"The Circle of Life" on the Charolais Corridor Trail

Best or Favorite Photo of 2018?

This month's theme gives us a lot of leeway. But since we begin a new year today, I decided to chose Robert Roemisch's metal sculpture, "The Circle of Life," to feature. I've always liked this sculpture. It's the first thing that people notice on the eastern entrance to the Charolais Corridor Trail in Paso Robles. The trail itself leads to the River Walk along the Salinas River as it runs through Paso Robles. Roemisch wanted people walking the trail to be aware of the river's environmental and educational value as well as just enjoying it as a place to exercise. 

Over the years I have taken many photos of this sculpture. I like this one, taken at dusk, because it emphasizes the silhouette animals in the circle. It also serves as a window to allow a look through the center at the plants on the other side. I've never yet seen a bear along this trail, but I have seen plenty of rabbits. Most of them detect me and run away before I can capture them with a camera. 



Happy New Year!

See the favorite photos of other City Daily Photo Bloggers here. 

Discovery Trail Dangers

The Discovery Trail above the San Luis Obispo County Botanical Garden

I had a date with a fellow nature lover last Tuesday at the San Luis Obispo County Botanical Garden, which I'd not yet visited. I was eager to see local plants with labels so I could identify some I've been wondering about.  Unfortunately I was two weeks too early for our date. My calendar was wrong. Rather than waste the trip over the grade I decided to explore a bit on my own. I started with the Children's Garden.

Gnome Depot in Children's Garden with Teepee on the Left,  © B. Radisavljevic

The Discovery Trail

As I came to the edge of the Children's Garden, I saw a sign pointing to the Discovery Trail, which invited me to a walking adventure that would last about 3/4 mile. It instructed me to be on the lookout for birds and other animals, unique plants, and ancient volcanoes. It was too misty near the ocean for me to see the "awesome views to Morro Bay," though I did see the famous smoke stacks. On my hike I did see some unique plants, but I was unaware of how many of them were poisonous.

Beginning of Discovery Trail goes through the shade of the trees on the right, © B. Radisavljevic

The sign failed to warn me of all the dangers I might encounter on the trail before it was too late to turn back. Although the trail was level at the beginning, it started climbing when I was not far along. By the time I realized what might endanger me personally, it would have been just as dangerous for me to turn back as to complete the hike.

I'm 75 years old and was alone. I never should have attempted to do this trail without a companion and without any idea of what was ahead. Fortunately it wasn't a hot day, but I was out of shape for an uphill climb. I had also forgotten it was summer and snake season. My knowledge of poisonous plants near the trail was limited to identifying poison oak.

Dangers I Encountered on the Discovery Trail

The first bit of danger I encountered with no warning signs was this tree root in the trail that would have been easy to trip over. It was surrounded by dried leaves and other debris that helped hide it.

Tree Root across the Discovery Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

Next was a warning sign telling me how to identify poison oak. I was already proficient at that.  I had already posted a visual ID guide online which my city police department asked permission to use on their training website for search and rescue teams. You can find it here: Oak and Poison Oak in Photos: Can You Tell the Difference?

Poison Oak Warning Sign on Discovery Trail Surrounded by Poison Oak

The abundant poison oak was not only close to the trail, but all too often intruding onto the trail itself. A bare branch on the trail side actually brushed me as I walked past and hit my shorts. The trail is narrow, and there's not a lot of room to get out of the way of obstacles.

Poison oak bare branches extending onto Discovery Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

Fortunately no oil transferred to my skin. The oil that causes the itchy rash is present even on dead parts of the plant and dead leaves are often mixed with the oak leaves from the trees above the creeping poison oak. This can transfer onto shoes. So it's a good idea to be careful when removing clothes and shoes that might have picked up the oil and to clean the shoes with strong soap and launder any affected clothing quickly. You don't want it on your skin.

Red poison oak and coyote brush by edge of Discovery Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

If your skin does come in contact with poison oak, this may help if you use it as soon as possible.

Steep Trail and Wild Fennel

After I had walked for a few minutes past the concentrations of poison oak under the trees, the trail started to climb rather steeply.

There are two dangers in the photo above that may not be obvious. You can see places where the narrow trail is almost covered with the slippery straw-like dried grasses. In addition to that there are small loose rocks you may not see as clearly. Both are easy to slide on. That's dangerous on this sort of slope. It was difficult to get sure footing. I began to envy mountain goats here.



