A WEEK IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS

Gerry and I spent the past week at the Golden Trout Wilderness Camp, in the John Muir Wilderness area, west of Lone Pine.  What a fabulous week it was!  Camp is at 10,100 feet elevation.  We backpacked in 3 miles, and carried in our sleeping bags, pads, clothing and essentials we needed for the week.  Then we used our day packs for the daily hikes, led by the renowned naturalists, Mike Prather and Louis Bevier. 

From the get-go, with an "Oh Wow" sunset on the first night,

I love mother nature

to the day we left camp, it was fabulous.

Welcome to Golden Trout

Our "home" for 6 snights.

We hiked each and every day.  Average distance was perhaps 7 or 8 miles with the destination of a scenic lake or mesa.  We made many stops along the way to learn about the environment, to take pictures of a flower or a tree or a butterfly or bird, and to simply rest. 

From above

Rock formations provide an interesting view at top of the mesa

Naturalist Mike and Gerry celebrate the top of the mesa.

We are fortunate; even in this time of drought native plants still bloom.

Mountain heather

penstemon

                             

Six days with no cellular, no internet, no radio or TV...it was a pleasure to disconnect from electronic devices and connect with nature.

Cottonwood Lake

Jenny Lake

We're back home now, and grateful for our time well spent in the Sierras.  We met wonderful people.  It was a week of walks and talks, and great food, too.

The Cabin, where we gathered for meals and conversations

Outside the cabin, where we ate gourmet dinners al fresco.

I have the feeling, "We'll be Back...."

TREES, CROWDS & CONCERT

This Saturday I spent time in Griffith Park, as I do nearly every weekend and several times during the week.  I am fortunate to have the Park in my back yard.

Our backyard hill side.  We're planting natives. 

Less than a quarter-mile from our hill side I find myself at the historic One Mile Tree, which is located on Western Canyon Road in Griffith Park, exactly one mile from busy Los Feliz Blvd.

The historic marker at the base of the tree

This beautiful Oak Tree is 100 years old! 

 Gerry and I were part of a group of volunteers who spent two hours a few weeks ago, and gave the tree some good tender loving care.  We spread a huge pile of much around the area, and got Rec and Parks Dept to provide the irricade (it's the white object next to the tree.)  Hopefully, the tree will be around for another 100 years.

Unfortunately, many of the trees in our Park have suffered because of this terrible drought.  This pine tree is a poor victim, as are hundreds of other trees in the Park.  

A dead pine

Despite the dying trees, people (lots and lots of tourists) continue to flock to the Park.  Western Canyon Road turns into "Western Canyon Parking Lot" by late afternoon.

It's a free for all

Even more dangerous at dusk

When the sun goes down, I'm out of the Park, unless I'm attending a concert at the Greek Theatre, like we did last week. 

Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown is also a magnificent concert hall.  We were fortunate to be in the audience Saturday night for an unusual concert.  It was the L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic 6th Annual Concert Extraordinaire, which featured their Big Band of Barristers.  The program featured Rhapsody in Blue and a slew of Broadway Musicals.

Orchestra takes their seats and tunes their instruments

Mary and Gerry take their seats and enjoy the show!

Gotta have a Selfie these days, don't we?  

I'm grateful for our Griffith Park and for live music.  I appreciate both nature and the fine arts.  I certainly don't take them for granted.  

Gerry's Birthday Weekend

CHEERS To GERRY, my husband and the love of my life.

Gerry turned 64 on Sunday.  We celebrated, pretty much all weekend. 

We did our cherished Saturday morning bike ride, and pedaled for over two hours on our killer-hiller loop, roughly 24 miles, mostly on the interior paved gravel roads of  Griffith Park. 

We took our usual breaks, at the Observatory, and then at the Ranger Station.

Gerry takes a breather, his last day as a 63 year old

After our ride, we went to BIRDS, a neighborhood restaurant to carbo-load.  Their focus is fowl, (big surprise)

Gerry ponders the menu,  in our booth beneath this classic poster

We went to the Greek Theatre Saturday night, our favorite concert venue.  The acoustics are phenomenal in this smallish outdoor arena!  We listened to the opening act - Don Felder, former guitarist of the Eagles.

Main attraction, Doobie Brothers took stage at 9:00 pm.  Their voices were weaker than when they were in their prime, but they were up to snuff with their instruments!

Outside the Greek

Doobies perform!  We sing along and clap our hands. 

