Photo credit: Wendy Pitts Reeves That's me, enjoying a leisurely rest with coastal scrub and a bit of the trail in view behind me.
Photo credit: Wendy Pitts Reeves
To the left in the image below, you can see the trail winding through the coastal scrub as it descends to the Pacific Ocean. Here we were among low-lying, draught-hardy shrubs with Anna's Hummingbirds hovering over our heads as they approach the spring blossoms.
From the hillside, a pair of coyotes surveyed the hikers on the trail, waiting for dusk to begin their hunt. They were surprisingly unbothered by the presence of humans, perhaps because the area is protected by the state park system and people are a common sight. Clever and adaptive to a variety of habitats, coyote populations are flourishing bringing them into frequent conflict with people and making them one of the most persecuted predators in our world, next to the wolf.
A young hiker alerted us to their presence. It was a pleasure to witness this peaceful co-existence between humans and this intelligent canine in a protected shrub habitat.
Above and below, views of Stinson Beach and Bolinas Lagoon, located to the east of the beach.
Photo credit: Wendy Pitts Reeves
Here we found more flowering trillium. The trillum in the next image was impressively the size of a dinner plate! That's no exaggeration!
As we came out of the woods, a short trek through town brought us to the beach.
Above, one tired but happy hiker as we finish our Dipsea Trail hike only a short distance from our beach house accomodations. Once there, with shoes and packs discarded, we settled into beach chairs on the dunes to enjoy a glass of wine and the beautiful sunset--a lovely ending to our first day!
All my posts on Stinson Beach, California. The first post will be last in order.
Dipsea Trail hike
Dipsea Trail
Wendy Pitts Reeves and Wendy's website
Coastal chaparral is an ecosystem dominated by woody-stemmed shrubs that are draught and saline tolerant.
Bay Nature
Coyote
OMG your photos are awesome. You are a talented photographer. I envy your hike. Wish I could!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judie. A hike well worth a visit to the area.
DeleteBeautiful coyotes!
ReplyDeleteI thought so, too. It surprised me to see them so peacefully watching hikes as they passed on the trail below where they were perched.
DeleteThis is SUCH a treat, Vickie, to read back over your lovely detailed description of that wonderful day. And I'm so pleased at the way the photos turned out. You and I both know, though, that it's hard to take a 'bad' picture in a place that is full of such magic. I loved that hike - through, what was it, 5 ecosystems? So glad to have shared this entire lovely experience with such a great friend - and patient hiking buddy.
ReplyDeleteSo where're we headed next? :))
A wonderful hike, exhilerating to think about even now. Your photos were exceptional. You have a good eye and I enjoyed the opportunity to share them. Next destination? Lovely thought!
Delete