Bright and Easy

Bright and Easy
            Some of us like sinking our teeth into a good challenge, just because.
            Smooth path or sharp-angled rocky trail? Take the knee-crunching steep one. Escalator or stairs? Take the stairs, two at a time. Rise early for a new project, or sleep in? Get up and rolling while everyone else is still snoring.
            I know I’m not the only workaholic who can’t stop moving and usually chooses the harder path.
            And yet. Once in a while. It is good to slow down. To take the easy path.
            I like nothing better than doing a steep five miles up and down Mt. Tam. But one day my special needs son’s hiking guide helper decided we should ride scooters. Not too far north of the Golden Gate Bridge, we turned into a parking lot, a horse statue marking our destination.
            This was not like our remote mountain trailheads. Here we had a big parking lot, bathroom facilities, a playground, a gazebo and bike routes along a smooth bayside path.
            When our family wants a bit of adventure north of the bridge, but we aren’t up for a challenging hike, we know we can stop here for a stroll along the bay, fast pace or slow.
            This week’s Hike Notes are about Blackie’s Pasture, a walk that starts near a statue of a beloved horse named Blackie. Whether doing an easy walk, a fast roll on a scooter, or a workout circuit and run, the sun reflecting off Richardson Bay will brighten your day.
            Please feel free to share. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photos!
            The list of hikes is getting long! Please check the Quick View Hike List or scroll down the main Hikes page to see the current list of hike notes.
New this week:
Hike Notes 14: Blackie’s Pasture