§ A Short Walk Just to Get Away!

This week, it's been most of my waking hours being on the phone! Planning, getting our health insurance to work with me for the upcoming June [I will go into more detail later], house insurance, car insurance, and oh so much more ...all on the phone. It seems from the time my breakfast is over, I get on the phone, talk or use the company's phone menu to connect with someone, then, talk more, get transferred to another...put on hold, walk around or sit for minutes what seem like hours, waiting and listening to some gawd-awful music. One time, I played solitaire with real cards while my phone was put on speaker, and played an entire game before being connected with a 'human'. If I hear "Your call is important to us, please remain on the line" one more time I'll scream. But, I do believe I have only ONE more to deal with then I'm done!! So, I really haven't gone on many long walks. I did on Thursday, just to get out of the house and away...I did NOT take my cellphone with me on purpose! lol

I went to the Wetlands at Oso Bay...the area that has miles of trails.  The cool front that came through the night before was terrific...the temperature at mid-day was only 69° and the humidity was LOW!!!---10%. It was like living in Colorado again with such dry air. Anyway, I of course took photos. I'll share a few here with the third photo from the beginning the entrance to the park grounds.  Then...

I'll begin at the fountain across from the Learning Center-

From there I walked to the Learning Center and stepped around the Pond. The water lilies were just beginning to open, so I made a note to stop by on the way back to the car when done with my step count. I walked the trails to the observation tower. The trees were absolutely radiant, all over, with the new Spring lime-green foliage!! I met a fellow birder [seen in 2nd photo, in the series below, on trail ahead of me] along the way, and he told me what birds he had seen, only 3. And all common coastal year 'round residents...

Upon my return after tallying up a mile or two, it was beginning to feel too hot, so I headed back to the playground, sat under the shade of the trees at a park bench, watched the kids play a bit [a really cute girl [2 1/2 year old] was being read to at a nearby bench]. I walked back over to the fountain/waterfall [saw a dove and a cardinal making use of the crystal clear water]. Walked around the fountain boardwalk, took a few more photos [one is where I spotted a rabbit on the bench and thought it was a good one for the Easter Week coming up]. Then, back over to check one of my favorite photo op areas; the water lilies, before leaving for the day. A couple hours away from the phone and home refreshed me somewhat...

Notice the similar hair styles?

§ Loony Tunes? Or Just Me, Walking....

I arrived at the Holly Road and Paul Jones Road parking lot and equipped myself with my camera. I then began my walk in the early morning just after sunrise. It was overcast, and quite humid. I figured a good work-out, a vigorous walk, would be beneficial. I walked about 30 yards, and realized I was being "eaten alive". The blood-suckers came out from everywhere. I stopped in my tracks, and made an about-face. Once back to my car, I opened the trunk [they followed me!] and couldn't get the insect repellent out quickly enough....slapping my legs and arms as I began to spray. Spraying isn't  an efficient enough word to describe what I was doing. It was more like saturation! I even sprayed my hair to the point where it was dripping onto my shoulder. Okay...a bit better. I started over.

Once I made it to the small bridge, an older couple was heading back from their walk. The woman said "The mosquitoes are atrocious, and it gets worse. Even my OFF™ doesn't keep them away!" At the time, tho, they were not bothering me. I kept going at a fast pace. When I reached the cutoff to go to the bay water, another two women [they're birders, I meet them often] also warned me of the mosquito population ahead. My repellent seemed to be working for me. The pavement stopped soon, and then I was on the caliche trail. Scouting out the first fresh water pond, I had a little bugger buzzing near my ear...I swatted it away and continued on MY way, making it to the observation tower.

After there, I turned around to go another direction, to the Learning Center.  There, I checked the waterfall, the lily pond, and watched the Purple Martins busy in their condominiums [elevated bird houses] .  I took photos and then decided to take the back trail and head back to the car.  I was sweating profusely by now, since I stopped at the waterfall and pond, and those little flying, buzzing, nasties found me!  Slapping my legs and neck...I met up with three gentlemen, two young teens and an adult...the older man said, "The mosquitoes are out today!"  I mumbled something inaudible and continued.  Swatting, slapping, and smacking my flesh like I was an escaped lunatic from the funny farm.

I was flabberghasted at the white blossoms just above the waterfall as I was enjoying the soft sound of the trickling water cascading off the boulders and the pretty muted lavender blossoms of the Texas Sage bush [only blooms after rainfall]. The flowers were huge...seriously, the size of a dinner plate!! Upon a closer look through my camera lens, they looked similar to a hibiscus, but still NOT a hibiscus. A Mallow of some kind? Maybe! But not sure. Finally, after 5 miles of walking I reached the car, red bites, and itching... I drove home.  What a walk that was.  First thing after taking my walking shoes off, after reaching the little  haven called home...I jumped into the shower.  Ahhhh, Aveeno®!!  Thankfully, Bud didn't have to lock me up, I was no longer a prime candidate for the loony bin.

By the way, I've washed my hands so much during this pandemic, answers to a geometry test from 1964 are showing up in the palm of my hand which I wrote  to "ace the quiz"!

§ Oso Bay Wetlands

Finally it's October! One of my favorite months, if not THE favorite month for me. Of course, all because of Halloween. But, the weather begins to improve, and the rains are no longer as heavy and frequent. In other words the humidity starts to wane, and for that I'm very happy. A week or two ago, I took my early morning walk to Oso Bay Wetlands. I haven't been there recently, and I wanted to see the progress on the new fountain area they were building this Spring...

The Wetlands are literally filled with many many trails for adults and children alike. Near the fountain area, there is an educational facility used for school classrooms...a learning center. I'll show you the fountain area first...

There are benches and arbors for all ages to enjoy the sounds of the waterfall and with flowers and landscaping it will be a...yes, you guessed...a bird sanctuary, eventually! Then, off to the side of the fountain area, there is a playground patch with benches for juveniles...a real nice place.

Note: the one photo of the playground slide, enlarge it and you can see dozens of doves in the sky!!!!

Flowers are in bloom nearly year 'round, and always some kind of wildlife...




....trails with desert-like chaparral landscape and the bay and lakes that are dry during the dry months [or partially filled]...or brimming over the banks during the wet season like we've experienced this past month:






....this is Oso Bay Wetlands!!!!