Hiked every day of June so far. On the first, Sadie & I just went up the Red Circle to Yellow and out to Chestnut to be picked up. On the second, we again went up the Red Circle to Green and headed West to the end on White. We took the Blue/White crossover and right on Blue to the Red Triangle and down to Mt Carmel Ave to be picked up.
June third we got a little adventurous. OK, don't blame Sadie. I don't think I'll take her over the head again OR that steep drop off Blue just before the quarry. We started out from the parking lot around the pavilion hill on Blue, crossed the bridge and up the steep climb to the rock ledge over Whitney Ave. Pat said Sadie just went down that steep drop but I had to coax her and carry her and almost fell with her. Then up the side of the quarry along with everyone else and their dogs. Very annoying. Down the other side was more peaceful and then left on the Tower Path to the tower. We took Blue back to the Red Triangle and went right. Down along the rocky stream where we took a left on Violet. That section of Violet is very tranquil in the setting sun. We went all the way down past the ruins to the rocks along the river, over the dam and back to the stairs along Mt Carmel Ave. Left on the park loop road and back to the van in 1:45.
On Saturday the 4th, Pat actually came with us. We started off of Chestnut on Green and I convinced her it wouldn't take long to go down the Yellow/Green crossover to Yellow and back. It didn't take long but she said that would be the last straying from our planned route. When we reached the Red Circle, she asked how far to the other Yellow/Green crossover. Of course I said "not far" but she knew and agreed. We got there in like 5 minutes and down to the Yellow. A brief stop at the lookout and then back home in just over an hour.
Sunday I did several chores around the house and Pat was working in her garden. So Sadie and I headed down the road to the Red Square. We took it up and over to Mansion, then back to the Horse Trail. The walk along the stone walls back there with the afternoon sun beaming through the trees was very enjoyable. I let Sadie stand in the stream while I sat on the bridge with the lowering sun bouncing off the water. We headed up the Red Circle and I helped a few guys figure out the best way back to the parking lot. We finished the Red Circle and got home in just over 2 hours.
Tonight we got a very late start. It was after 8 PM when we pulled into the parking lot and I parked at the start of the loop road on the left side. We headed up the Tower Path and got the rest of it that we hadn't done a few days earlier. Then we went down the Red Hexagon. I knew I was pushing it when I turned towards Tuttle but I wanted to touch the gate there to complete the Red Hexagon and start the Red Diamond. Even though it was getting quite dark, I let Sadie walk in the river and stand a drink for a moment. Then we headed back. The quarry was majestic in the final light of day but the next piece of the Red Diamond was very dark. I had the flashlight but refused to use it and soon we were out along the river and it was clear sailing back to the van. I had been afraid it might take an hour but we made it in exactly 50 minutes. A car was just pulling out and there was still one more left after us.
