In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir I’m starting to really love the sound of my hiking shoes crunch on the crunchy ground.  It’s the sound of my passion. I took my dog, Maggy, today for a belated celebratory hike on the Stewartville Trail in Black Diamond Regional Park.  This trail seems to be one of those wide trails like the ones used for fire access and/or utilities vehicles, actually I think it’s for both.  Large gravel covers the trail and my steps are extra crunchy today. We hiked 1.5 miles in and then out up a slight grade, down, up then down again – my favorite kind of trail, rolling hills.  I told myself “just a quick afternoon jump 1 mile in and 1 mile out then get home for work.”  Yet as I take each turn I must see what’s beyond and it feels so good to be in the sun! “Just a little further!” I say to myself.  And that’s what I did. As I turn one corner I spot Mt. Diablo, the East Bay icon that guides any visitor coming in from the East letting them know you’ve arrived […]

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