Sunday, July 27, 2014

Another Weekend, Another East Bay Park




I got a craving for Afghani food after chatting with an acquaintance who came to the US from Afghanistan about 30 years ago when he was ten.  I asked him about restaurants in the area and he recommended De Afghanan in Fremont, about a 45 minute drive from our house. (Restaurant menu here: http://www.deafghanancuisine.com/menu.html - good eggplant, kabobs and a wonderful milk pudding for dessert.)

We decided to make the drive when I found out that a couple of miles from the restaurant was Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area.  So, we made plans to walk around the lakes after dinner.


posts for measuring water level



Where there are lakes, there are birds.



one of many vultures

soaring gull

Sandbar in one of the lakes with gulls and pelicans





One of the features of the park is a Rare Fruit Tree Grove. 

We didn't find any ripe ones to pick.


lime


pomegranate

fig (with selfie shadow)


full of hanging berry strands

Other plants along the trail:


Surprise lily shining in the sun

California Live Oak with acorns
Thistles

Recent sunset photos:


over Round Top to the north

Mt. Diablo

Bay side to the west

A "holy card sky" photo courtesy of our son-in-law:

Looking toward Mt. Diablo on a cloudy morning






Sunday, July 13, 2014

Will We Ever Tire of the Views?


The past week presented lots of opportunities for photos.

Clouds on the canyon side

The bay disappears in evening clouds

Bay side sunset

Friday night out:

Great seafood at Jack London Square
The view from our table at Scott's - Erick was delighted.

Another excursion to the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve:

Trails in Sibley Park

Path through thistles - not for people :-)

Tallest Yarrow I've ever seen

Looking toward the bay

View from the top of the quarry pit; Mt. Diablo in the background

Labyrinth in the quarry pit

Basalt lava rock (gray) from the volcano's crater

Wildflowers along the trail

Looking toward the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve from the ridge

At the fence where Sibley Park ends

Berry bush in bloom and fruit

More bird photos:

Oak Titmouse with seed

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee


Sunday, July 6, 2014

4th of July Weekend

We visited Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve where Erick frequently runs for exercise.  I did some walking on the trails along the side of Round Top that faces the ridge where we live.


Along the trails:









Back at the parking lot, Erick stretches and I admire a Trumpet Vine.




We topped the day off with a party at a new friend's house not far from Montclair Village. There were almost more dogs than people at the gathering (we did not bring our cats).  Caught one of the dogs after his dive into some leftover guacamole - his nose gave him away.


The only fireworks we saw were on video - but from a whole new perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9KZ3jgbbmI