We awakened Sunday morning, and I serenaded Gerry with the Beatles song, "When I'm Sixty-Four." 
I did my own version of lyrics, and substituted pronouns, and made it clear that "Yes, I still need him and I will feed him now he's sixty four."

My original idea was to sing the song repeatedly throughout the day, but I didn't.  We both agreed Once was Enough, to hear my out of tune rendition of the song. 

Late morning, we hiked a western ridge line in Griffith Park, on the lookout for reptiles.  It was a steep hike, good practice for me, who lacks good balance.  Gerry (64 years young) is still the mountain goat hiker he was 30 years ago.

Gerry leads the way

Standing tall and proud.

We didn't see any snakes, but did spot several whiptail lizards.  The calochortus lily and the wirelettuce were truly treats for the eye.

Calochortus up close

A motherlode of Calochortus

Wirelettuce

We enjoyed the spectacular view at the start / finish of this loop hike of the Hollywood reservoir, and the many sights along the way on the 64th Birthday Celebration!

At the Wonderview Trail head

A relaxing Sunday afternoon followed.  We read the paper, listened to music.

I prepared a birthday dinner of chili-glazed garlic shrimp, with sauteed green beans.  We toasted Gerry with a glass of Malbec.  Cheers!  

BEAUTIFUL SPRING & UGLY DRIVEWAY

I am grateful where we live, in the lovely area known as The Oaks, adjacent to Griffith Park.  In late May it is especially pretty.  My favorite tree in the 'hood is a block and a half from our house.  It's an ancient colorful jacaranda tree.  Although it is not a native CA tree, I don't mind it being here.

The purple canopy spans the entire street

A bit of trivia information for you rock n roll trivia fans.  This purple tree rests two doors down from the house of Inara George, the daughter of Lowell George, the founder, guitarist, vocalist and song-writer for the 70s band Little Feat.   Tragically, Lowell passed away in 1979, at the young age of 34.

His musical talent was passed down to his daughter, Inara. whom Gerry and I saw perform at the Echo Plex, a small concert venue in the hip area of Silverlake.

Home of Inara George, on the corner before the Jacaranda

Off of the pavement and into Griffith Park, more beauty await us this time of year.  Although we try to avoid the Poison Oak, the reddish hues of their leaves from a distance are pretty on the hillside.

Two miles from our house, what is called Brush Canyon

When one gets off the main trail and onto the narrow ridge line trails, he or she is often rewarded.

CA buckwheat, a native

The  Mariposa lily, always a pleasure to see with its purplish hue.

Back home, we're making progress.  Finally, we are replacing our torn-apart driveway, which took a beating during our house remodel.  It's a huge job.  Workers will probably be here for a month as they first have to put in a retaining wall, before they lay the concrete for the driveway.

In the past week they have dug up mass quantities of dirt and rock, to prepare for the wall.

Tearing into the hillside adjacent to our driveway

It is no surprise I didn't get any mail yesterday. Postman couldn't get to the mailbox.

Large dumpster in front of our house filled with rock and dirt

Yep, we got a real job on our hands.

It will be nice and functional when it is done.   But concrete is concrete.  I'm sure it will look nice. 

Yet I take comfort I can walk out my door, and be within Griffith Park, which feels like home.  

GA BARRIER ISLANDS

Gerry and I signed up for our first Road Scholar program - 5 days on the GA Barrier Islands.   My mother and brother also registered, so it was an opportunity to get-together with family.

We explored Savannah GA on our own the day before the program began.  We walked the historic district, and visited the many squares.  We couldn't cover it all, but we saw a great deal on our 5 mile walk. 

Magnificent trees in the historic city squares.

Beautiful fountains.

Statues of historic figures, such as this one of James Oglethorpe (1696 - 1785) who founded the colony of Georgia 

We met the Road Scholars Sunday evening at the Sea Palms resort.   This was our home base for 5 nights.  It was in a secluded area on St. Simons Island.

Day trips were great.  We walked the coastal areas and observed the natural habitat.

The marsh lands, a fragile environment. 

Our instructor and  guide, Georgia Graves, explains the sea life to us.

Tuesday we visited Jekyll Island.  The Jekyll Island Club was formed in 1898, with 53 members.  They were the elite and wealthy, such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, the Pulitzers, the Astors and J.P. Morgan.  This group controlled 6 percent of the wealth of the world.  Jekyll Island was their winter retreat, where they had their private "cottages." 

This is the Rockefeller Cottage. 

