I am happy to announce that weekendwalk.com has published a story about our Walk the Bay trip, written by local author, Geri Migielicz. The story is their lead story and features photos of the journey. Please take a look....and, feel free to rate the article. Weekendwalk.com is a great website and I encourage all avid walkers to sign up for their newsletter, post stories about your walking adventures and put weekendwalk.com on your bookmarks bar for inspiration. As the days get shorter and your time outdoors declines make a commitment to Walk the Bay in 2011. Check out the ideal walking dates on our website and let me know your preference so we can save room for you.
Geri Migielicz, author and photographer
I am happy to announce that weekendwalk.com has published a story about our Walk the Bay trip, written by local author, Geri Migielicz. The story is their lead story and features photos of the journey. Please take a look….and, feel free to rate the article.
Weekendwalk.com is a great website and I encourage all avid walkers to sign up for their newsletter, post stories about your walking adventures and put weekendwalk.com on your bookmarks bar for inspiration.
As the days get shorter and your time outdoors declines make a commitment to Walk the Bay in 2011. Check out the ideal walking dates on our website and let me know your preference so we can save room for you.
I was recently stuck near the San Francisco Airport waiting to pick up friends at the airport. I didn't hang out in a coffee shop. I went directly to the shoreline south of the airport, parked my car, and took off walking along the shoreline. The paved trail winds along the bay offering views of the airport to the north and the San Mateo Bridge to the south. The trail seemed endless as I strolled for about an hour and saw no end in sight. I decided to finally figure out how far I could walk, depending on how late a flight might be in the future. I discovered that the trail is part of the Bay Trail, a planned 500 mile hiking and biking trail around the entire San Francisco Bay. Over 290 miles have been completed. While wandering along the trail I spotted Marbled Godwits, American Avocets, Willets, and many gulls. As the winter migration season picks up steam, you are sure to see more shorebirds out in the wetlands. The Bay Trail website offers birding guides and a wealth of information about this amazing project. So, next time you find yourself in the congested, industrial area around the San Francisco Airport, head off any exit south of the airport, find yourself a parking spot, and head directly east. You'll spot this paved, marked trail and your worries will disappear.
View From San Francisco Bay Trail
I was recently stuck near the San Francisco Airport waiting to pick up friends at the airport. I didn’t hang out in a coffee shop. I went directly to the shoreline south of the airport, parked my car, and took off walking along the shoreline. The paved trail winds along the bay offering views of the airport to the north and the San Mateo Bridge to the south. The trail seemed endless as I strolled for about an hour and saw no end in sight. I decided to finally figure out how far I could walk, depending on how late a flight might be in the future. I discovered that the trail is part of the Bay Trail, a planned 500 mile hiking and biking trail around the entire San Francisco Bay. Over 290 miles have been completed.
While wandering along the trail I spotted Marbled Godwits, American Avocets, Willets, and many gulls. As the winter migration season picks up steam, you are sure to see more shorebirds out in the wetlands. The Bay Trail website offers birding guides and a wealth of information about this amazing project.
So, next time you find yourself in the congested, industrial area around the San Francisco Airport, head off any exit south of the airport, find yourself a parking spot, and head directly east. You’ll spot this paved, marked trail and your worries will disappear.
You may know that some of the most historic places to visit in California are the missions. There were 21 missions founded in the late 1700's and early 1800's throughout California. Three can be found in Monterey County and one is located in Santa Cruz. One of the interesting discoveries along our Walk The Bay route from Santa Cruz to Monterey was a series of wooden benches along the waterfront leading to Old Fisherman's Wharf. Each bench has the name and founding date of a California Mission. It's already a great walk with boats, people, sea lions, and otters to observe. Now, you can check out the benches and test your knowledge of California history. Another great reason to take a walk.....you never know what you'll find when you slow down and look around.
You may know that some of the most historic places to visit in California are the missions. There were 21 missions founded in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s throughout California. Three can be found in Monterey County and one is located in Santa Cruz.
Santa Clara Mission, founded 1777
One of the interesting discoveries along our Walk The Bay route from Santa Cruz to Monterey was a series of wooden benches along the waterfront leading to Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Each bench has the name and founding date of a California Mission.
It’s already a great walk with boats, people, sea lions, and otters to observe. Now, you can check out the benches and test your knowledge of California history.
Mission San Luis Obispo, founded 1772
Another great reason to take a walk…..you never know what you’ll find when you slow down and look around.
