Hiked the Sneath Lane Trail to Sweeney Ridge and the Portola "Bay Discovery Site"--the spot where historians speculate that Gaspar de Portola and his expedition became the first Europeans to set eyes on San Francisco Bay, in late October/early November, 1769. The baby enjoyed the hike up (in his stroller) and even the descent (when his mother carried him in a baby carrier and made sure his head was protected from chilly gusts of wind, and even massaged his lower legs from time to time).
The hike was lovely. We saw several rabbits, what seemed like an entire herd of deer, and various smaller creatures; and the gently sloping, scrub-covered hills and gullies, as well as the views of San Pedro Reservoir, the Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco Bay, greatly added to the secluded, peaceful feeling of the place. And the trailhead is just a twenty-minute drive from our home. Due perhaps to the steepness of the ascent or the chill in the air, or both, few people were on the trail on this weekend afternoon. All in all, a terrific find for a family that will be doing a lot of short hikes in the coming years.
The plaque at the top commemorating the Portola Expedition's discovery of the Bay did not call up any particular emotions. What's curious is that the site has two plaques: the one for the Portola Expedition, and an even more elaborate one in memory of the person, Mcarthy I think his last name was, who worked hard to promote the installation of the first plaque. I don't think I've seen that at any other famous historical site: two plaques, one for the actual historical event, the other for the person who cared enough about that event to get a plaque installed. I wasn't particularly moved by the second plaque either; but the vistas at that spot are magnificent, and overall, the hike provided a nice change of pace for the two overtired adults and much more vibrant young person who visited the spot today.
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