Hidden even as it flows right through the center of my town, the Arroyo Mocho drainage channel is like a stunningly vivid postcard tucked inside a book. Coming upon the channel in the spring is like coming upon the tucked-away postcard, a colorful surprise. Only, the channel’s better because it’s full of life.
I like to walk the Arroyo trail. In the summer when the creek bed is dry, the landscape seems almost aggressively parched. My dog, Lexi, only lasts about a mile, and I can’t really blame her. But right now, the channel is teeming with life and movement. The vegetation is lush and green and decorated with wildflowers that glow as bright as Christmas lights.
I walked the Arroyo Mocho trail Sunday morning. I wanted to share. (I also wanted to try out this slide show feature. Tell me if you like it, or if your computer has trouble with it. I’ll switch to a gallery if necessary.)
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Wild
Very Nice JCW!
Very pretty! I wouldn’t mind a walk there sometime. :o) Slideshow works well!
Rob, Thank you! Your photos inspire me to remember my camera.
Croondog, Come on over. :-) (And thank you!)
This is perfect! I’m so jealous. I wish I can just get myself lost, instead of being stuck inside my house doing homework….ugh. These pictures are amazing! I have to show these to my dad, since he’s the photographer in the family. Thanks for sharing this :)
By the way, is this channel running through Livermore or Pleasanton in these pictures?
Super! Great pictures! Beautiful and the slide show is working for me. Thank you.
It IS pretty!
I’m glad you take Lexie. Sad that a woman should have to worry about walking alone, but I now carry pepper spray (since I don’t have a dog.) Just be safe out there while you’re walking woman.
TZM
Eman, Thank you! I was definitely taking a mental health morning yesterday! These pics are all in Livermore. I’m not sure how long the channel is, but the trail is about 5 miles. I think it’s cool that it runs right through town, under streets, like a hidden treasure. ;-)
Terre, Yay! I was a little nervous that the slide show wouldn’t work. Thank you for letting me know.
TZM, You can come walk with me and Lexi anytime! (And yes, don’t even get me started on the unfairness of women having to think about their safety when they go for a walk.)
Beautiful shots Judy. I love the slideshow feature. I have used it on my blog. What a great place to walk, perfect for a mental health break.
Oh, J, these photos are stunning. I can certainly understand why you love to walk this alongside channel. Aside from the absolute beauty of the landscape, I am particularly moved by the physicality of the photos. I can feel myself stretching my body upwards when viewing the trees, whereas I actually caught myself scrunching my neck when viewing the shot that is under a bridge or overpass of some kind, as if I needed to duck my head to make it underneath. Similarly I can almost feel the breeze along the shady paths, hear the trickling water of the stream, and smell the fragrance of the wildflowers. Thank you for sharing your own secret garden.
beautiful pictures, j! the perfect virtual break for me today, especially since i’m not likely to get a real one – thank you.
and WOW! your description is amazing – even without the pictures. people from all over the world will want to see this trail now. bet you could sell your write-up to frommers. :-D
(slide show worked great on vista + firefox :-D)
I agree with jb, the description is just as vivid and enticing as the pictures.
LOVE the pictures. The bridge, the (stunning) tree lined path and the wildflowers (purples and pinks) were my favorite.
Looks like a delightful place to walk. AND, look, THE SUN! :)
Hi,
The slideshow worked great here. The photo of the stream with the stones then the round flat object. What is that. Last time I saw something like that someone was tapping water energy.
looks like a beautiful place to walk
the rushing water
and the luscious greenery
a field of lovely bloomings, buttercups perhaps
had me stop slong the way
thanks for taking me along
Thank you for the glorious visual and lovely discription. An oasis and an opportunity to take a virtual walk in beauty.
I agee with everything that JB, Hippie Chick and Sue said. You are one talented woman.
Mary, I never noticed the slide show feature before. I’m so happy it works for everyone.
Amy, I love your descriptions of the shots! I wish we could all walk it together. (Wouldn’t that be cool?)
jb, Yay! Thank you! I have a piece coming up for iwalkiwrite which I know you’ll love! Stay tuned.
Hippiechick, Those are my favorites too. GMTA.
