature is offering, and keep putting one foot forward! This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is El Polin Spring-Presidio Walk, an easy trail in San Francisco’s Presidio that offers historical sites along beautiful nature trails. This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives: (Original Hike Notes 115): El Polin Spring-Presidio Walk Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area 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. Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
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My Path to Choose
Years ago, my Mother’s Day wish was to take my severely autistic son to Kirby Cove. Friends had recommended this beach down a steep trail just north of Golden Gate Bridge, and it had become a holy grail quest for me to get there. It wasn’t far away, and it wasn’t a difficult trail, but my son’s autism challenges had us virtually housebound. It felt like an almost impossible goal to achieve, not just as a marker for my son’s progress, but for me to do something for myself. The brilliant young teacher helping us get Sean out in the world at that time knew of my Kirby Cove goal for Mother’s Day. He showed up for his Sunday 1 PM Sean-support gig. The fog horns were blaring, and places near Golden Gate Bridge like our Kirby Cove destination were surely embedded in fog. “I guess we can try again next time,” I said wistfully, yet again pushing a personal goal down the line for “someday.” “I think we should go where we planned on going,” our wise and intuitive autism helper countered firmly. We went to Kirby Cove as planned. The fog burned off, and the sun sparkled on the waves of that pretty place just as I’d imagined. It is still one of my happiest days in memory. Flash forward to current Mother’s Day weekend when my wish for the day was again to try a new hike. “Roy’s Redwoods!” I’d announced repeatedly for weeks as our Mother’s Day trail destination. When the day came, I started my, “Too far to drive, too many things to do, can’t make myself a priority” routine. Then I stopped. What would our teacher have told me to do? He’d tell me to go where I had chosen, where my heart was tugging me. And so we did. I felt the same happy lifting of spirits I’d felt years ago at Kirby Cove when I allowed myself to take the path I’d chosen. Caregivers sometimes need help sticking to plans for our own wellbeing. Remember that the people around you will be better off if you are healthier and happier. Keep putting one foot forward! This week’s Hike Notes, Roy’s Redwoods Loop Trail, leads readers along a path featuring redwoods, bay, madrone and oak trees, highlighted by wildflowers and birdsongs. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) 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. Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777 New this week: Hike Notes 181: Roy’s Redwoods Loop Trail Sibling Solace
The third of four siblings, and the only girl, I am lucky that despite whatever sibling spats occurred through childhood, my brothers and I have maintained a lifelong loving connection. When a parent dies, brothers or sisters become a desperately needed source of comfort. Shared recollections reverberate so strongly one feels transported. Memories bring tears, smiles, contemplation. There is relief and wonder in knowing that someone else remembers. Now the mother of two twenty-something sons, I reflect on their connection. Extremely challenged with speech, our younger son would not be able to talk about the past with his big brother. We can see what he’s thinking about as he scrolls through thousands of old photos on the computer, easily clicking and finding an old photo of his toddler self sitting with his grandpa. As brothers, they could share memories by looking at pictures. It is a different way of sharing, but it’s something. May we all find comfort in the company of loved ones when we’re processing losses, and keep putting one foot forward as we face each day. This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Point Bonita Lighthouse, a historic Fresnel lens lighthouse jutting out from the Marin Headlands, and a great place for whale watching. This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives: (Original Hike Notes 13): Point Bonita Lighthouse Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes and photo galleries via the main Hikes page or the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite walks from readers! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Check the Home page for the broader background story. Please feel free to share, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism From High Above
One of my favorite things in childhood was to hike to the summit of Black Bear Mountain in the Adirondacks with my family. We would camp for a week at Seventh Lake near Inlet, NY. Between canoe trips and swimming in chilly lake water, we’d follow the trail lined by pine trees and make our way to the top, the strong calf muscles of my dad’s legs leading the way ahead of us. I was always thrilled to look out from on high and see age-softened Adirondack hills rolling softly as far as I could see. Being on a high peak and seeing so far out to the horizon was a literal and figurative pinnacle for me as a kid. We’d go back down and dad would chop wood and build the campfire. My dad’s legs lost the strength to hike with us long ago, but his wit, wisdom, and ability to talk about anything under the sun held strong, only surpassed by his sense of humor and big booming laugh. The spirit of my dad—taken by age and illness this week—will still be with me when I hike here in California on trails that remind me of the many gifts he gave me and my brothers, most important of which was to be a kind, loving person. This week’s Hike Notes, Tank Hill-San Francisco Hill Walk, takes readers to one of the rocky hills that offer visitors grand views of the San Francisco Bay and cityscape. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. 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. Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Please feel free to share on Facebook at HikingAutism, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism New this week: Hike Notes 180: Tank Hill-San Francisco Hill Walk |
Lisa LouisSharing insights and hiking highlights (Hikes, Hike Search by Area) from the special needs caregiver front in San Francisco. Archives
February 2025
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