A Mountain (View) Ramble

On our last day in Mountain View before departing for home Emily and I took time out to go rambling in the mountains that surround the city both to the east and the west and give it its name. I've always wanted to view Silicon Valley looking down from on high so we headed westwards to the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Reserve (named after me presumably!). There we took the Wildcat Loop and, towards the end, the High Meadow Trails, two of many criss-crossing the reserve. They started and ended close to the Deer Hollow Farm. We had a long climb up the mountain side, followed by a walk along a ridge-line with great views of the valley, and then a long descent. The hills are apparently home to Mountain Lions (aka Pumas or Cougars). These are large wild cats that live a fairly solitary existence and attack deer or pets or, very rarely humans. Needless to say we didn't see one, but Em and I were talking vigorously for much of the trip and we could be heard a long way off. So we had safety in numbers and flagged our existence so that we were unlikely to be disturbed!

Here's the start of the reserve with its unbelievably green grass and lush vegetation. Mind you, this range had just had about 250 mm of rain in a week or so, helping to end a very long drought. And I add a picture of Emily at the beginning of our ascent of the mountain side.

The trail wound relentlessly up the side of a creek with running water.

And it began to offer extensive views of the lushly vegetated countryside populated also with delicate and rather beautiful wild-flowers.

And the ridge-line offered extensive views over Silicon Valley from Los Altos (The Heights) and Palo Alto (High Pole) in the foreground across the southern end of San Francisco bay towards Oakland in the north and San Jose in the south. Yes, Mountain View itself is somewhere in the middle ground.

And here I am gracing the scene all rugged up on what was promised, accurately, as a cold and wet day. We timed our journey well because the rain came on as we drove home.

On the descent we passed through as series of lovely meadows populated with wild deer!

In all, a great walk and excellent preparation for sitting 13 hours in a plane crossing the Pacific Ocean. Thanks Emily for being my guide.

AS

Are little kids omnivorous?

Another observation from our visit to California is that, these days, even the very young (three and four year olds) have dining opportunities that extend way beyond the culinary opportunities I had when I was young. In fact, at that age we hardly ever went out for a meal, and when we did it was ordinary British fayre. Of course, the UK had rationing after the second world war until the 1950s and that would have restricted the range of foods available.

Silicon Valley, in contrast, has many immigrants from around the world and they have given rise to an enormous variety of ethnic restaurants, with just about all Asian countries represented. Last year we ate at an Ethiopian restaurant ... with Ella and Flynn in tow. This year we ventured to dine at an Afghan restaurant in Sunnyvale! E & F had no problems in tackling a strange menu and enjoyed themselves at the table. Likewise we adults. In fact, my meal was delicious and I'd recommend the opportunity to dine Afghan if you get the opportunity. My assessment was borne out by the restaurant being full with plenty of people awaiting a table. Our early departure to put the kids to bed probably pleased the owners!

AS

Climbing High

One of the most amazing sights during our California visit was seeing Ella, who's still only 4 and a little bit on the shy side, climbing high up a wall in a climbing centre called Planet Granite in Sunnyvale not far from where Emily and her family live in Silicon Valley and if we'd had the time I wouldn't have minded having a go myself.

Basically the cavernous facility comprised lots of high walls with toe-holds, places to wrap one's fingers around and cracks where one could lever oneself up the walls. Climbers mostly used harnesses tied to ropes to ensure their survival in case of slippages! However, some walls enabled people to climb free-style unaided by ropes.

The rest of this post is dedicated to Ella's extra-ordinary skills and Flynn's attempt at free-style climbing. We started by attaching a harness to our intrepid climber, and then rope.

Off we go and rise steadily higher. Although tied to a rope, Ella barely needed use of it. It was there to prevent a dangerous fall in case of mishap. In essence, she did not need the rope to find her way to the top!

Arrival!! Just look at how high up she is!

Back on ground it was time for a short refreshment.

Ella climbed the high wall at least twice, but then we headed off to a much lower climb without ropes for security. This time any slips were cushioned by a bouncy mat. Well, it was Flynn's turn to try climbing but he didn't get far which one might expect for someone who has just reached the great age of three.

Ella was much more successful and made it to the top with a little bit of parental guidance.

Flynn tries again, but with little success.

Please give them some applause - in Ella's case for showing great skills and courage. Perhaps she'll become the youngest person to climb the north face of the Eiger! For those not in the know, this treacherous wall in the Alps rises to 3,970 m (13,000 feet) and the last 1800 m (5,900 feet) are just about vertical. I reached close to the top of that wall a few years ago, but must admit I cheated! I rode the train up the Jungfrau and towards the end of that journey we stopped in a station, alighted, and walked to a hole carved out of the mountain to admire the stunning view below.

AS

Alum Rock

Yesterday we took to the hills (mountains?) eat of San Jose to visit an attractive nature reserve called Alum Rock, a much favoured weekend destination for fitness fanatics and families. Being a Tuesday, however, there were few visitors, and most of the families had young, pre-school age, kids like us. I won't say much the site because that's easily discovered on-line, except to say that the valley with its running stream and interesting natural environment was captivating. Have a look at what we saw and did on a brilliantly clear day!

The views from car parks are often dreadful, but the moment we arrived we were captivated by the scenery. Just have a look at two lovely eucalyptus next to the car and the stream below running freely after useful rains!

We stopped at an attractive picnic spot for some refreshments before heading off to some interesting play equipment nearby which Ella mastered easily using the monkey bars and Flynn enjoyed crawling through tunnels.

While this was going on I found time to stroll around the valley floor surrounded by green and well-vegetated hillsides.

Flynn tried the swings, not his favourite piece of equipment, before sliding down the back of a concrete (bald-headed?) eagle - which he did at least 10 times.

A century ago, Alum Rock was a Mecca for people using the valley's mineralised springs for medicinal or recuperative purposes - treatments no longer recommended! Relics of this era abound. Here you can see, in the upper part of the photo, a seem of mineralisations.

Another view of the mineralised surfaces are shown here at the top right.

The mineralised water was fed into a stream of 'baths' where people lay in the waters, as in the three different examples shown here.

And so to the wildlife. The area is reputed to be the home of wild pumas, though we didn't see any. They do not attack humans, so we weren't worried. On the other hand the grounds were crawling with dozens of squirrels - again mostly scared of humans but quite cute unless one subscribes to the view that they carry rabies! There was the odd lizard, like this quite large fellow, which interested Ella and Flynn greatly. And a few ducks down on the creek. And on the valley edges we were entranced by soaring eagles like the one you might just spot on the second picture below.

We got home tired but happy after an intense day out.

AS

Night ... or Evening ... Riders

After a heavy day, both Ella and Flynn like to relax by riding their bikes or scooters up the roadway outside the garage belonging to E & G's apartment. Sometimes it's almost dark and on other occasions it's twilight. On most occasions an adult is in attendance to supervise the kids' movements, albeit aided by a plastic guy waving a red warning flag for vehicles to move slowly.

If I'm supervising, I'll borrow another larger scooter from the garage - like one Max has in Canberra - and ride up and down the lane-way. No pictures of me however! Ella, on a scooter, tows Flynn in a cart.

Flynn examines his pedal trike in the garage.

A pensive Flynn on his strider bike.

Ella races unaided up the road on her bike supervised by the little flag-waving green man at the end.

As it's dark Flynn checks the lights on his scooter.

And also attaches a red warning-light behind his tricycle.

Night-riders!

AS