Beware of cats!

 When feeding birds, they warn you to "keep the cats indoors"...

 However, there is a problem if...

the cats belong to the neighbors!

Cosumnes Preserve

Cosumnes=people of the salmon

Geese and sandhill cranes have very distinctive calls

Cosumnes Preserve is the perfect spot for winter bird watching in the Sacramento region:  geese, ducks, egrets, hawks, and even a few sandhill cranes.

How to avoid power lines (and falling)

We finally had our neighbor's Digger Pine trimmed by professionals to avoid death by pine cone bombs. It was truly amazing to watch the arborist climb and cut and drop branches with great precision. Click on picture to see more.

Oahu Grand Finale

From mauka to makai
After a quick hike to Moanalua to see remnants of development, seven bridges, and petroglyphs, we went up and up to the connected ridge trails: Pu'u O'hia, Manoa Cliff Trail, and Pa'uoa Flats Trail. We saw many great views and some native plants. Brief visit to Pearl Harbor. Click on picture and enjoy. Aloha!

Oahu Five O

Back to makai
Drove up the windward coast to North Shore. Visited Waimea Valley Garden, Shark's Cove, and Turtle Beach. Stopped in Hale'iwa for shaved ice.
Next day, we snorkeled at Haunama Bay---incredible! It was like the Disney World of aquariums. Visited Valley of Temples. Later snorkeled at Lanikai Beach until run-in with jelly fish parts. Click on picture for more.

Oahu 2.34

From makai (beach) to mauka (mountain)

We made our base in Kailua. After an extended kayaking trip to an island bird sanctuary and a practice snorkel on Lanikai Beach swimming with a turtle, we did a brief hike up the Makapu'u Trail.Our biggest hike was on the inter-connected Maunawili contour trails up and down the mountain. We were fortunate to join naturalist John Hall to guide us through the connections. Click on picture for more.

Oahu 1.0

Aloha from Oahu!

Our first few days were spent in urban Honolulu, Waikiki, and the wonderful Lyons Arboretum, Foster Botanical Garden, Zoo, and street scenes (another zoo?). We were fortunate to have an excellent photographer along to document our trails (thanks, Rachel)...more will be revealed as we move from makai (beach) to mauka (mountains). Just click on picture and enjoy.

Garden worms

Just a practice post using Picasa instead of Flickr, but I think the worm is migrating from the garden into my computer!

Lakes of Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness Lakes

Aloha Lake
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Water, water every where, and so close to Sacramento. A one and one-half hour drive to Echo Lake gets you access to the Desolation Wilderness. An eight mile+ hike provides opportunity to view at least six lakes...my mind was ready for more, but my knees weren't.

I love New York!

NYC
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

What's not to love? There is always something to do in NY, rain or shine: bicycling along the Hudson River and in Central Park; eating the best bagels and listening to Klezmer music; wandering through the lower East Side and other areas; hiking through Prospect Park and Brooklyn Botanical Garden; catching a Broadway show near Times Square and viewing an opera at the Met; checking out the MoMA and the Frick collection when it starts to rain.
Yes, four days of New York leads to tired feet and joints, but it was well worth it and the locals are friendly and seem to love where they live too.

Spring has sprung in California

Cascade Dell
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Who has to travel around the world to see beauty? We found plenty in Marin County on a hike through Cascade Dell...

Tongariro!

Pause for breath...
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

There were so many good pictures from our hike, so I decided to upload a bigger set to Flickr now that Nov. is here (you can add only 100MGB per month) . Click on the photo to see more. Once you get to Flickr, click on Tongariro set to get the pictures in sequence.

Wellington Public Library

Entrance to Library from Civic Plaza
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

For you bibliophiles, welcome to the Wellington Library...the entrance from the Civic Plaza leads you directly to coffee and assorted tables on the second floor, which overlooks the books below.
Walking in to the coffee bar, my first thought was that this must be a Borders! No wonder people were using the library---books were quite expensive (even in used book stores, trade-sized paberbacks were going for $18.).

Farewell Auckland, New Zealand

Farewell Auckland
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Oct 22: Time to fly home, but in morning we took a quick ferry to Devonport to get a good harbor view---Dwight also had to check out a used book store there.

We took a 3:00 pm flight from Auckland and arrived in LA at 6:25 am the same day!!! (we crossed the international date line). Now we're back in Sacto. and can decompress.

The trip was an excellent adventure and New Zealand has some wonderful sights.

Winding down to ChristChurch

Near Arthur's Pass
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Oct. 19: Long drive to Christchurch, with stop at Nelson Lakes for hike in beech forest. Only sandflies of the trip joined us for picnic lunch at the lake, so we ran back to the car.

Oct. 20: big 40th anniv day. All day train trip across the Alps, stopping at Moana for a nice lunch followed with a tour by the innkeepers. First sunny day of the trip, fantastic views from the train (generally regarded as one of the best in the world). Lamb dinner back in ChCh, a two-dessert dinner!

Oct. 21: Another sunny day in the faux-British atmosphere of the town. Strolled thru the lovely botanic gardens, then had high tea
at the nearby uber-British Mona Vale estate. Flew back to Auckland this evening.

Abel Tasman National Park in South Island

Swing Bridge on Abel Tasman Tramp
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Oct 17---Crossed to South Island on ferry. Made dolphin watch tour to Motuara Island sanctuary. Closest to any dolphin we came was a fur seal. Island had friendly South Island robins. We got rained out on way back to Picton. Rip-off.
Arrived at primitive hostel at Old Macdonald's farm in dark---very dark; we had to find our own shed in rain. We never did find the outdoor toilets!
Oct 18---were supposed to have all-day kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park, but we missed the boat. Instead we had a wonderful hike along the coast after being dropped off by water taxi for part of trail.

Wellington area

Wellington from top of cable car track
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Oct 14: Stopped at Mt. Bruce Bird Sanctuary to feed Kaka. Dinner at the Tin Hut, and sleep at Longwood House.
Oct. 15-16: Wellington and environs, a great city to visit. Karori Sanctuary was exceptional and home to shags, North Island Robins, and many Tui, fantails, bellbirds, saddlebacks,...Botanical gardens were hillish, with an orienteeringly unacceptable map. Lots of restaurants and museums, and the public library looked like Border's.

Tongariro Crossing

Middle ascent
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Tues. Oct 13: Winter conditions, got forced to join a guided group with iceaxes. Went off on our own after lunch to finish the Crossing. Whiteout conditions at the top (photos misleading, no point taking any until a few seconds of clearing). 12 mlles, 900 m. climb. Made it in 8 hrs.

Volcanic and geo-thermal areas near Rotorua

Champagne pool, Waiotapu
Originally uploaded by for the birds1

Oct. 11: Arrived in Waitomo to see glow-worm cave; Ruakuri Tunnel hike. On to Rotorua for Maori Hangi feast, complete with warrior dance and fine dining. Dwight served as honorary chief of our tourist tribe.

Oct. 12: Hiked Waimangu Volcanic valley and Wai-O-tapu with many geothermal features, including the amazing Champagne pool. Tomorrow is the big 11 mile Tongariro Crossing hike. We've been forced to hire a guide because of recent snow and ice. They'll supply ice axes and crampons. More pix to follow, if we survive.