Cutie, Handy, Chops, ease cautiously over the narrow strip of trail just above the washed out portion on Xterra Trail. At the base of this trail, we turn left toward Hidden Beach.
View of this open mouthed rock on Hidden Beach. We are just getting ready to turn left to go down into the valley for the start of the trail.
Of course the easiest way to conquer a slippery slope is to get down and do the traditional butt-walk. The drop-down to the valley is steep with loose rocks and leaves.
A foundation is at the base of the valley, with two drain pipes sticking out. We do not stop to investigate, as we are focused on today's mission.
After climbing over to the other side of the valley, the first portion of the trail is fairly easy, as the ground is flat and well marked. However, the recent rains are speeding the growth of trees and bushes, and we can see that soon the trail may be harder to follow. Handy walks into the thick woods and we have to follow closely.
Suddenly Handy discovers an egg on the ground. We have heard a chicken earlier and not sure if it is the origin of this egg.
Among the many ribbons of pink, orange, blue, white, and polka dots, we notice this ribbon several times and wonder what it means. The TP is usually followed by a number. Is it Telephone Pole, or Toilet Paper?
A giant crocodile in the ocean?
We arrive at the large gully, the site of our last misadventure. This time we follow the ribbons on the right side of the gully. Handy comes prepared with a rope for the steep drop into the gully. Chops is the first to try it.
Alas, the rope isn't quite long enough, Chops and Cutie practice their butt-walk. We find ourselves in familiar surroundings in the gully. We are feeling pretty happy that so far we have managed to follow the right trail.
With tree branches growing hither and tither all over the place, this boonie is getting thicker and tougher to deal with. Handy is all smiles, welcoming the challenge. Cutie has been leading the way and spotting the ribbons with her "Shopper's Eye". We encourage her to spot the ribbons with cries of "75% Off!", and "Buy One and Get One Free!" But as we follow a series of red ribbons deeper and deeper into the boonie, up and down slippery slopes, we are getting the feeling that we must be on the wrong trail again. We know we should be on higher grounds and flat trail toward the fence, but so far we are still deep in the gully with no end in sight. Since we are working on a time limit, we decide to turn around and call it a day.
Whoa! Sharp-eye Cutie calls out a warning that yonder is a hand grenade. We gingerly make our way to check it out. It looks like a U.S. model, still intact.
Handy grabs on the tree trunk to keep steady as we turn back on the slope into the gully again.
Butt-walking seems to be the norm today. Chops is at it again to negotiate the slope. We make our way back to the deep gully. On the way, CC gets caught in the bee nest and gets stung three times, two of which through her gloves. With her shrieking, jumping up and down, knocking her head on the tree branch, she provides quite a comic relief for everyone else.
This is a pile of trash in the first valley area. There are lots more trash scattered around. We are dismayed to see that whoever visited this area in the past did not show any respect for the environment.
A dramatic showing by Chops as we wait for her at the end of the hike.
CC's knuckle swells up by the bee sting.
Chops, Capt. Charlie, Cutie, and Handy prop down on the road at the end of the hike, refusing to move another muscle. But based on the smiles, we must have had a pretty hike. Never a group to give up so easily, we decide to find the trail again next Sunday. This time, we are going to start from the other end.
Despite our failure to find the trail, once again, we know exactly where we have gone astray. Next Sunday we will attack the challenge from a different angle. Watch for confirmation of our plan.
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