Cool Gray Days

Cool Gray Days
            Sometimes things feel too hot to handle. Temperatures, tempers… Add to that flare ups in a deadly virus, and explosively hot emotions over social issues. It’s easy to get caught up and feel feverish ourselves.
            Finding an escape from the heat—literally and figuratively—is a matter of survival. For lack of a better remedy, I “cool off” an overheated mind and soul with long walks.
            People in the San Francisco Bay Area know that heading to the coast is the best way to get a break from inland heat, which can easily rise over 100 °F. Living near Ocean Beach in San Francisco means chilly summer days with the heater on, nary an air conditioner to be seen.
            Though we enjoy hikes further inland, the heat knocks us back quickly as we’re used to our coastal average range of 45°F to 72°F. Our favorite hiking spots parallel our own microclimate.
            One of those “comfort zones” is Rodeo Beach and Lagoon in the Marin Headlands. We find happiness and calm just from the Golden Gate Bridge drive and a short walk on the beach, but also enjoy more challenging hikes in the hills. Memories of earlier days when my sons were little—before my younger son’s overwhelming neurosensory challenges trapped us in our own home—float up when we take the lagoon trail rising toward the Marin Headlands Visitor Center.
            My older son enjoys choosing the path sometimes. On a recent cool, foggy day, he led us around the full circle of the Lagoon Loop Trail, which we hadn’t done for years. Caught without my camera, I took iPhone snapshots, hoping to capture the soothing gray-green coolness of an overcast summer walk by Rodeo Lagoon.
            This week’s Hike Notes lead readers around the Rodeo Lagoon Loop – Marin Headlands. Rodeo Beach is a great starting spot for many hikes, including this 1.5 mile loop around the lagoon, which is also a bird watcher’s delight.
            The long list of Hikes can be found on the Quick View Hike List and on the main Hikes page. All past Insights posts can also be viewed in the Insights/Hike Update News archives.
            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! Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Please feel free to share.
New this week:
Hike Notes 110: Rodeo Lagoon Loop – Marin Headlands