Old Barn Charm

Old Barn Charm
            The big red barn and silo of the farm across from the house I grew up in remain iconic images in my mind. The stark silhouette of the barn against a blue sky brought a sense of calm.
            When we drove further into farm country to my grandmother’s house, there were more barns to gaze at, the more weatherworn, the more charming.
            The long-abandoned barn in the field past the stone fence behind our house, with walls leaning precariously one way and another, was the most entrancing of all. Grayed lumber was adorned by rusty hinges and latches, and plants grew up through the floor. There was a haunting sense of allure, especially when my dad chased my brothers and I around the barn playing werewolf. Nothing beats that.
            Raising my sons in a city meant they did not grow up in view of corn fields and barns, other than on visits back east. What a treat when a friend told us about a trail not far from Half Moon Bay’s beaches that leads to an old ranch site, complete with an enchanting barn and rusty tractors artfully dotted like sculptures.
            Whether walking somewhere new or reminiscing about trails from the past, may we all enjoy the less obvious objects of beauty around us.
            This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Burleigh Murray Ranch Trail, a relatively flat walk featuring hillside views and some large old eucalyptus trees on the way to a photogenic old ranch site.
 
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 128): Burleigh Murray Ranch Trail
 
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