The Bench, The food and The Rainbow

The hike today was so inspiring that I just had to write about it. To cut a long story short, I rediscovered my love for long hikes about ten days ago when I went with two college friends for a 10.5 mile hike after probably 15 years or more. The last long hike in my mind was Half Dome which was before my seventeen year old was born. That's not to say I didn't want to hike. Its just that I got into just running, then injuries and of course the children and not wanting to leave them for extended periods of time. Fortunately, I am at a point in time in life where my children want their time to themselves on weekend mornings, where my husband is either sleeping or playing cricket and where I am learning to enjoy my breaks as real breaks without letting myself getting stressed about todos and worrying about too many social engagements. Also, my injuries became an endless saga, the last of which was an eight month physical therapy period from December 2014 to August 2015 during which time, I made some changes to my workouts, weight and food. It also meant that I didn't want to regress so even though I will try running a bit once in a while, it is far from being my primary focus. So, when this friend (who took to running 5 or 6 years back) suggested a Mount Diablo hike with another of our college friends, I was like lets do it. 

I did make sure that I bought myself a new pair of hiking shoes before that first long hike. After all, I can't fit into the ones I had from fifteen years ago and shoes can make or break sometimes. Decided to go to REI and check with their expertise. Given that I have been using Hokas for running and love them for the past year or so, the person suggested I try the Hoka hiking pair. I just fell in love with them despite their sticker price being way above the next likeable pair. It turned out to be well worth it. What I found from my friends was that it is better to have hiking poles. I know my younger me would have pooh-poohed the idea but the more mature me is trying hard to comply. And boy, did those poles save my knees on the way down. So my resolve was to buy myself a pair of those before the next hike.

Having this December break is great and I was glad to be in town this time to be able to enjoy some time around (I even managed some spring cleaning in the house and garage). So, none of our other friends could join us and Bala and me decided we would do the Los Trancos Trail in Foothills Park. She had told me it would take about 4 hours. So I had mentally come prepared for it. We decided to get there by 8 around the time the park opens in winter. It has been unusually cold in the bay area and even though this morning was probably 32 versus 28 degrees Farenheit, it was of course freezing. Layering up was essential. Unlike on a run though when one warms up in the first few minutes and the recommendation is to dress for 10 degrees warmer than it should be, during a hike, one needs to layer up a bit more. However, I hate wearing a jacket and then having to lug it around for most of the time. So I try and layer up in dri-weave clothing. A headband and gloves were essential for the first part. The meadow where we parked and from where the trailhead is, was full of frost. The rays of the winter sun peaking through made for a wonderful start to the hike. 

And so we started all bundled up. I had new poles that I hadn't tested nor figured out how they fit. So I struggled through the first uphill, while fitting them. At some point, Bala realized what I was doing and pitched in. At that point, we realized I had dropped the bottom part of one of my poles. I was ready to just move on with one but Bala insisted that we go find the piece, saying these were new and we can go back. These were shiny blue ones so I knew it should be easy to spot. It did mean though that we were going downhill all the way and would have to reclimb the hills. Did spot it well before we hit the bottom again and then realized one of the poles was missing this black little piece that holds the bottom pieces in place. So having fixed one pole, we started back up and right around where we had stopped, I managed to spot the fallen black piece. Bala helped put that back and we were really off. 

There are times when going alone is fun to have time to oneself and there are days like this where having company is great when we could share and admire the beauty around us together while having a myriad of conversations. It is certainly not just time well spent but also great therapy with the beauty and serenity around us. Not running meant we could really admire all the flora in the environment, appreciate the fact that we had received enough rain that our surroundings were all green and we were able to see flowing water as well as listen to the water falls at some points, while taking in some breathtaking views. There were a number of different species of mushrooms along the way and I captured only a few. I am still fascinated by how well just a phone camera can take photos because I was so used to carrying my SLR on these long hikes.

Here are some pictures along the way:

One of the early views

The Dish seems not so high and far away at this point

The most powerful waterfall

Probably one of the most tranquil moments, hearing nothing else but the waterfall

So, one of the things that Bala and I had chatted about the previous night was about carrying food and water. We obviously had our own water bottles, and both being runners, used to carrying gu with us for energy. However, the previous night, Bala had said she would carry enough food for us both. I was wondering if we really needed food along the way and she had said that it would be really nice to sit up top on this bench and eat before we started our downhill. I was indifferent in the sense that it would be good to eat but I didn't care either way. So a little before we reached the top, when I had stopped to admire a view and take a picture, Bala again stated that I should just wait and see till we got to the top. She asked me a few times along the way about food and each time I was like no, I am fine. At which point, this whole thing of reaching the bench and eating there was great anticipation. "The Bench" as we were now referring to it periodically seemed to me one of those funny things. 

As we went along rather merrily, we realized we were just a fraction away from "The bench" which we spotted from the other side of the trail on the opening. 

Almost as soon as we reached there, Bala started unpacking the food which she had so carefully put together and carried from home.

Bala on the bench unpacking the food

As we sat down to eat and absorb our surroundings, we realized that we were facing the most wonderful rainbow across the sky right in front of us. The rainbow stayed long enough for us to take pictures of the rainbow and selfies with the rainbow, deciding that we should call it the halo around our heads. We also decided that it was a safe spot to take the selfie :)

The bench not only lived upto its hype, it was installed there by a loving husband in memory of his wife of 50 years, which is probably why it was so special. I told Bala that was the tastiest boiled potato I had ever had in my life and once rejuvenated, we started our downhill which was not just awesome for earning it, but also because it was inspiring to run into a senior couple, one of whom was easily at least 80 years old and who had walked uphill for 2 miles, and were picnicking on a log along the trail. 

Towards the end of the hike, I almost stepped on this little guy who was scared but stayed around long enough for us to take a couple of pictures.

Walking back to the car, stretching before getting in and then driving back, thinking about the rainbow, the bench, eating the food there and thinking of all the serene beauty around us all made for a wonderful last hike of 2015 for us. Here's to many more to come!