Discovery Lake, San Marcos

This wetland lake environment is not typical of the Southern Californian landscape. The typical landscape reminds me of the moors of South West England; Dartmoor and Bodmin as it is composed of vast boulders of granite with lots of weathered material around the exposed rock.

The area is rather drier than the English moors and consequently there is a different natural vegetation with lots of low lying scrub rather than windswept bog. However, the Dartmoor tors were formed in tropical conditions thousands of years ago - an environment similar to present day conditions in Southern California.

The typical landscape can be seen in the hills in the background. It is a source of amazement that many of the hills and ridges have lines of houses on top. Magnificent views but a perilous location in a region subject to earthquakes and fires. We did alot of walking and talking today.