Ted's Hiking World Shell Ridge Open Space
Walnut Creek

April 2, 2024

For my first 'real' hike of the year I have joined up with a Sacramento-area hiking club for the first time, at the behest of one of its regular members.  We will be venturing westward over near Mount Diablo for a springtime loop that should include some nice flowers.

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Our two carloads prepare for the ordeal

Another few youngsters join us as well, for a total of 14.

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At one juncture, the city fathers had the option of developing this area or preserving it; they did the right thing.

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Getting started

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The poppy garden is undergoing serious maintenance

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Stay on the trail, or get barked at by a gardener

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Coastal Tidy Tips *
Kings Cup Buttercup

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The group photographer invariably trails the pack

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Menzies Fiddleneck *
Virginia Perpperweed

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Mouse Barley

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Many varieties of oak are present

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The trail junctions are well-marked

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Approaching an historic cattle ranch *
Entering in "stile"

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Borges Ranch

Established in 1903, this place is a treasure/time capsule — an introduction to life on a single-family cattle ranch in the late 1800s.  It currently serves as a ranger station/maintenance facility, and the local 4-H club maintains some goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens here.  The facility is accessible by car, but of course we don't care about that.

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Nifty door handle

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Green Streak Gasoline was produced by Shell Oil

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The outdoor classroom still is regularly used

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Calf-roping test area *
There are real eggs inside

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Lunch time

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The historic home looks interesting inside; but it can be accessed only when a docent is present for a special event, which is not today.  There is a nice garden in the front yard, however.

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Common Geranium *
Mexican Bush Sage

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Purple Sage *
Black Sage

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More plant varieties are found at the ranger's residence:

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Common Lilac *
Mealy Cup Sage

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Leaving the ranch

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Valley Oak *
Blue-eyed Grass

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Mount Diablo dominates the local landscape

It is about 75-degrees out now, which actually is quite warm when there is no shade and no breeze.

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Everyone opts for the 'high road' to the ridge top, despite the sun

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Walnut Creek look pretty good today

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Hairy Vetch *
Blue Dicks

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Miners Lettuce *
Cutleaf Geranium

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Looking north toward the Sacramento River Delta

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These were Pot Marigolds *
California Poppy

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More climbing to do

This is feeling a bit like a Sierra Club outing.  Despite my generally high regard for those participants, virtually no one else cares to "stop and smell the flowers"; therefore, I invariably am left behind, and nobody seems to care.  Today, at least, one of my trailmates hangs back as well, also to take pictures.

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Spiny Sowthistle *
Yarrow

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Some blue-blooded guy bumped his head on that log

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Purple Chinese Houses

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Purple Owl's Clover is a personal favorite

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Descending the ridge

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Alternative trailhead

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⇔

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Some of the namesake shells


§: Well, that was a very pleasant outing in an area that is best-suited for springtime visits.  I didn't use any names today, because I couldn't remember them all.  Also, inadequate handling of a camera glitch caused a number of worthwhile photos to be trashed.

I look forward to other outings with this group.  One more walk will qualify me for the email listing!

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Personality *
Flowers *

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