When I published this post, I believed those pretty yellow-top plants you see on the side of the trail were wild parsnip -- an invasive plant that can make you as miserable as poison oak. Wild parsnip has a toxic sap in the stem. If that sap gets on your skin, it will make it extremely sun sensitive -- so sensitive that some people have gotten second and third degree burns from it. Check this illustrated article to see what it can do to you. It also has information about a look-alike plant called Golden Alexander.

I have since found out from a volunteer at the botanical garden that the plant is wild fennel instead. That makes me feel better about this trail. The flowers are very similar to the wild parsley, but the leaves of the fennel are much frillier. They just don't show much in these photos. I think the leaves get smaller when the plant flowers and the stalks shoot up.

Closeup View of Wild Fennel, © B. Radisavljevic

Wild Fennel on Hillside, © B. Radisavljevic

The only other plant I know of that only slightly resembles this is common dill -- the kind they make pickles out of. It has similar yellow tops, but its leaves are much more fern-like. If in doubt about any plant with a yellow umbrella-shaped flower head, stay away from it or you may be very sorry later that you didn't.

Over all, I would not wanted to have missed this view from a high point on the trail. I wish there had been a bench to rest on before I got to the highest point on the trail. Those my age might appreciate it. At least I did not encounter any snakes -- especially rattlesnakes. I would not want to hike this trail in the rain because of its hazards, but in dry weather it offers lovely views. Just don't go by yourself as I did. I would not go alone again. You might want to pick up one of these trail guides so you can plan better than I did, though this trail is not mentioned in the Falcon Guide published in 2011 that I own. The Eagle Rock Trail above it is listed. There was no mention of the poisonous plants.

Sky Photos from Charolais Corridor Trail at Dusk

Back on the Charolais Corridor Trail for a Photo Walk

Life has prevented me from doing much walking in these past few months, but tonight I couldn't stand being confined and so I walked. I drove to the trailhead of the Charolais Corridor Trail across from Larry Moore Park in Paso Robles, camera in hand, as the sun was beginning to set. The weather was just right for a walk. 

Sundown from Charolais Corridor Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

Photos of The Sky from the Trail

I will show these sky photos in the order in which I took them so you can imagine you are walking with me. All photos, watermarked or not, are my intellectual property and may not be used without my written permission.

As I started my walk along the trail, a solid band of clouds was just in front of me above the treetops. As you will see later, the color deepened as the sun got lower and disappeared.

A Band of Clouds across The Sky Over the Trail, © B. RadisavljevicAs you 

As you look at these photos you will notice I love tree silhouettes against the sky, as in the photo below.

Golden Stripe of Sunset behind Tree Silhouette, © B. Radisavljevic

I also like unusual cloud formations like this one. I saw it from many different angles as I walked. It was always in front of me or off to the right of the trail. Here it appears to be disappearing into the oaks below it.

V-Shaped Cloud Formation on South Side of Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

The trail runs between two housing areas: Riverbank on the north side and the rural properties, many of them small farms, that face onto Oak Lane on the south side. The palm is in one of the yards in the Riverbank tract.

Palm in Yard Across the Fence Along Trail with Clouds Behind, © B. Radisavljevic

I was not alone on the trail tonight. Two families passed me with their dogs. I thought the boy was going to have to carry the little black dog. It was stubbornly refusing to keep walking. Finally, it decided to follow, but only after much urging.

Company on the Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

These large trees are on the side where the small farms are. I love their silhouettes as the sky darkens.

Whisps of Clouds behind Tree Silhouettes, © B. Radisavljevic

This is the same band of clouds I showed you earlier, but now some time has passed. Both its color and shape have changed a bit.

Band of Clouds Across Trail Is Turning Pink, © B. Radisavljevic

There are many more pictures I could have shown you -- over a hundred -- but this is enough to give you an idea of what you missed. This last photo was taken after I returned to the entrance. The trees are on the end of Riverbank Lane, near where I parked. If you live in Paso Robles and haven't walked this trail yet, it's very manageable -- even for those with disabilities. It's mostly level, and you can see it is paved with concrete. Walkers do need to watch out for cyclists, though. I often encounter them here.

Back to Where I Started as It Begins to Get Dark, © B. Radisavljevic

If you enjoyed these photos, why not share them on Pinterest?

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How to Cross the Creek

It's been two days since my wildflower walk on the Snead/Rambouillet Trail, and I'm wondering if this part of the walk contributed to my emergency room visit yesterday. I had been trying to figure out how to cross the creek.  

