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| Hike high |
| Sunday, February 22, 2015 |
I wanted to jot down happenings of this super awesome weekend before I get sucked into the busy work week.
Friday night A and S visited from F town. They came around 10PM, BSK was waiting and waiting and waiting, without sleeping to play with E. Our three bedroom was a little small for a family of 5 visiting. E's thatha slept in the guest bedroom, A and N baby slept on the bunk bed, S and E slept on the floor in BSK's room. The three of us slept in our bedroom. Bunk bed can handle upto 250lbs :--P
The next day morning I had to wake up at 5 to do something I LOVED. Hike! Made some coconut chutney to have with idlis for breakfast, had my protein shake and headed to Rancho San Antonio Reserve. A friend and I wanted to do the Black Mountain Hike. Link- http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Skyline/BlackMountain.html . It is too bad K and I cannot do it together for a few more years until BSK is a little older to go tougher hikes.
I tooked my baby Mia to the trail head, was there by 7AM. My friend, H, was a little late. When the last parking spot got taken by a car soon after I knew H would have to park much further out and that would add to the time we started. I wanted to be home for lunch atleast, another friend had called us home. H asked me to go ahead and she said she will catch up with me. Now this is the first time I am hiking with her, I wasnt sure how fast she was. I consider myself slow only. I have the endurance to do stuff for a long time, but no much speed. So I decided I will start the hike and walk up slowly while H caught up with me. Started at 7:20, it was still a little dark. But the fresh morning looked prstinely pretty. To be frank I was a teeny bit scared to hike alone. Of animals. Mountain lions and rattlesnakes only. And also the slimy little lizards that creep the hell out of me. I saw a couple walk by, briskly. And decided to follow them. The frequent rustle of the leaves here and there, with a squirrel running here and there, or the lizard hiding into a bush, sorta freaked me out a bit. So I did this. I put on loud music and put on my headphones. If a mountain lion were to come and attack me, atleast I wouldnt know until it really happened at which point the fear will be very real. Better than fearing a hundred times over and over.
The first mile was supposed to be a killer. And I remembered doing this with BSK in a Moby wrap, with In laws! When BSK was 4 months old. Whatever was I thinking? The next 2.5 miles were pleasant, flat and slightly rising slowly. Perfect. I enjoyed this path a lot. Me and my music and my feet taking one step after the other. I was surprised how busy the trail was. People were running on the trail! Well thank you for making me feel inferior doing a 9.5mi hike people!
The last 1.2mi or so was another steeeeeeeep hike up a fire road. Huffed and puffed to reach the top. Everytime I stopped to catch my breath I looked at the Bay view. Pretty on this super clear day. I could see the Bay stretched out in front of my, with the mountains and the blue skies and the clear bay. What a beautiful place I live in!
I reached the top and sat there a while, wondering how long H will take to catch up with me. It was 10AM. 2.5hrs to the top, not bad, I hoped to finish by noon. I ate a protein bar, drank some water. H came in 10mins. We caught up, sat and ate some nuts, made some plans, more hiking plans and decided to hike down. H had bad knees, she had to wear knee braces. If you think going up was tough, going down is a whole another battle. My feet were the most hurting. My knees and quads and hamstrings were fine. My ankle had just started troubling me. A throbbing pain. But my hiking shoes saved me ankles. These are the best hiking shoes ever.
It was a slow hike down due to H's knees. We chatted about everything, from work to start ups, to WIN, to our impending sabbatical plans. It is during such hikes that you get to chat about all kinds of things. It is great to meet with like minded people with similar aspirations and dreams and interests. We had a long stop at 8.5mi to stretch the sore legs. only 1more mile to go, I would have finished and then stretched, but oh well. We didnt realize time was flying by. We finished the hike at 1:10PM. Longer than I had imagined.
But we did it. And I didnt feel toooooooo sore, which was the best thing about the hike. Last weekend's hike was to test out my ankles. This weekend I was very apprehensive about a 9.4miler. This is only the second longest hike I have ever done so far, the first being the 11miler in Big Basin. But that was relatively easier, with only 300ft net elevation. This was 2300ft. We did it!!
I dropped H to her car, she loved Mia. Somehow people treat Mia like she is this exotic variety. People are afraid to sit in it, lest their dirty it ;--) People are afraid to park near it lest they scratch it ;--)
It was too late to go to the friends place for lunch, so she was super kind enough to pack some for me and send it with K. ;--)
While I was hiking, K had made idlis, friends had breakfast and left to another friend's place for lunch. K took BSK to her first Ballet class and then joined them for lunch.
2PM we had SolarCity appointment. Yes! We might actually install solar panels in our roof and actually drive Mia powered by the sun. ;--))
Another friend family visited us in the evening. They had a 3 month old baby. Gosh I forgot how cute they can be!!! And they left around 8. I made sambhar and soaked rice and lentils for adai the next morning.
A and S finished their rounds and came home at 8:30. It was a full house last night for the cricket match. BSK and E had a ball. Played, fought, made up, it was soooooo nice. So many kids and so many people. I loved every minute of it.
I was a bit tired too. Put BSK to sleep and slept off like a log at 10:30PM. K and friend were up until 3:30AM looks like.
Morning I made Adais. Everyone ate with all praises. I was super happy. My sambhar was a hit. I couldnt talk too much to A, she was busy with her 8 month old son. But still we had our moments. We planned more camping trips for later this year.
After they left, it was rather quiet at home. It is fun to have friends over, a full house, especially that dont judge and that treat the house like theirs and dont expect you to treat them like royalty when they visit. BSK missed E too, and didnt want her to leave.
Even though I was tired, I iced my feet and ankle like anything, and stretched them a lot, and might even hit the gym today and walk on the treadmill again. The calves are sore Good sore. Not injure sore. My feet hurt. In a good way.
As I write this and remember the hike, I smile to myself. From being too scared of my ankle and from the zinging/pricking of my feet I am super happy to have been able to hike and also recover quickly. I guess the boring 30min inclined treadmill workout do help in someway. My knees did not hurt so much, I think I owe it to my quads and hamstrings. I have to strengthen my calves and shins so my ankles are spared. But I have hope and a teeny bit of confidence inspite of my weight that hiking is not out of reach.. just yet. Hiking alone without a kid feels like heaven if you have a child and I am just happy i went there this weekend ;--)
Signing off with some pictures.
This is not even the top!
Beautiful views followed me all the way
 If you spot the power cables at the top of the hill that's where I was headed.
Amazing herbs smell along the trail. It felt like spring!
The mess that is the side effect of fun times!!!!
Have a happy week! |
posted by SK @ 6:00 PM  |
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| 2 Comments: |
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Too good SK.I remember the first mile to be too bad,I almost felt dizzy and my ears were ringing,how did your ILs make it I wonder!!!
I miss hiking :((((
Hopefully i can resume soon.
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Meena
I dont know how my ILs did it lol. :--) Come back to form soon, enjoy this phase now.
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Too good SK.I remember the first mile to be too bad,I almost felt dizzy and my ears were ringing,how did your ILs make it I wonder!!!
I miss hiking :((((
Hopefully i can resume soon.