The Road Not Taken

It was the most glorious day! The Monday morning hiking group chose the dirt road at Waddell Creek about half an hour up the coast. It winds through swampland and farmland, and into the redwood forest along the creek. There were newts aplenty, and banana slugs, garter snakes, a millipede, and an unidentified black beetle. The beginnings of a wildflower explosion, and the leafing out of a variety of trees. Birdsong and the warmth of the sun, rich smells of earth and leaves. Celebrated with a picnic on the beach, our feet in the sand, and chocolate (dark, with sea salt) to share.