July 22-24, 2019 Palo Alto, California

80's and sunny.

Historic downtown Nevada City as we drove through it on the way back. The whole area is  gold mining country. I played in hills like these growing up. Oak trees and golden grass. 

Judy and I went on a nice hike at Foothills park, It is a Palo Alto city park. Very lovely.  

This lake is in the middle of Foothills park. Flowers seen on our hike.

We had dinner tonight with our friends Bec and Emmett. We usually only see them in the Death Valley area. It was fun to see their house. Here they are cooking in their kitchen. Em is cooking on a very cool induction cooktop. I love the colors of the kitchen. The backsplash is lovely water jet cut glass. 

Judy with the wonderful appetizer of watermelon, mint and feta cheese. Judy, Em and Bec in their very comfy back patio couch where we had drinks and appetizers. 

I sure am glad that the 50 sunblock that I used is gluten free and vegan. . . We hiked a 5 mile loop in Baylands Nature preserve. It is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. This is looking east across the bay from the view point. 

This young man is walking 8 dogs from a doggie daycare place. Swallowtail and some purple flowers. This line of chains is the Wind Wave piece of art. The sign says It interacts with nature showing how the wave motion of the northwest wind echos the movement of the water. The piece allows people to see the wind, like the surrounding water is composed of ripples and waves. Mostly it it didn't do anything. I love this tall golden grass as a child, it was taller than me and I could stealth through it. Or sit down in it and be completely hidden. 

Judy looking out over some grasses with orange dodder growing over it. Dodder is a parasitic plant that smothers it's host. Interestingly it is also seen in Death Valley. A view over Baylands, the white strip in the middle is millions of birds. 

Millions of birds. Pelicans, sea gulls, herons, ducks, and many other shore birds. Really fun place to watch. 

Great egret, egret head poised above the foliage, a pink legged stilt, this yellow anise is taller than us and forms hedges around parts of the trail and poppies. We had dinner at our friends Mac and Rod's house tonight.  Rod, Mac and Judy toasting with appetizers in the backyard. They live in this huge 100 year old adobe looking house with beautiful gardens. 

Mac and Rod's living room. Mac is a woodworker and made much of the furniture in this room. It was fun to see them.