Calendar July

This is a lot closer to home.  It's the peeling bark on a madrone tree. Madrone trees are found in the foothills and they look like manzanita only bigger.  In the spring the bark peels like this, making some interesting patterns.  I walk past this one every day on my excersize hike.  I made a trail near my house that goes through a canyon with a creek at the bottom, Dry Creek.  This is a very steep trail down to the creek and it's equally  steep up the other side where I turn around and come back.  It's about a 1 1/4 mile trip.

Here is another shot that is not quite so close up.  This tree is only about 8" at the base but madrone trees can be up to 5' at the base and as much as 75' tall.

This is what it looks like right where I cross Dry Creek.  It is a nice place to walk except for the steepness but then that's why I do it.  Sometimes I see deer.  Often I see wild turkeys and in September 09 I saw a bear.

One of the fringe benefits of my trail is that when we are not traveling I still have opportunities to practice my craft.