The historic Jekyll Island Hotel

 We ate lunch in the elegant dining room of the four-start Jekyll Island Hotel; a gourmet grilled chicken breast sandwich on a fresh croissant, with a pasta salad followed by key-lime pie for dessert.

My favorite day of the trip was Thursday when we visited Sapelo Island.  It is the polar opposite of Jekyll Island.  The Gullah Geechee natives still live on Sapelo, but their numbers have dwindled.  Only 47 remain, and live in the area called Hog Hammock.  The island is rustic, with no paved roads and no development.  The post office is open two hours per day.  There is a small grocery store called the "Grab All."   A 30 minute ferry departs from the mainland town of Meridian at 8:30 am to Sapaelo.  A return ferry leaves Sapelo at 2:30 pm back to the mainland.

We enjoyed our tour of the island, especially the pristine isolated beach.

Sapelo Island welcomes us

The rustic historic post office

The Grab-all island store. 

Mom and I pose by the pool on the lawn of the R J Reynolds mansion.  Reynolds bought up most of the island in 1934.

Some nice driftwood on the beach.  It seems you could walk for miles in splendid isolation.

We had a guided tour of St. Simons both Monday and Wednesday.  We also had afternoon free time to explore St. Simons on our own.  I took lovely early morning and late afternoon walks.

 Christ Episcopal Church on St. Simons Island.

I never tired of seeing the massive oak trees that are over 200 years old.

Ancient oak tree, draped with Spanish moss.

ll in all it was a wonderful trip. I do like to travel and I am grateful for the opportunity to visit Savannah and the Barrier Islands of Georgia!

OUR BACKYARD and BUTTERFLIES

We are privileged to have Griffith Park in our backyard.  It is a beautiful place to see some special flowers, such as the chocolate lily.  Last week the lilies were in full bloom on the nearby hillside, a five minute walk from our house.

Several patches of chocolate lilies made their appearance

Below is a close-up of the flower.  Botanists, ecologists and naturalists have searched the park, but so far our hillside is the only place where this special plant has been found within Griffith Park.

The hill was also covered with these pretty purple flowers.

This is the Skull Cap.  The scientific name, is "scutellaria tuberosa."  (Gerry informed me.)

I love to see the butterflies flutter about.  It's an added bonus when they stay still long enough for me to snap a picture!

The pale swallowtail butterfly, near the purple Blue Dicks  (Dechelostemma), a common park lily

Last week I visited Glen Feliz Elementary School several mornings.  I spent time with the third grade class and their teacher, my friend Marilyn Marks.  Ms. Marks is a very passionate teacher who engages her students.  The upcoming March 12th jog-a-thon was on the calendar, and on their minds.

Marilyn introduced me as Coach Mary.  I taught the kids a brief stretching regimen and talked about nutrition.  I helped train them for March 12th.  The entire school, (1st through 6th grade) participated in the jog-a-thon.  The classes took their turns; every child got their time on the track to walk / jog for 15 minutes.  Their lap were tallied, and it was a very fun fundraiser for the school, sponsored by the PTA.   

Marilyn and her students are excited about butterflies.  They made this spectacular movie, MONARCH, An Amazing Life Cycle.    Take a peak at this You Tube to see the butterflies and the precious actors and actresses I got to know.

Happy Spring to all.  Enjoy the wonders of the season.  

VALENTINE Muse

Friday the 13th, and Valentine's Saturday, plus a Monday President's Day Holiday added up to a fabulous long weekend. 

A hilly morning bike ride Saturday on the interior roads of Griffith Park was a terrific start.  It was a beautiful day, with gorgeous views. 

The view toward the west from the top of Mt Hollywood Dr

I am grateful Mt Hollywood Drive is closed to traffic.  It is a spectacular and scenic place to pedal, and hike.  This interior park road has been closed to vehicular traffic since 1992, but the cash-strapped city is thinking of re-opening it, and charging for parking.   Ugh!  I hope it never happens.

My Valentine, (Gerry) and I enjoyed our date Saturday afternoon and evening.  We saw the movie, "The Imitation Game" at the ArcLight in Hollywood. 

Afterwards, we stopped off at the grocery store, and purchased Ahi Tuna.  Gerry grilled dinner for us - Ahi with roasted potatoes, seasoned green beans and a bottle of Babcock Pinot Noir, appropriately named "A Slice of Heaven."  

Wine was heavenly



As was our Valentine's Day Dinner for Two
 

Our time together is precious

Love one another. 

Peace for all.