Lake Skinner Recreation Area

Or is it the Lake District? Very much like a Lake scene during a dry summer. Yet, 180 degrees behind is a typical Southern Californian scene of mountains created from boulders of pink granite covered with chaparral.

Lake Skinner is a reservoir fed by the San Diego canal meaning that the water levels are pretty much constant with none of the tidelines seen around Thirlmere and Haweswater.

Not as interesting a walk as yesterday. Trails not well marked, trail map poor and information and interpretation sparse. There were areas of solitude mixed with campgrounds populated by huge RVs.

Still, it was good to visit as it was an antidote to the shopping mall experience of Temecula, the wide highways and endless traffic lights.

The highlight was a visit at the end of the day to Faulkner’s one of Temecula Valley’s many wineries where we sat with a glass of Merlot and Cabinet Sauvignon on the terrace watching the sun go down over the western hills. Not cheap but a memorable experience, much needed.

Thank you for yesterday’s comments on Santa Rosa. I omitted to mention the Englemann Oaks which are found in the area. An evergreen oak that can drop its leaves in times of drought. It’s leaves look nothing like our oaks yet it produces acorns. And there was something else I was going to say about yesterday. For the life of me I can’t remember!