Hood Mountain

Hood Mountain rises from the Sonoma Valley to an altitude of 2,733 feet and I think it's the highest point in the Mayacamas Range which stretches the length of the valley. It's not that high but it's a strenuous hike to the top ( the peak on the left). The effort is rewarded on a clear day with  views of many Bay Area landmarks as well as the Pacific ocean from the  summit. We climbed up there with all three of our kids and our dogs in 2016. Here is John surveying the Sonoma Valley from Gunsight Rock.

Our days of climbing Hood Mountain are probably over, but we drive past it frequently. Several fires have burned up there but it is mostly bare, rocky volcanic rock so doesn't have the burned trees that are so visible elsewhere. This morning we were on our way to the Sonoma Valley Regional Park and a somewhat less strenuous hike with Spike above the brown pond. It looks gross, and we don't let Spike swim in it, but close inspection shows that the surface is covered with tiny brownish red plants but underneath appears to be clear water. The spring green grass has now turned a typical golden color which covers all the hills through the summer until the first rains in October or November. 

The plan was to stop at the Red Barn, a farm store with some really nice dried flower wreaths as well as good fresh produce. It is only open on Saturday and Wednesday evening and I never seem to think of it until Sunday. Today I was on a mission to get a wreath for the front porch but somehow we missed the not-very-obvious turnoff. It used to be marked by a huge uprooted tree with exposed roots and I don't see how we could have missed it, but we managed it. Instead we came home, contemplated clearing the birds' nest out of the umbrella but instead just sat in the sun reading the paper. It's been one of those weeks where every day has felt like Saturday until today, which actually is Saturday but somehow doesn't feel like it.

We're going to the neighbors' for dinner so I made a berry cobbler.