Windy Hill Hike & Haikus

Windy Hill Hike
Portola Valley, California
Sunday, August 24, 2008

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Preface: On Sunday, August 24, 2008, my friend drove to Alpine Road where we went on a hike at Windy Hill in Portola Valley. I had hiked here before on July 4, 1999 and posted my photos in Nature Walks. As someone who sits at the computer too much, I've tried to encourage others to go outdoors and commune with Nature more like Thoreau and John Muir. However, I've not followed my own advice, unless the Stanford Libraries are closed, forcing me to hike in the woods. Here are my photos and haikus of my latest Windy Hill hike. My first photos last week with a digital camera at Loch Lomond was with a Canon PowerShot A590IS. I set it to "Easy Mode" for beginners which had automatic focus and lighting without flash. This time I tried the "Auto Mode" with flash as the wooded areas of Windy Hill were not as bright as the lake shore of Loch Lomond.

Click on Photos for Enlarged Images

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:15 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Sign at entrance of Windy Hill Trail

Hiked here nine years ago—
What will I see this time?
May this walk be well!

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:17 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Bridge at entrance of Meadow Trail

Bay Tree at entrance
of wooden bridge— Sentinel
to the Meadow Trail.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:30 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Meadow Trail: California Live Oak

This V-shaped Live Oak
is a vessel bringing
blessings to this valley.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:33 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Meadow Trail: Giant Oak Archway

A giant oak archway
welcomes me forward
as white labrador passes by.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:50 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Hamms Gulch Trail: Bay Trees
with exposed roots in the creek

Roots of trees drink
creek water to nourish
its branches, leaves, and fruits.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 4:55 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Hamms Gulch Trail: Creek with rocks
with one looking like a giant tortoise

Tortoise in the stream?
Not the Galapagos giant
but a polished rock!

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:12 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Eagle Trail by Stone Bridge, Alpine Road

Pine cone on the branch—
a good prize for the winner
of the marathon.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:15 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Stone Bridge at Alpine Road

Right railing of Stone Bridge
fell five years ago—
old age overtakes us all.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:20 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Stone Bridge near Eagle Trail

"One" Tree towers high
to the sky pointing to stars—
our celestial home.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:28 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Stone Bridge at Alpine Road

Left railing of Stone Bridge
still standing, listening
to the babbling brooks.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:30 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Cluster of pine cones on Eagle Trail

Fourteen pine cones gathered
in a pile— Is this a dirge
or a sonnet song?

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:53 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Rocks in the creek of Eagle Trail

Serene pool of water
gurgling amidst rocks
near the highway road.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:55 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Rocks in the creek of Eagle Trail

Did Siddhartha sit
on a rock by the creek
like this for his satori?

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 5:57 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Sunset light on the Eagle Trail

The Y-Tree bends to
the light from sunset
as music babbles in the creek.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 6:23 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Eagle Trail Post, Alpine Road

Here's the trail head
leading to refreshment for
hikers looking for peace.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 6:25 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Eagle Trail Entrance Alpine Road

Refreshing hike on
the Eagle Trail— babbling
brooks and shady trees.

Sunday, August 24, 2008, 6:35 pm
Windy Hill Preserve, Portola Valley
Hamms Gulch Trail: Creek with rocks
with one looking like a giant tortoise

Tortoise Rock greets me
as I step gingerly on rocks
to cross this small stream.

— Peter Y. Chou, Mountain View, August 24, 2008