End-of-Summer Sparkle
It’s only mid-August, but yellow buses are already transporting kids to school in San Francisco. When I was a kid on the East Coast, school didn’t start until after Labor Day. The first few days of September didn’t offer the infinite promise of June, but we used those days to soak up the last drops of summer spirit. My parents would rally us for the last Adirondack camping trip of the summer at the end of August. My brothers and I would walk with a slightly heavier step as we gathered wood or hiked up Black Bear Mountain, talking about what the new school year might be like. When we got home, dad would store the camping gear in the garage, as if summer itself was cleared away until next year. Despite the golden glow of early September that hinted at soon-to-arrive autumn, even my dad wasn’t quite ready to give up on our summer adventures. The weekend after school started, we would take a Saturday day trip to our beloved Adirondack stomping grounds. We didn’t do a big hike. We didn’t camp overnight. We just picked a scenic spot where we could stretch our legs for our last warm weather amble among the pine trees, old rolling mountains, and sparkling lakes. The Bay Area where I live now has temperate weather year-round, so we can go on a rugged hike on Mt. Tam in Marin pretty much any season, unless heavy rains hit. Like my childhood back-to-school days, though, sometimes a far drive or a steep hike feel like too much. An easy stroll along a paved bayside path, pastel sky reflected in sparkling waves as we walk, gives us a nature boost without an overwhelming effort. Here’s hoping we all have places that give us that “not quite done with summer vacation” feeling. Keep putting one foot forward! This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Blackie’s Pasture, a Tiburon park in Marin that offers a calm, easy walk on paved paths along Richardson Bay. This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives: (Original Hike Notes 14): Blackie’s Pasture 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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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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