The trail is more like a series of small trails emanating from the housing developments which surround the open space in the middle between them. I always enter from Oxen Street on a paved path with low stairs built in. A narrow dirt path parallels this. After taking the path or the stairs down the hill, I come to a creek. From the main path there is a wooden bridge that crosses the creek.  

From that main  path,  I could see a creek on my left. I decided to take the paved path to the other path I thought connected to it, but instead I was blocked by the creek.

Since I wasn't wearing boots, I took the path back in the direction I usually take it until I reached the turn-off to a dirt path that I believed would meet the other path I wanted up near a pond. It's the path to the right in this photo. You can see the path I want to be on to the left.

The dirt path became quite steep and narrow where it follows the curve of the creek. You can see how the path leans in a slope between the trees.  I have pointed to the path with the green pin.

The path on the hill had a dangerous slope and I almost fell, B. Radisavljevic

I wanted to get to where I thought I could get on the path I wanted, so I stayed on the dirt path even though I knew the slope and loose rocks were risky for me. Since I saw the woman and her children ahead of me, I knew help would be close should I slip. I figured I'd come back by the wider level path once I was across the creek. But that didn't happen. The path again dead-ended into the creek. There was only one place to cross the creek without getting wet.

Unfortunately, I didn't want to risk the slope it would take to get to it. I was between two steep places,  but I chose to go back the way I came. As I expressed my opinion about the lack of bridges to cross the creek from the paths, the mother explained that the golf course used to be very close to where we were walking before there was so much development around the open space. That's why the trails have no bridges across the creek. People used golf carts to cross the creeks where the trails stopped. Those on bikes still have no problem getting across the creeks.

After I left the the trail and went back to my car, I continued on to shop for groceries before going home. My back began to hurt just after I made it into the house with the bags of groceries. I can't help  but think it was the effort to keep from slipping on the slope that caused my back to go into a spasm. Fortunately the medications they gave me at the emergency room yesterday are helping and I'm  almost back to normal just before midnight tonight. I think I've learned I need to be more careful.

Related articles

• Trail
• On the Froom Ranch Trail in San Luis Obispo
• The Birds, the Bees, and the Flowers on the Snead/Rambouillet Trail
• Surprised by a Hidden Trail

On the Froom Ranch Trail in San Luis Obispo

After showing you the historic Froom Ranch farmhouse and barn yesterday, I'd like to  show you some of the trail near Froom Ranch  today. I didn't climb it last night while I was taking pictures. Not only was the sun already down, but since I hurt my knee, I have to keep all walking level. So I  took this photo of an unofficial trail access from behind the Home Depot parking lot in San Luis Obispo. The trail officially starts at the end of Madonna Road. Any of these photos can be enlarged with a click.

This area behind Home Depot and Costco is known as the Irish Hills. It may have been named that during the rainy season when the hills were green. They are currently approaching the time of year when they will be brown if we don't get more rain.

I took this photo of the water tower on the hill above Home Depot by walking only a few feet on the trail. It is quite close to the Froom Ranch buildings.

I did, however, manage to get onto the trail from the Madonna Road Entrance in April, 2012. My husband and I decided to work off some lunch before our Costco visit so we walked in the Irish hills on the trail for about half an hour. Then he  got tired and I didn't want to wander alone. This is Hubby on the trail heading back to the car.

This next one shows an uphill trail ahead of me.

The trail is curvy and steep in some places.

This was the view as I was about to take the path back down to the  residential area where we had parked. 

Someday I hope I hope I can find someone to walk the easy part of the trail down to the creek with me after I can start hiking myself again. Have you hiked this trail? Have you gone to the top where you can view the ocean?

For more specific information on hiking the Irish Hills and the rest of the Central Coast, you might find this book helpful. 

 Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo: 156 Great Hikes

Contrasting Views of Froom Ranch in San Luis Obispo

I first discovered the historic Froom Ranch buildings in November, 2011, when I happened to go to Costco in San Luis Obispo alone (as opposed to with my husband.) It had been raining, and after I had shopped I followed the lot around to the Home Depot side and parked at the far end. I decided I wanted to photograph the buildings during a lull between rains. That turned out not to be a great decision.

I tend to be spontaneous. It wasn't good enough to take the photos from the parking lot of Home Depot as I did here. I wanted to get closer and find the Froom Ranch Trail itself. Never mind that the trail was wet or that it would be dark soon. Up I went until I was even with the old barn.

