Peace in the Fields

Peace in the Fields
            Cows chewing cud in the pasture. An occasional “moo” reverberating from across the road. As a girl growing up across from a dairy farm in the foothills of the Adirondacks, these brought a mellow sense of stability and peace. The cows meandered out to the field every morning, and ambled back to the barn every evening.
            Finding that kind of quiet, reassuring rhythm is not as easy in a city. We regularly seek the calming effects of nature, which we are lucky to have in abundance in the San Francisco Bay Area. Given the choice, I would head for a steep trail on Mt. Tam rather than a field full of cows.
            So what a delightful surprise it was to be introduced to an idyllic ridge walk above Olema, cows looking up from the grass as we walked by.
            This week’s Hike Notes (Number 50!) are about a peaceful walk through the cow pastures along the Bolinas Ridge Trail near Samuel P. Taylor State Park at Point Reyes. This Olema Bolinas Ridge Walk can be as short or as long as you wish to make it, with Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon in view.
            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 50: Olema Bolinas Ridge Walk