Mt. Madonna County Park / Camp Out, Gilroy, CA

Would you like to ride during the work week? What about a ride to a camp site and spend the night outdoors? Would you like to camp in the middle of a redwood forest? I say, "Yes", to all. I had the opportunity to do just that a week ago, and it was a department outing... so, did I have a choice as the FNG? Not really. Me go.

I have to say, it was easily one of the hardest rides, much of it uphill, that I've done in a long time... maybe ever. I also can't say I got a great look at the park or camp ground. We were very focused on the riding, then putting some delicious local burritos in our maws, then getting set-up for the night, then dark came (Zzzzzz).

I would like to do the ride again at some point (perhaps with more fitness) and even go back to this park and camping area by car. I would get out to take pics all along the climb and also of the nature all around us. You can get a little sense of it below, but I didn't get enough for my memory bank.

What I did get a great sense of and appreciation for (during a work week, mind you) is that there are things much bigger than ourselves. Sitting among redwood trees, on the top of a mountain, in the dark, with stars coming out makes you feel small (in a good way, not like in the high school way). You can take a step back, turn it all off, and truly relax. There's a huge natural world out there, and you really should take any chance you can to appreciate it.

Below was the original plan for my sleeping quarters that night, which I think would have been do-able, but a little bit before dark, we "commandeered" a yurt nearby and slept inside this sturdy fabric building for the night. Yurts generally have a door, windows, a skylight, and this one also had bunk beds w/ mattresses. A bit glamping style, but hey, I'm not a hardcore outdoorsmen by any means.

The hammock I own was very easy to set up and get ready, this version also has some lights for night-time visibility...

If you can't tell, I'd go back and do this again, for a longer stay too... after I get some more riding miles in my legs, please.

We also "bombed" down Hecker Pass the next morning on the way to work. It's a fairly busy pass for cars, especially at commute times, but it worked out well. We went very fast, no brakes, and made it back to work in about 45 minutes... passing this farm, wineries, and many other views along the way.

Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Morgan Hill, CA

You know summer is starting to heat up when the first county fair, festival, eating thing starts opening in your neck of the woods. Well, here in Morgan Hill, that's the Msuhroom Mardi Gras. I understand it occurs every Memorial weekend, and this year was no different. What a mish-mosh of people, food, vendors, and entertainment. I'd go back in a heartbeat, and in fact did go back the next day for some other food options.

For the wine aficionado...

Don't forget the kids...

Now, let's a take a look at what's noramlly near and dear to my heart, er, stomach, the food. This is merely a small sample of what was on offer at this fair. In fact, they had two food courts...

You HAVE to try the TriTip cut of meat in NorCal. I've even Googled what it is already. Basically, it's the bottom of a sirloin. It's delicious. When grilled over open fire, with wood smoke, it's amazing.

Foot-long brat?

I think these snow-cone stands are genius...

Let the kids have at it themselves... and at kid-level too...

Stuffed mushrooms, less so...

These looked very impressive...

Finally, I couldn't help but notice and abundance of certain kinds of shops... like the hat in the top of the post. There must have been about 6+ straw hat vendors all over this festival. I mean, I guess they take their sun expeosure seriously here, fair enough.

One thing I could not understand was the toe-ring stands - yes plural. I'm not kidding...

Henry W. Coe State Park, Morgan Hill, CA

Here's a little info on this place from Wikipedia...
... [HCSP] is a state park of California, USA, preserving a vast tract of the Diablo Range. The park is located closest to the city of Morgan Hill, and is located in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. The park contains over 87,000 acres (35,000 ha), making it the largest state park in northern California, and the second-largest in the state (after Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). Managed within its boundaries is a designated wilderness area of about 22,000 acres (8,900 ha). This is officially known as the Henry W. Coe State Wilderness, but locally as the Orestimba Wilderness. The 89,164-acre (36,083 ha) park was established in 1959.^[1]

If you didn't catch all that, this is a big park. It's full of trails, paths, wildlife, and best of all MOUNTAIN LIONS!!!

Ok, maybe not full of them, but I did see a bobcat during my short trip. I also know they have a very popular tarantula time of year each fall. Can you spell, f-u-n!

It really is a very pretty park, great for a long walk, overnight, or even mountain biking.

A deer or two greeted me on arrival...

If go in the summer (or possibly any time of year), bring water!!! Wear sunblock. Wear sturdy shoes. You may want to wear pants and tuck your legs into your socks (ticks). If you think you might get lost, just stay on the main trail.

AT&T Park / San Francisco Giants, San Francisco, CA

Even as a lifelong Cubs fan, when one is invited to a suite for an evening of baseball, one attends. I could not say no to a night at AT&T Park, to see the Giants take on the Reds.

It's a very nice ballpark. I now wish I'd seen more of it. We were kind of whisked up into the suite-level area from the street entrance, and didn't really wander much further during the game. If I were to go back to this park (Cubs stand in July!), I'd like to see much more of the concourse level and outfield areas.

 Can't beat the views.

I very much liked this lit-up concourse outside the stadium.