I took a solo hike at Black Diamond Mines today.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218921)
Walnut Creek, California
February 4, 2021 7:51pm CST
I didn't have to work today, so I took care of my most difficult task (see my previous post) and then took off for Black Diamond Mines, one of my favorite hiking spots here in the East Bay. I wanted to see if the grass was green yet (it is in the Berkeley Hills) and whether the wildflowers have started blooming.
It was a crisp and sunny day. I had my shorts on, but I also wore a Winter coat over my sweatshirt. I'll start with a picture of the beginning of the trail, and maybe do another post or two later. The hills at Black Diamond Mines are turning green, but they haven't reached the stage of "Ireland green" yet. There were no Indian Warrior or Indian Paintbrush flowers, but I did see a few orange California poppies poking through.
Have you been out and about, hiking or snow shoeing recenetly? I was glad to get off my fatty acids and get some exercise.
26 people like this
26 responses
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 21
@rakski That can be pretty. I live in sterile suburbia here. In Chicago, each house had its own mystique. People like Sheldon Sacks, Milton Friedman, Saul Bellow, John Hope Franklin, Paul Butterfield, and many other scholars and musicians lived in that neighborhood. When I took walks, I looked up at the study windows and wondered what books were being written, and what new music was being played.
1 person likes this
!
@kaylachan (69824)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Feb 21
I can't really walk, so I don't hike. I have been out in my wheelchair, though.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (68084)
• United States
5 Feb 21
“Fatty acids.” 
Love that!!
I took several walks while on vacation. I might go to the walking track tomorrow if the weather isn’t bad to keep up the habit.
Love that!!
I took several walks while on vacation. I might go to the walking track tomorrow if the weather isn’t bad to keep up the habit.3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Feb 21
We have had some mighty cold weather and I have been staying inside but I walk about my apartment,
3 people like this
@allknowing (136540)
• India
5 Feb 21
Solo walks or treks are considered the best way as one can keep to one's own pace.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136540)
• India
6 Feb 21
@TheHorse And nice to bury in one's own thoughts.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44250)
• Wapello, Iowa
5 Feb 21
I just sat around all day watching our blizzard...not much of a blizzard, really, only about 60 feet of snow with 1000 mph winds. If it ever stops, maybe I'll go hiking.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (44250)
• Wapello, Iowa
5 Feb 21
@TheHorse That would work. The saucepan would have to be heated, though. Because it's also about -14 Kelvin (Wind Chill -1000 Kelvin) and that means there is a freezing danger.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 21
@xander6464 Does -14 Kelvin mean that atoms are spinning backwards? Wait. We may be on to something.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Thank goodness you weren't in your Winnie the Pooh outfit! 
You might have scared all the wildlife! 
That is some beautiful countryside!2 people like this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil Imagine my picture of her with her eyes covered.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106361)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Feb 21
Too cold here to go for the fun of it. Lovely place.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106361)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Feb 21
@TheHorse That looks like a workout there
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 21
@wolfgirl569 It's really pretty easy. You just have to pick your routes carefully. The scariest thing I've seen up there is what they call...I think it's "fire ants." They're actually wingless wasps, and I've seen them crawling around those rocks. Their sting is so painful, the locals call them "cow killers."
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 21
Beautiful picture, but where is the mine?
Usually, here in my neck of the woods in northern Florida, we have greenery all year long. However, this has been an usually cold winter so far, so we have a lot of browns and grays out there in nature. But when spring finally does arrive, the greens will explode in full force.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb 21
@TheHorse Eh, you're not missing anything by never having lived here. It's flat, hot, and humid. There's a bunch of Flor-idiots running around, and a sh*t-ton of retired people from up north who drive really slow.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Feb 21
@moffittjc Heh. I remember visiting my Midwestern friend in Florida (Ft. Myers Beach). His parents had beach house there right off of A1A. There were these "highways" that had turn lanes where someone coming toward you had to cross your lane to make a left turn onto a surface street. The little old ladies in their Cadilacs would do it at about 8 mph, causing us to have to slam on our brakes. We called it "pulling a Floridian."
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Green grass? Flowers? What are those? lololol We have 43 days until spring. I'm glad you got out and enjoyed your hike.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 21
@LindaOHio I may go back up there in two or three weeks and see if the flowers have started booming.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
5 Feb 21
that looks amazing (the picture). I love planning and then going on hikes!
2 people like this
