August 3, 2017

Santa Maria Hike


Our first full day in California, we went on a hike near Santa Maria. 

Seeing signs like this made us a little leery. But somehow, mountain lions didn't approach our group of four adults and nine boisterous kids. Surprising! 


Levi was all ready with his walking stick and water bottle.


Heading up


California Poppies!! Isn't the color unbelievable? I want a something or other in that color. Maybe a wall? It is a little too intense for an entire room. 


Eucalyptus


Going to check out forts. Their New York cousins were convinced they were going to be bitten by rattlesnakes, but no puncture wounds happened here. 


My hiking companion


Flowers that I have not yet identified. 


ditto

I really planned on digging out my wildflower guide and diving into flower identification, but... I didn't. This is a sad commentary on the state of my summer. 


Aren't these wild?! 


Peeling eucalyptus



Andy running around the top.


All the kiddos



Breanna read most of the hike, but never fell over or tripped. It was a modern day miracle. 


Hiking down the other side. 


I may have been moseying around at the back taking pictures of flowers.


Bright red!


Some dried flowers


This is apparently poison sumac. Don't touch it! 


Lisa, Darra, and Levi




Thistle fluff! 





lichen of sorts


Hummingbird Sage


Gnarly old tree! I love this thing.


There was a lot of moss hanging around


Teensy little flowers 


Hikers


This was a cool flower that seemed to have purple blossoms with white flowers and yellow centers.


Levi was going to take this horn on the hike to scare away mountain lions, but we decided it would be better left in the vehicle. The kids love it though! 

2 comments:

Cecil and Amy said...

Breanna read while she was hiking? That's wild!

Unknown said...

This is a lovely post, but it is a lonely post, crying out for a new brother or sister post. Subtle hint.