A Visit to Coyote Lake State Park

This is our parking spot at Coyote Lake State Park where we went for a while this morning. The trail was about 3 miles long and followed the lake. We were told that 2 weeks ago the lake was only 40% of its capacity but after the rain last week it was now 87% capacity. Everything is very green and flowers are blooming in great profusion. 

Our 3 grandchildren led the way with Eleanor and Thomas looking after their little brother Elliot. 

The lake seemed to be clogged in places with dead vegetation

Crossing a wooden bridge

Gaye stopped to have a rest on a tree trunk. She has tucked her socks into her trousers to help keep away the mosquitos

Near the end of the walk

The lake with the visitor centre at campsite at the far end

Somebody fishing from a boat

This shows how green everything is. 

Another fisherman.

Glad of a rest before we headed for lunch in Gilroy at Mountain Mikes where we had brilliant Pizza's

Sanderling's on the Shore

A Day on the Beach at Half Moon Bay

Fraser took the day of from work and along with his friend Stephen who is on paternity leave and his son Stotty we headed with our Thomas for Half Moon Bay which is about 45 minutes drive north of San Jose. The weather was glorious and we were soon on the beach. I walked along the shoreline and soon met up with hundreds of these Sanderling's. They would run from the sea as the wave came in then when it retreated they raced forward and fed for a few seconds and then raced back again to avoid the water.  

The beach was almost deserted and it was so clean and devoid of anything washed up by the sea. 

There were huge Pacific waves but not suitable for surfing as they broke too near the shore. 

Thomas & Stotty dug a big hole while Fraser and Stephen talked about Apple.

Gaye and I headed for a long walk along the beach. It was just perfect.

She was the most beautiful woman on the beach and actually the only woman on the beach.

The sea was very cold

There are huge cliffs next to the beach which provide good shelter and shade

After a couple of hours on the beach we headed into the town of Half Moon Bay for lunch. We thought about leaving the kids in the jail but it was closed. 

Lots of the buildings have murals on their sides and this was the best one depicting a surfer.

Walking the San Andreas Fault and a Beach Walk

This is our Beach House in Dillon Beach a small village 100 miles north of San Jose

We travelled about 20 miles south to Point Reyes Station a small town near the entrance to Tomales Bay State Park and the park we visited Point Reyes National Seashore. We had our picnic lunch near a nice bakers shop.

Picnic Time

In the Visitors Centre there was an excellent wild life display. This is the skull bone of a 2 year old Whale

The Visitors Centre

After visiting the Centre we went on the Earthquake Trail

The rain had stayed away but it was a bit cold as you can see from the way Gaye is dressed 

In the big earthquake of 1906 this fence moved 16ft. 

The journey home was through torrential rain and there were flash floods all over the place. By the time we got home the rain had stopped so Thomas, Fraser, and myself went for a walk to the beach. The small stream that runs near the house was a torrent and this is some of the stuff washed down.

On the beach it was high tide and there were loads of birds feeding on the tide line

Thomas liked to climb up these rocks to avoid the incoming tide

This is the main river that flows into the Pacific at Dillon Beach

Dillon Beach

A Weekend at Dillon Beach (In the Rain & Wind)

A 3 hour drive north of San Jose and we cross one of the bridges across the Bay. The gale was howling as we drove across and it was quite an experience.

The view from our Beach House. It would be fantastic in normal good Californian weather but were have hit the worst weekend of the year so far. Its blowing a gale and tomorrow heavy rain is forecast. At least its not cold.  

The Beach Cafe complete with double rainbow over it.

A meal join the cafe

A Morning in Saratoga

A short drive from San Jose this morning took us to Saratoga and a nice little play park for the kids. We were joined by neighbour Kelly with William and Emily. Elliot just loved the swings.

Emily and Elliot. Thomas was too busy climbing to sit still for his photo to be taken.

Gaye and I left the families and headed for a walk along Saratoga Main Street. It is a lovely street with loads of nice shops and coffee shops. It was very quiet.

Very little traffic

I always wanted to bank at Wells Fargo

Nice bridge into the park

The river under the bridge has been almost dry for weeks but the rain of the last week has brought it back to life.