Today I thought it would be a good idea to get some more exercise. My usual direction is Mt. Rubidoux. However, that is not an option as it is closed today so that the fireworks can be set up in an attempt to catch the hill on fire which is a yearly tradition. As for today, I headed to the Two Trees trailhead.
Upon my arrival, I took note of how hot it was. Additionally, no one else was parked at the trail head. it was close to 8:30 am and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. I finished my first liter of liquid and I got out of the truck and headed up the trail. There were birds singing and it seemed like a typical morning.
As I climbed up the trail it grew warmer. There was a nice breeze which helped. Just after 9 I stopped at Cassinia Springs and guzzled close to another liter. It was nice to stand in the shade, even if some of it was provided by an enemy – Poison Oak.
Poison Oak
It was getting warmer, probably over 90 degrees. I was still amazed at all the birds singing. As for the lizards there had been several out sunning themselves. There was also several bushes that had the bees buzzing. One is the California Buckwheat plant.
Bee on the California Buckwheat
I was keeping an eye out for the slithering type – snakes. Had not seen one so far. Just kept on going up the trail. Soon enough I reached the top and made my way to the shade and picnic area. I needed to check out the map of the area to see if there was really an Edison Trail. There is an Edison Trail, just not the “trail” we took on one of my last trips up Two Trees Trail. So the scouts were right, it was not a trail, just a path to get your socks full of fox-tails.
I made my way back to the upper trail head to find the Geocache How Many Trees? Oh, Two. I had to think what trees as I carefully used my hiking poles to explore cracks in the rocks for the hiding place of the cache. No reason to stick a hand in a hole in a rock in snake country. Of course, the only reptile by this cache was a fat lizzrd resting on a rock. Soon enough I found the cache and extracted it from it’s hiding spot. I signed the log and returned it to its resting spot.
Fat lizard sunning on a rock
The next cache in the area is Have A Drink On Me It required a little walking through the grass to a rock outcropping with some bushes around it. This one was easier to find and I quickly signed the log. I made my way back to the road across the dry grass on snake watch and much to my surprise I found a small plant with blue flowers hiding amongst the dry grass.
Blue flowers hiding in the dry grass
I made my way back down the trail to a bench I had passed on the way up. I sat down and relaxed for a few minutes before making my way back down the trail. It was a good day for a hike in the local mountains.
A place to relax on a warm day
As I made my way down the trail, I took time to look at things that I have not seen before. Perhaps it is that I am in better shape and can enjoy what is around me without thinking, how much further. Then again, it was 10:30 and close to 95 degrees out and the light breeze felt great. As I made my way down I saw this window in the rock.
Yellow flowers through a rock window
Soon enough I made it back to the spring for a short rest in the shade. There was someone there that was making their way up the trail taking a rest there as well. I was glad that I was not headed up the trail as the temperature was getting warmer, or should I say hotter. When I got close the the truck, the heat was down right hot. It was well over 95 degrees and probably lose to 100 degrees. I would think that the birds, bees and other animals were taking refuge in the shade by now as I was taking refuge in the cab of the truck with the air conditioning on full blast.
