Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Pelican Inn, my Daughter's first Pub experience
























So I could not quite tell if my Daughter enjoyed the rainy hike up Dipsea Trail near Muir Woods in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area this past weekend. I was determined to get out rain or shine, it was definitely on the rainy side of the equation. We only got up the trail about 20 minutes before I inquired as to whether or not she was enjoying herself lashed to my back. The only response I got was, "car". Did not want to misinterpret this response so we headed back down.

I decided to drive back the way we came through Muir Beach. The Pelican Inn (not too impressed with their website), a small english styled bed and breakfast, is right off the road and I thought it might be fun to go take my daughter by. I've only been there once previously with a buddy and was impressed.

We entered through the main doors of the B&B and were warmly greeted by the hostess. I stated that we were weary travelers of the road as well as muddy trail path of Tam and needed a place of respite. I inquired if it was OK to bring my Daughter into the pub, "Sure, of course" she said. Perfect.

What a cool throw-back of a spot. If you are wanting to transport yourself back a 100 years with a cozy warm environment accented by tasty pints of beer and good folk music, this is your spot! And family friendly too. My daughter really liked the place - a very different environment than what she is used to.

After engaging the bartender in conversation for a short time and ordering a Lagunitas IPA, we grabbed a padded bench seat in the corner and hung out with candles surrounding us casting a warm glow - perfect after a wet hike. Crayons and coloring paper were immediately brought to us - a nice touch. They obviously get enough kids in here.

Can't wait to come back. I can only imagine what this Pub is like on a friday night with some live folk music, darts-a-fly'in and folks enjoying each others company and conversation. Would love to stay here over the weekend. They supposedly have wonderful rooms to stay in.

My daughter's first Pub experience was a huge success! The only downer, they forgot to bring me the Sheperd's Pie I ordered. The bartender apologized profusely and gave me the pint on the house - right proper of them! I gladly accepted.



















Saturday, October 24, 2009

Perfect CA Hiking Trip

As far as I'm concerned you know you've had a great hiking trip when:

- You've come back uninjured
- Your hair still smells like camp fire 4 days later
- Only a small patch of poison oak
- Your muscles are sore but not too bad
- All your gear performed well
- You've come back with good pics & memories

I wrote earlier in my BLOG that I was going on a hiking trip and I've just recently gotten back. I even went so far as to say that the location we hiked into was my own personal definition of Paradise. It had been (2) years since I had been into this area and it did not disappoint. It still holds the title of most beautiful spot in CA.

All in all a great trip. Hiked in with two close buddies for four days. It was forecasted to rain most of the time and we only experienced rain on the way out, last day. Fall is a wonderful contrast to the last time I hiked in which was during the Spring of '07. What lacked in colorful wildflowers (the area is loaded with them in Spring) was made up with the turning colors of Fall foliage.

The following is a collection of images from the trip, enjoy. And if you are curious about the location I'm sure with some investigative work you can find it.
















Buddy #1, start of the hike
















Buddy #2, start of the hike & solar powered
















Buddy #1, halfway in the weather gets moody
















Buddy #2, leads the charge around one of several points
















Buddy #1, negotiating a 1/4 mile of small boulders
















Our camp spot in the trees
















Backdoor to our campsite
















Camp life, tree climbing
















Camp life from above
















Young Alder thicket
















Buddy #1 after mediocre surf
















Ran into my second rattlesnake, kinda looked like this
















Day Hike, this trail was washed out two years ago
















Day Hike, the creek we hiked up
















Day Hike, Fall color
















Day Hike, lavander vine
















Day Hike, Buddy #2 deep in the creek valley























Day Hike, hike out of the creek valley
















Day Hike, steep country
















Back at camp
















One of our many great camp fires
















Weird things wash up on this stretch of coast line