I had searched for the trail because I had wanted a photo of the hills after visiting the Mac Superstore as I was wandering around behind the buildings on that side of Los Osos Valley Road,  someone in the Target shopping center told me the best place to photograph those hills was from the trail that started behind Home Depot. I did get several photos of the hills that night, but they all included Home Depot, as this one did, because the place I was standing was only as high as the old barn.

It was very muddy, and dark was coming on fast, and I knew I had no business trying to go high that night. I promised myself I would come back during daylight someday and hit the trail. Meanwhile, I barely made it down because the mud I had accumulated on the bottom of my shoes was about two inches thick. It took some ingenuity to get them cleaned up so I could get back in the car to drive home.

I had never known much about Froom Ranch, so I decided to do a bit of research online. There wasn't much information but I  did find this much. John R. Froom first came to San Luis Obispo in 1886. He worked on this 5,000-acre ranch, which was then owned by a Mr. L. Nelson. Later Mr. Froom leased it and started a dairy farm which did well. Mrs. Froom somehow received the ranch in 1904. Mr. Froom was a great supporter of his adopted city of San Luis Obispo.

Later on the ranch was purchased by Alex and Phyllis Madonna, who built the Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo is famous for. The Madonnas have also done much for their city, and as I write this, Phyllis, who survived Alex after his death in 2004, is still active in civic service. In 2013 she was named San Luis Obispo County by the Chamber of Commerce in addition to the many other awards she had already received.  She is still very active in supporting the Women's Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County. You can read more about the Madonnas here. 

As far as I know, the ranch is now under the management or ownership of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo. It appears the historic buildings themselves remain on private property, since there are signs posted to that effect around them.

When I took this photo yesterday, it was also near sundown, but it was at least dry. You will notice that the hills are already starting to turn brown because there has been no  rain recently.

Related articles

• San Luis Obispo's Iconic Fremont Theater
• Night Over the Abandoned Sunny Acres Detention Facility, San Luis Obispo, California
• A Whimsical Sculpture in San Luis Obsipo

The Birds, the Bees, and the Flowers on the Snead/Rambouillet Trail

Revisiting the Snead/Rambouillet Trail

I previously walked this trail on March 18, but at that time I didn't know its name. Evidently the official trail entrances are on Snead and Rambouillet, but I entered on Oxen near Brahma. If you walk across the street from the sign toward the tree on the other side and then turn left on the sidewalk, you will almost immediately see the entrance to the trail on the right. I showed you the entrance in Surprised by a Hidden Trail on March 19. You see stairs leading from the sidewalk down to the trail.

Last week it was dusk when I walked and I didn't have much time to explore. Today I walked in late afternoon while the sun was bright. As one walks down the steps into the forested open space, the first thing one notices at this time of year is the display of colorful wildflowers on either side of the stairs.

I wasn't the only once to notice all those flowers. You could hear them almost before you could see them because the bees were very busy gathering pollen. I caught this one on a clover blossom. They were also doing the rounds of the vetch, but I didn't see many on the lupines and poppies, which were also abundant.

The birds were also quite active. I could hear the woodpeckers in the trees, but I couldn't see any. I did see lots of scrub jays like this one. They didn't seem eager to be captured by my  camera, but I finally found one who decided to show off a bit instead of playing hide and seek in the branches.

Open Space to Explore Nature is Important for Children

As I walked, I couldn't help but regret the suburb of Los Angeles I grew up in didn't have any wild places where kids could walk to a place nearby to explore nature. We had a park with a playground, a tennis court, a cement slab where we could skate, some ball fields, and some trees. There were no "wild" areas to explore. There were no creeks or ponds where one could see ducks and catch tadpoles.

The children lucky enough to live in the neighborhoods around these trails have all of that. Here are a couple of ducks that were resting in the shadows beside the creek. I also saw tiny tadpoles in another park of the creek, but they were too small to photograph.

The ground squirrels I saw wouldn't pose for me, either, but I saw them. They would dive into a nearby hole before I could even see them clearly. Nevertheless I did my best to catch them on camera, and when I got home I found there was one who did not manage to escape my zoom lens. It's not a very clear shot, but it proves I saw him.

 Nature's Playground: Activities, Crafts, and Games to Encourage Children to Get Outdoors

If you'd like to encourage your children to explore nature, one of these books might be a good place to get some inspiration. 

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 Sharing the Joy of Nature: Nature Activities for All Ages Sharing Nature®: Nature Awareness Activities for All Ages How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature

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Do you have any wild places children near you can explore within walking distance of their homes? What sort of wildlife do you see most where you live?