SMCP - Sanchez Adobe

A visit to the Sanchez Adobe was another San Mateo County Parks Foundation outing.  Today the adobe, which was built by Francisco Sanchez between 1842 and 1846 is a San Mateo County Park run by the San Mateo County History Association.





The site of the adobe was originally, the village of Pruristac, a settlement of the Ramaytush band of the Ohlone people.

 In 1786 the Spanish, Mission Dolores, in San Francisco, which had absorbed many of the Ohlone in the area, established  San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia, to promote missionary work and by farming to provide food for the main mission. The farming effort was soon abandoned, however, cattle ranching continued until the demise of the mission system in 1834.

The Mexican Government granted the land to Francisco Sanchez the 8th Alcade of San Francisco.

The adobe was purchased by Edward Kirkpatrick in 1871.  He did extensive remodeling. Later lives included a time as the Adobe House, a hotel, and as a speakeasy during the depression.







The museum on the site today, offers a view of items from throughout its history.  A new nature center was being planned when I visited and I believe it has now been opened.

It's a great place for an afternoon outing

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Sanchez Adobe - SMCHA

Sanchez Adobe - SMCP

Sanchez Adobe - Wikipedia

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SMCP-Edgewood

 Edgewood was probably the most visited of all the county parks.  It provided many a place to run and walk for exercise.

It has a great lawn for kids to play and shady tables to have a picnic.

 And it was Edgewood in 1992 that provided a venue for the Madden Family Reunion.

It offers a wealth of terrain types....trees, golden fields, magnificent wild flowers, deer, bunnies and the views!!!

Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve

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Madden Reunion - 1992

SMCP-Devil's Slide

We were invited to hike the new Devils Slide Trail as contributors to the San Mateo County Parks Foundation.....the first time we brought along a cranky granddaughter and finally left before seeing the entire trail.  Fortunately there was another tour and we got to the other end.  There was a gorgeous sunset that day!

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SMCP - Pillar Point Bluff

It was another great day with the San Mateo County Parks Foundation,  a beautiful January day, and Michele had arranged for Malia and Chris to lead this birding hike.  Malia is an expert for  ibirds, responsible for checking reported sightings for the area.  Also on the hike were rangers Rob Cala and Mark Schneider.  Rob Cala's huge camera lens captured some wonderful shots of the day.  Check the harrier and the heron below.



As we hiked the bluff, I realized I had been there once before, without realizing it, when we took our Bay to Bridge hike in 2014.

Harrier Land Brush - Rob Cala 2020 - Used with permission
Northern Harrier

Misty Pillar Point Harbor

Once you know where this park is, it is easy to get to and well worth the drive to get there.  It's a short hike to Mavericks Beach or in the other direction to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

Pillar Point Bluff County Park
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Magnificent Mushrooms
Fly Agaric

Heron - Rob Cala 2020 - Used with permission
Black Crowned Night Heron 

SMCP - Junipero Serra County Park

Another great day in a county park I hadn't visited before, thanks to the San Mateo County Parks Foundation.  Director, Michelle Beasley provided a great history lesson and good food.

Nature provided a surprise by dropping a tree across the planned hiking path, but the views were lovely anyway!!!






Junipero Serra County Park was established in 1956 on 108 acres that had been part of the Buri Buri Rancho. Although it is one of the smaller county parks, it is still possible to cobble together a couple mile hike.  It is easily accessible from Crystal Springs Road, just a short distance from Interstate 280,

Junipero Serra County Park
1801 Crystal Springs Rd.
San Bruno, CA 94066

CSP - Emerald Bay

1954

1956/ 1957

Growing up we visited Tahoe a few times, camping in the Emerald Bay area.  One learned to stay up on water skis quickly as the water was so cold.  Tahoe is over 6000 feet above sea level and 1645 feet deep.  It is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest in the United States.

Like most of the camping trips we took before leaving China Lake and Dad getting too busy to take them, I remember little about the trips to Tahoe.  But I believe the picture here with Maura would be when I was five....it looks very similar to my fifth birthday picture.  

I remember another trip, this one was in 1962 and Great Uncle Tom was visiting.  I'm pretty sure it was just a day trip, I can't imagine that we camped.

Although we visited Tahoe many times after I was married, we never did camp there, instead gravitating towards more remote spots in the state.

Emerald Bay State Park

Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks - In his book Roughing It  Mark Twain describes an effort to stake a claim on the shores of Tahoe.

Emerald Bay State Park - Wikipedia

CSP - Castle Crags

"From a distance, the granite spires and dome of Castle Crags......really do look like the sindly towers, buttresses, and ramparts of some time-weathered fort, rising out of dark pine and fir forest." Trail Posts

Castle Crags are over 170 million years old.  Rising over 6500 feet they tower above the Sacramento River Valley.

We camped near here, probably not within the boundaries of the park when the girls were young.  I remember Maura and William being there, but Maura does not, so perhaps we just discussed going back with them so William and Greg could do some rock climbing.

Greg and I stopped again on our way home from Portland, scoping it out as a possible place to meet Jess and family.  That plan never did materialize...guess everyone got busy.

It is a beautiful area, well worth a short detour off the road on the trip down Interstate 5.










Castle Crags State Park
Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks - The Battle of Castle Crags, Joaquin Miller 1894
Castle Crags - Wikipedia

Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge

Located right behind the Toyota dealer, Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge allows a wonderful walk while I wait!! 

"It was founded in 1974 as the first urban National Wildlife Refuge established in the United States, and it is dedicated to preserving and enhancing wildlife habitat, protecting migratory birds, protecting threatened and endangered species, and providing opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation and nature study for the surrounding communities." - Wikipedia





There are usually flocks of birds swooping here and there. 

Bair Island in Redwood City is just one part of the refuge other sites can be found going south around the bay to Fremont.

A number of events take place in Fremont. Details can be found on EventBrite

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• US Fish and Wildlife Service: Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge 
• Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Wikipedia