New Home for Luau Series

On a fine (but windy), spring day Maple and I set off to replant all the fine boxes that were donated for the Spring Luau. It took us almost 2 hours, but we went on several side walks looking for the perfect locations. Distance wise it was about a mile and a half, but note that we parked in two different areas while planting. Mileage and time will go up if you are just walking. :)

We started at the parking lot by the boat launch at Kennedy Park. Instead of heading north on the river trail towards Speedy, we headed south to take the loop around the public baseball fields. We found this fine tree with a nearby garbage can. The tree is too close to high tide, but under the can is a fine place to Relax in the Shade.

At the southern most part of the loop, just past the group of trees keeps your eyes out for a fallen log:

In it a Flirty Fish is hiding.

Continuing on the trail beyond Flirty Fish, is this grove of trees:
This is the tree you are looking for:
The looks like an octopus, which is fitting for this box.

When the paved path turns to the left you will see a social trail to your right. Go check it out, you might find some cool rocks like these:

There just might be a Laau li'ili'i uhane behind this lone rock waiting for you.

Finish off the loop and you can head towards to duck pond. At this point we hopped in the car, but you can walk if you wish. We headed past the duck pond towards the college baseball fields and found this grand tree.

Aloha Napa is on the west side of the base in dander.

We parked again by the duck pond- if you wish to keep walking you can, but our finish time doesn't account for that. :)

Heading east from the duck pond and up the hill, you will see this guard rail across the street from you:

Check out the east end and you just might find a Native Nene.

Back on the path you will see soon this building on your right:

On your left is this- is it two trees, or a tree and a bush? Find the center of the smaller tree and you will Hawaii Shaka at 45 degrees SE.

You will find this other large tree just east of the Shaka. On the South side of the tree there are trunks that grow along the ground the Tropical Torch is under dander alongside one of those trunks, next to an upright one. (Sorry I didn't get a picture of an exact location!)

Head to the golf course and find this island. (the island with the sign is behind the photographer)

Aloha Tiki is in the east side of the bush next to the tree.

For something to wear to this Luau you can find the next stamp also in the parking lot for the golf course.

Aloha shirt is in the cluster of rocks, under leaf litter and a smaller rock.

The final box in the series can be found by taking the path east from the golf course parking lot.
Drink up is at the base of the bush on the south east side.

I hope you enjoyed finding all the wonderful boxes that we had at the 2010 Spring Luau!!!
I'd just like to thank all those who donated boxes for the event/ this series.
You made the event what it was, and I thank you!!!

Queen for a Day

My first video clue- hopefully one day I will get it on the blog... Tonight it's not happening though.

Think Calistoga...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5zSu97cG6c

On a bird walk

Maple and I went on a walk today at the Bay Trail in American Canyon. The parking lot is on the corner of Wetlands Road and Eucalyptus Drive. It is a nice walk, 1.4 miles out and on a flat path. It was a bit windy, but we hoped that the birds would still be out.

We followed the trail and to out right we saw a water area with a few birds. Maple's attention was drawn to the paved section of the road. "Did you hear that?" She asked me. Of course I didn't hear her, I was busy counting the sections. I got up to nine until I ran into her. "See that pile of rocks between the 3rd and 4th post to the left of the path?" I nodded "I think there is something under there.

We continued on our walk and passed the trail marker that said .8 miles from trail head, .6 to River view. The water was to our left now, and a lovely ditch to our right. "Stilts!" Maple exclaimed. She really likes how they do a thing with their head. Just past the water there was post.I had to stop and fix my shoe, and something caught Maple's eye. "I think it might be a baby stilt!" she whispered. Of course we had to get a closer look, and there was something there!
Continuing on there was a cute jackrabbit on the path leading us to the Dr. Seuss trees.

They had giant prehistoric Aloe plants by them. In the plant right next to the trail we thought we heard some quacking. I checked it out and we found a literate bird! I'm guessing it's literate, it's the only one we found with a book.As we were nearing the glass beach we started talking about the trip that we took earlier in the summer to Alaska. We were lucky to see lots of different birds there that we had never seen before. We had just reached the end of the trail when I heard something. I looked out over this view:I swore I heard something in the clump of rocks pictured. I got closer, and under rocks and a piece of wood we found one of the birds we saw in Alaska! What a long way from home he was!We turned around and headed back to the car. It had been a wonderful bird walk.