We Can’t Control the Weather

We Can’t Control the Weather
            “We’re for sure going to do the Steep Ravine-Dipsea loop and a day trip to Point Reyes!,” I told myself repeatedly before my older son came home from London for the holidays. I spend the whole year saving special outings for the time he’s here with us during holiday break.
            London weather had been especially cold, dark and wet in recent weeks, and he was looking forward to brighter skies and a bit of sunny outdoor time.
            Nature had other plans. Not only did the cold, dark, wet weather seem to follow him, but we’ve been hit with multiple power outages since before Christmas. The darkness was darker, and the coldness was colder. At least we stayed dry indoors.
            On a rare rain-free day, we jumped in the car and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge, with Marin County and its scenic hiking trails typically just a few minutes away.
            Everyone else on holiday break had the same idea. The traffic toward Marin was so jammed that we exited before the bridge and hiked in San Francisco instead, which fortunately offers countless great options.
            Another day the plan was for just my older son and I to do a deep forest hike and photo shoot on Mt. Tam, but overcast skies and the threat of more rain squelched that plan as well.
            Instead, we did one of my son’s favorites, a hilly walk in Buena Vista Park, followed by a fun amble along Haight Street checking out shops, bookstores, and eateries. It wasn’t my intended grand mountain hike, but it was still a special walk together, umbrellas in hand.
            Nature has a way of overriding plans. Being flexible allows us to make the most of our time, even when things don’t go according to our wishes. Go with the flow, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Buena Vista Park Stroll, leads readers on a hilly hike with dramatic views from the top and pathways lined in part by pieces of granite headstones.
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This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 103: Buena Vista Park Stroll