Sue, the round flat object is a tree stump. But there could be shenanigans too!
LunaJune, I love your comments more than my posts!
Marsha, I didn’t see you there. We posted at the same time. I didn’t realize until you all responded how awesome it would be to share the experience. As close as we can get to walking together.
Wow.. simply amazing.. you brought that slideshow to life with your words… i do so love your blog m’dear :))))))))))))))))))
I wish I had something that beautiful where I live; I’d take walks more often.
I wish that we had a place like this where we could walk and be one with nature, rather than having to look over one’s shoulder for traffic.
Beautiful. (But be careful).
Corey, You’re not only hot, but you have great taste! <3
Tricia, It does make it easier to talk yourself into.
Ralph, There are no tigers. I checked. ;-)
Did I walk on that trail with you once? I swear I got this flashback of little Mr. “A. Ant” from when he was younger walking along where those tall skinny trees are. I like the photo of the Weeping Willow the best . . . is it a Willow? I know that Oregon is too cold and rainy for you, but you would looooove the walking and hiking paths (galore!) . . . and all the flowers. That is our consolation from the Heavens. I will have to take some photos of the little rainforest right around the corner from my house — there’s even a Cedar Bridge. Sadly, there isn’t a walking path — just a twisty road, which I drive on every day. You’ve inspired me (once again) to take some action (photos ;-)
I LOVED the slide show! I’m reading this after being on the interwebs for far too long. The beautiful pictures were like a vacation for my eyes from all the reading I’ve been doing. =]
It sounds funny, but there’s this tree on the corner that I like to stand under and just look up when I take my roommate’s dog out. It’s really pretty and for some reason something I think about when I want to relax. One day I’ll take a picture of what I see =]
Carey, Yes! We did walk a section of this! Good memory. Wish you were still here to walk it with me. I am SO struggling with the lack of sun this month. I clearly wouldn’t survive life in Oregon!
Yes, Tony! Take a picture! I love that you think of it when you want to relax. I think I need an image like that. I’ll find one and then we can share our images. ;-)
Beautiful. Love to walk alongside streams and shady trees. Your photographs remind me so much of a walk we sometimes take at a state reserve called Blue Sky. Lots of birds, lizards and sometimes snakes. Peaceful and inspiring.
These are the best pictures and description — so lovely and seemingly a perfect day.
My favorite picture was the one under the bridge/road thingy and the naked Lance was exquisite.
Such a wonderful post, your words do justice to the amazing photos!
But I guess that’s why you’re a writer, heh? ;)
Loved this! Hugs :)
Beautiful. Works fine on my MacBook. How fortunate you are to have such a beautiful walking path!
Louise, Now that you mention it, I didn’t see any lizards. I wonder if Lexi scared them into hiding.
Becky, It was cold, actually. Not by regular-people standards, but I had on a sweatshirt the whole time. So it was ALMOST perfect.
Estrella, Awww. *blush* Thank you!
Marsha, Thank you for letting me know that. I’ll play with the slide show more often!
Nice, really nice – more please!
Slideshow worked perfectly.
bnthotful, Awww. Thank you. That is why I love you!
SO pretty, J. My daughter “took me along” for an hour-long hike up and down a local mountain trail recently {on her cellphone} and the highlight was a rattlesnake. I much prefer your views. Thanks for sharing. {No problems viewing the slideshow on Vista/IE.}
WOW ~ a wonderful mix of beautiful pics and wonderful words. It looks a magnificent place to walk. Thank you for being our amazing guide
Dani, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t see more critters, though a rattler with Lexi would have been a dangerous combination. This is the beginning of my hiking season though – I’m a fair weather hiker and it’s rarely too hot for me. So… I’m sure I’ll be sharing more trails.
Simon, You’re welcome! Thank you for “coming with me.”
They have a vaccine for dogs now for rattlesnakes ~ a real “must have” here in Arizona. Both of my grandpuppies got it as my daughter’s previous dog was bitten by a rattler in their back yard. They also got them rattlesnake training when they were puppies, which I think is an aversion technique training, but still worth it here because the risk is so high.
I’ll ask my vet about the vaccine. I actually worry about Lexi when I take her into the hills. Thank you!