The dune habitat along the Monterey Bay is home to many unique species. One of the most mysterious is the black legless lizard. This creature is found only along the Monterey Bay dune habitat and nowhere else on earth. I was thrilled to finally see one on a recent walk along the Salinas River Wildlife Refuge (part of our Walk the Bay route). Why isn't the black legless lizard just a snake? These lizards are distinguishable from snakes because they have moveable eyelids (snakes do not have eyelids at all); and 2) they can detach the end of their tail. If you'd like to try to see a black legless lizard on your next walk around the Monterey Bay you may learn a few tricks by reading a very interesting article written by a student studying the black legless lizard.
Legless lizard examined near Martin Dunes
The dune habitat along the Monterey Bay is home to many unique species. One of the most mysterious is the black legless lizard. This creature is found only along the Monterey Bay dune habitat and nowhere else on earth. I was thrilled to finally see one on a recent walk along the Salinas River Wildlife Refuge (part of our Walk the Bay route).
Why isn’t the black legless lizard just a snake? These lizards are distinguishable from snakes because they have moveable eyelids (snakes do not have eyelids at all); and 2) they can detach the end of their tail.
The term "Self-Guided" is a relatively rare concept in the United States. However, it is one of the most popular vacation styles in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I have been on many self-guided hiking trips and love the experience. It's not that I'm anti-social or don't enjoy a group experience from time to time. It's just that in great wide-open spaces (like the Monterey Bay), it's nice to travel at your own pace, find your own way, and see the sights without too much narrative. Self-guided means that the tour operator (in this case, Slow Adventure) plans the itinerary, researches the trails, books the lodging, and organizes the trip. The walker pays one price that includes most every expense except dinners. The tour operator also arranges to have the hiker's luggage moved from inn to inn and makes sure appropriate breakfasts, snacks, and lunches are provided during the day. There is no guide walking beside you telling you what you are seeing or why it's important. You'll decide what interests you and where you want to stop. Self-guided walkers guide themselves using a complete trip dossier with custom maps, notes, and helpful advice. Your tour operator has walked the route many times and knows where you will find water, restrooms, and other facilities. Some mountainous routes require GPS skills and wilderness experience. Walk the Bay trips have no elevation. The primary guidance system is keeping the ocean on your right. The thrill of self navigation cannot be understated. Several of our Walk the Bay participants exclaimed after finding a lunch spot first..."This feels just like The Amazing Race." Walk the Bay is not truly 100% self-guided as I love surprising our walkers by showing up with a snack or a tip that "there are dolphins up ahead" or, just
The term “Self-Guided” is a relatively rare concept in the United States. However, it is one of the most popular vacation styles in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I have been on many self-guided hiking trips and love the experience. It’s not that I’m anti-social or don’t enjoy a group experience from time to time. It’s just that in great wide-open spaces (like the Monterey Bay), it’s nice to travel at your own pace, find your own way, and see the sights without too much narrative.
Custom Detailed Maps
Self-guided means that the tour operator (in this case, Slow Adventure) plans the itinerary, researches the trails, books the lodging, and organizes the trip. The walker pays one price that includes most every expense except dinners. The tour operator also arranges to have the hiker’s luggage moved from inn to inn and makes sure appropriate breakfasts, snacks, and lunches are provided during the day. There is no guide walking beside you telling you what you are seeing or why it’s important. You’ll decide what interests you and where you want to stop.
Self-guided walkers guide themselves using a complete trip dossier with custom maps, notes, and helpful advice. Your tour operator has walked the route many times and knows where you will find water, restrooms, and other facilities. Some mountainous routes require GPS skills and wilderness experience. Walk the Bay trips have no elevation. The primary guidance system is keeping the ocean on your right.
Lunch at Ft. Ord
The thrill of self navigation cannot be understated. Several of our Walk the Bay participants exclaimed after finding a lunch spot first…”This feels just like The Amazing Race.”
Walk the Bay is not truly 100% self-guided as I love surprising our walkers by showing up with a snack or a tip that “there are dolphins up ahead” or, just meeting them at the end of the day with a cold beverage. The Monterey Bay trip requires crossing two rivers that can be challenging early in the season. I arrange to meet the walkers at the river mouths and assist, if necessary, to assure a safe crossing. I realize this is not truly 100% self-guided….but, I just can’t resist sharing a bit of the fun.
