on the trail of the peg-leg horse

Ready to ignore Christmas as it was bearing down upon us, eight hikers decided to take advantage of an unusually sunny day and stretch our legs. Seven miles of stretch. Priscilla, Maureen, Barbara G., Tiana, Jo, Karen, John, and Elly decided the sunniest non-blacktop hike would probably be Rice's Crossing. Some local residents met us at a road intersection, one expressing surprise at our intended destination. He thinks old ladies and one old man can't hike? After Maureen collected her usual dog names (Bodie and Kiara), we hiked down to the Yuba, noting the unusual prints in the mud. Did a horse carefully complete his horse shoe arc by turning the other way? We still don't know what we were looking at...a peg leg horse? Any horse or cattle experts out there? Not content with the hike's length, we continued up the dirt road from Rice's Crossing to explore and find a sunny spot to eat lunch. We ended up on some rocks and logs above the river between it and the road, soaking up the sun and quiet of the woodland.

Priscilla and the rest of us presented Karen with a stunning China Doll plant replete with Christmas ornaments for the loss of her mother. Actually Karen seemed good and looked great.

Hopefully more of you will be in town next week for another hike. We decided that the snow shoe group should go another day - maybe next week to Plantation. Besides John and Elly, Frank and Ellen, Jo, Tianna and Tammy; dies anyone else want to be included?

the Neighborhood

Pictures are in opposite order from story.

Since our driveway continues to be an ice sheet, John and I took advantage of the sun's melting rays to explore a walk up to the the Chicago Park NID ditch on the other side of 174. It was there, just as a lady had told us and wow, what a lovely level walk. We were all alone as we followed the meandering trail and have no idea how much further we could have gone.

But we started getting nervous about how long we had walked so we retraced some trail and went down an icy road to 174. To our surprise we were way past the Peardale area and had to retrace at least a mile on the busy highway which in spite of speeding vehicles, was slippery on the sides.

We went down Peardale and waded through the snow of the land trust area, and returning along the lake path to our meadow.

The hike had taken hours, must have been at least 5 miles, many of them cautiously slow due to the ice. I include this hike to show how beautiful local hiking can be. That said, we wonder if there was an official hike today. If so, please send description and pix. Thanks.

Spenceville

We were happy for Clarence's triphumpant return from miserable rotator cuff surgery. His ability to lead hikes through new and unfamiliar areas such as Spenceville excited enough people that 18 of us showed up!!
Eighteen of us hiked over 7 miles in long-shadowed, sunny, crispy weather in open California savana out to a pond. Lunch was at cement (brrrrrrr) picnic tables by a pond. Conversation was lively as our trail alternated between single track and dirt roads.

P
Present were: Selma, Clarence, Frank, Jim, Jo, Grace, Tammy, Priscilla, Cyndi, Mary, Kim, Tiana, Karen, Barbara G., Marilyn N., Paula (came on a summer hike), Dorothea (old time hiker from before my time), and Elly.

Next week we are talking about Hidden Falls out of Auburn. There was also some talk of the American River but we were having a hard time thinking of a long enough hike (6-7.5 miles)that we hadn't done recently.

Pictures by Clarence and Elly. Map from Clarence.