Ghost Tree

Back in 2020 there was a small fire on this mountain above Spring Lake  where we walk Spike. It was quickly put out, but was a harbinger of the Glass fire which started in Napa County and pushed by high winds spread over the mountain into Sonoma County and our neighborhood later the same year. This tree has been left standing and is now beginning to lose its bark. I was looking for a natural abstract and thought these blackened branches against the sky were quite striking, if not exactly abstract.

In a further offering on the varied landscapes and abundant green spaces I've put a picture of John and Spike walking down the shady side of the hill below the meadow. Not everything is burned and dry. In fact a lot has been rebuilt since the first big California wildfire here in 2017 and the whole area is recovering. There is a regional park right at the top of Los Alamos Road which was heavily damaged in the Glass fire. We noticed today that the sign saying it was closed has been taken down so we plan to go soon and check it out. The creek that runs beside our road originates up there and was a favorite swimming hole for Ozzie. We're hoping it will be an equally good place for Spike to swim. Better than the pond in the meadow which is off limits to dogs because of spawning frogs and newts. Spike can't read and dashed into the pond this morning before we could stop him.

Tim and Owen are arriving this evening to get an early start on biking in Annadale State Park which adjoins Spike's meadow and can be seen from our kitchen window.  Tim has been mountain biking since he was in high school and rode his bike down the trail behind our house in Berkeley which we called 'the Death March'. Joni used to drive them up to the top so they could ride down on their gearless (or maybe three speed bikes) without having to do the death march part up to the top. Now Owen joins him in his expeditions and Annadale is a mecca for mountain bikers.

Trail House was designed as a gathering spot for bikers and we're hoping they'll join us there tomorrow morning.