49.01 California: Montana de Oro State Park. A new route to Valencia Peak, a new beginning of another day.

Each day, nature reveals its beauty in different forms. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is the dynamics. Take a cloud, a mountain of rock, some water, blue sky, throw in a few trees, a bird or two and other features and it can be ordinary on the face of it. However, change the dynamics with different lighting, coloring, introduce movement and suddenly the situation and by definition, the views, become memorable. Today was such a day, one of thousands we have been fortunate to experience over our lives. While Jenni may tend to say I have a propensity to perceive the latest event as the best ever, there may be some truth in it, I might defend my position and suggest I'm perhaps slightly more complex. Nevertheless, let the viewer decide. After all, each one of us has a different perception and perspective of life and its events. 

Should you not like these scenes, then I think Jenni is probably correct about my flaws. Should that be the case, I'll try and place a ceiling on my enthusiasm and wall myself in and begin from the ground up again. 

We include a handful of photographs as an introduction; others to follow later. 

We term this missive: 'Spring is in the Air'...we were feeling rather musical after visiting our dear friend, Jerry Bongard.

Beats 'Sitting on a railway station, a ticket for her destination'.
We avoided a stroll through this 'haunted forest'.
Really love this scene looking toward Morro Bay.
There those clouds and fog again, changing color and moving. Stopped for a view (and rest) during a very steep section. 

It was a day filled with hiking, some steep climbing, views of morros, a bay, an ocean of stunning blues, white breakers, always mountains, sharp trail views from height, dynamic clouds, spring flora which enveloped us, a challenging session on dunes as well as a reasonable breakfast on the peak of cereal, fruit and yoghurt. Huh! What did you say about 'left field'? 

 Wonderful flora.

See you on the morro as the clouds return.
Water, trail, mountain, color...what more do we need? The trails always look smooth and comfortable from afar. Hmm! We returned via the trail below.
Departing from the peak of Valencia.
Heading to the peak. The trails behind belong to another mountain. Morro Bay in the background.
Another haunting scene. Poor Jenni! We arrived home and she was frightened. Dune and Morro.
Morning spent hiking to-and-from Valencia, in background; games continued as 'dudes' reached the dunes. (After all, it is California.)
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey