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Memorial Park (3rd Hike) Creek Trail & Pescadero Creek San Mateo County, California
Photos of Hike & Haikus |
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Preface: Stanford Green Library is closed on Sundays during Intersession (August 16-September 20),
so my friend took me hiking again. We went to San Mateo Memorial Park where the old-growth
redwood forests have been favorite camping grounds for generations. This popular park
has trails, campsites, group camps, a visitor center, and 499 acres to explore.
Acquired by the County in 1924, this is the system's oldest park. It is dedicated
to the San Mateo County servicemen who died in World War I. Last Sunday was my
second time here, and the walk along the Creek Trail with constant view of Pescadero
Creek was simply delightful. Today we began the hike at the Creek Trail under the
Wurr Road Bridge so we could complete the Creek Trail to its end. Some of the
Pescadero Creek reflections were clear as a mirror. After viewing Pescadero Creek
from Pomponio Falls Bridge on our last hike, this time we got to see the Bridge
from below. The hike took around five hours (1:27-6:17 pm).
(Bay Area Hiker;
Map)
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 1:27 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Wurr Road Bridge entrance Stone pump house on trail Old stone pump house on the narrow trail leads down to Pescadero Creek. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 1:37 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Dam by the Swimming Hole of Pescadero Creek This swimming hole is popular spot for children to splash and have fun. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 1:45 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Pescadero Creek in shade with sunlight on trail Creek and Trail side by side— Shade, sunlight, and shade dancing of Yin and Yang. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 1:57 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Wooden plank across the Pescadero Creek Ready to explore the dark side? Darth Vader is waiting for you now. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:13 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Four Redwoods— Camelot: "If Ever I Would Leave You" Lyrics, YouTube: Robert Goulet Not in spring-time, summer, winter or fall. Never could I leave you at all. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:22 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Giant Redwood with lance thrusting out that I anoint it as "Lancelot Tree" (Sir Lancelot, Round Table) Knight of King Arthur's Round Table— Lancelot is bravest of them all. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:30 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Rocks fill up the babbling Pescadero Creek Amphitheater is above this creek— these rocks have gathered for the play. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:40 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Sequoia Flat Trail: Three Redwoods that I anoint as "The Three Graces" from Botticelli's Primavera Three Redwoods greet me that I call "The Three Graces" from the Primavera | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:45 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Sequoia Trail: Goosepen Redwood with the Platonic Lambda shape This goosepen Redwood keeps chickens and ducks as well as spot for the soul. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:53 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Sequoia Trail: Peter entering tunnel of a giant Redwood tree Peter enters a tunnel through giant Redwood— can he fit inside it? | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:04 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Sequoia Trail: Dead Redwood stump with young huckleberry growing From the dead stump arises a young bush— the magic cycle of life. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:09 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Sequoia Flat Road: Shelf mushrooms growing on a dead redwood log Surrounded by sword ferns these shelf mushrooms grow on a dead redwood log. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:14 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Reflections of trees in Pescadero Creek This creek is a mirror. How clear are the trees— may my mind be like this! | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:20 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Five Zen-like rocks in the Pescadero Creek Five Zen-like rocks rest in the creek— look at them and your mind is at peace. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:30 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: View of Pomponio Falls Bridge from below the creek After crossing Pomponio Bridge twice— view from below the creek at last. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 3:36 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: View of creek bend below the Pomponio Falls Bridge Around the creek bend Mexican Feather Grass and reflections of trees. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 4:00 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Polyhedron Rock like Dürer's "Melencolia I" rendered in Peter Milton's "Interior V: Water Music" Polyhedron in creek that Melencolia's Angel would love to see. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 4:05 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Fallen Redwood log slants from trail to creek Fallen log on the trail reminds us that even long-lived Redwoods die. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 4:15 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Five rocks curve in Pescadero Creek Five rocks arranged in creek like a Zen garden to make our mind tranquil. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 4:39 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Sunlight shining in the dark creek shaded by trees Shaded creek is dark— that bright spot in water is the sun shining through. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 4:55 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Reflections of trees in Creek with fallen Redwood Clear creek waters reflect surrounding trees with fallen log by the shore. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 5:12 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Creek Trail: Giant tortoise shell rock in Pescadero Creek Smooth rock by the shore looks like a giant tortoise shell sleeping in the creek. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 5:22 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Homestead Trail Signpost: Less than a mile to the Ranger Station Completing the Creek Trail we return on Homestead Trail to the Ranger Station. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 5:40 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Homestead Trail: Tall Redwood reaching to sky for sunlight Redwood reaching higher to the sky for sunlight— May we aim high too! | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 5:45 pm Memorial Park, Homestead Trail: Exactly three hours later see another Goosepen Redwood with Platonic Lambda shape Another Goosepen Redwood reminds me of Plato's talk on the soul. | |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009, 6:15 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Ranger Station Entrance Stained glass art of wildlife Wildlife stained glass art— May we live in harmony and peace with everyone. | |
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