Little old lady on a "little hike!"



  

 

I've never seen a sign like this before

 

On Saturday the temperature was hovering around 72 degrees and I decided I needed to get out and move. So, I thought, why not go to Quicksilver Park in Almaden? It's only about a 15 minute drive from my house and I found it with no problem.

And so my nature trek began.

First of all, I should mention that I did think to bring a water
bottle and have my daughter put sunscreen on my back and
exposed front.  I didn't think too much about wearing jeans and
a loose top.  I'm used to walking 3-4 miles on residential
streets, and I guess I thought the park trails wouldn't be much
different. I couldn't have been so wrong!


Senador Mine Plaque



 

Old Mine remnants





View of the Mountains

 When I got to the park, I asked how to do a 3-4 mile loop.  Armed with my park brochure, I started off. No problem.  When I got to a fork in the road, I was going to go on the Guadalupe 0.6 mile route, but decided I wasn't tired so I took the 1.8 mile route. I was then supposed to connect with Mine Hill Trail which would bring me back to my starting point. This would have resulted in me walking just over 4 miles.



I can see the valley below!

 But, I somehow found the wrong way on Mine Hill Trail and would soon find out that I was nowhere near my entrance.  I was getting tired and at 4:25p.m. I texted my husband, "Am I there yet?" He replied back, " Funny, where are you?"  It was after that exchange that I found a man on a bike with his two sons, one in a front seat and one in a back seat attachment.  I asked him where I was. To my dismay he told me I was near the highest point in the park and more than halfway through the park.

Now, that I've had time to properly read the map, I see that if you start on Mine Hill Trail you will cover the  width of the park and walk 6.5 miles.  That would be a nice hike!  But, I didn't start out on Mine Hill trail so I actually ended up walking closer to 8 miles by the time I got out of the park!

A Korean Software Engineer on a mountain bike actually helped me determine which park entrance I should hike toward. Both he and the first man on the bike told me I shouldn't go to the Hicks/Wood Road entrance, although it looked closer to me. 

So, I went for the Hacienda exit on Almaden Road.  The cell service sucks in this park. I was finally able to call my husband and arrange for him to pick me up there so that he could drive me back to my original starting point.

Guadelupe Reservoir



Had I done my original hike, It would have been perfect! The four miles is hard in places, but thankfully during the hike I found a bench and rested for about five minutes. I didn't know then that I would get completely off track. Perhaps, I should have stayed a bit longer and prayed!






The Blessed Bench!



View from the bench

  


Tired feet!















Another view of the reservoir



Even after my adventure, I have to say, I enjoyed most of the day. It's a beautiful park and very peaceful. I had brought my iPhone earplugs to listen to music, but I never once did. I instead listened to nature: the cracking of leaves beneath my feet, the wind blowing, and the water babbling.




Serpentine Rock

Besides enjoying the nature, I also learned a thing or two! I learned what Cinnabar is. It's a mercury sulfide mineral and the most important ore of mercury once used in the mining process. I also learned that the beautiful greenish rock is called Serpentine rock and it is the California state rock.

At about 5:35p.m. I exited the park exhausted, but thankful for the kindness of strangers. The Korean biker had actually started me in the right direction, but then came back later and escorted me out the last 2 or so miles. I have never walked 3 miles so fast. Before he came back to get me I was actually running!
Then I had to walk very briskly as he was riding his brakes the entire way to stay with me.


After my exit from the park, I needed to wait a few minutes for my husband to show up. I had told him the 3 miles would take me about an hour. But, I think I did it in 45 minutes!


I spotted a bench across the street from the park entrance and sat and waited. It was here that I saw a memorial for Pat Tillman.  That was very moving. So was the sunset as I got into Mitch's car.



This is how it looked as I exited the park

 I was so lucky to have been rescued before it got too dark in the park. I can't tell you the thoughts that were going through my head as I walked in a panic knowing that I was off course and the nearest exit was 3 miles away.  It's a scare I don't care to repeat.

I will go back to this park, but probably not alone!

I came home and rewarded myself with a margarita.  I was going to make it a double, after all, I had extended my initial hike of just over 4 miles to just around 8 miles, but decided against it. ! I got into bed a little after nine, and didn't even have the energy to read the newspaper.  My daughter brought me a bottled water and 3 ibuprofen.

I'm stiff and sore today, but thank God I have been working out a bit or I could feel worse!

I'm putting my Skecher's SHAPE -UPS away for awhile and resting this old body!

I see another Margarita on the horizon for today!

Sylvia



 



The little things do matter!

This week I've have been reminded that the little things really can make a big impact.

My daughter started a new job, and on her first day there was a goodie basket filled with a notepad, pens, and most importantly, chocolate!  A memo was also sent to all her coworkers introducing Jackie and telling a little about her background.  I'm sure neither of those things took too much time, but they sure did say "Welcome" in a very nice way.

My husband teaches from time to time, and while he hasn't gotten any apples, today he did receive via snail mail an actual "thank you" card.  It's so nice to see that people still take the time to find a card, write a nice note, and put it in the mailbox.

Little gestures go a long way in making you feel important. 

As a Mary Kay Consultant, I know I'm a little biased, but Mary Kay Ash had a great quote:

"Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this message when working with people."

So let us all remember that although technology has evolved, and we are living in the 21st century, it is still the time honored traditions that hold most value: a smile, a pat on the back for a job well done, a warm welcome, a sincere "thank you" and genuine appreciation.


Sylvia