Spending a few days on the east coast – Kure Beach, North Carolina. I walked along the beach after breakfast.

I visited Carolina Beach State Park after lunch and walked along the shore of Cape Fear River.

Carnivorous plants behind the Visitor Center.

There were just two of us in the Meetup group and we ended up doing an extended hike. We started at the Old Mission Dam and hiked up North Fortuna.

Next, we hiked down to Shepherd’s Pond.

And hiked part of the Rim Trail.

Before climbing South Fortuna via the Stairway to Heaven.

Flora and Fauna

The mature fruit of the wild cucumber is around 2” long. It is inedible, but indigenous people would grind dried seeds (some sources say roots) and use the powder to stun fish.

Today we braved the elements and hiked Mt Woodson from Lake Poway.

This morning I joined a Meetup group in Balboa Park for the Seven Bridges walk.

We walkes back by the Botanical Gardens – the restoration is progressing nicely. We we arrived back at the Organ Pavilion in time to catch part of the rehearsal for the 2:00 concert.

There was a snafu with yesterday’s event, so I went to the Chinese New Year Fair on my own today. This one was held in Chinatown.

The big dragon was used in the the parade and dance on the stage.

The smaller – stunt dragon – was just used on stage.

The youngest Lion dancers performed on stage.

But, the competition team performed on pedestals.

After dancing, the lions came to be fed!

Clairemont and Linda Vista residents saved Tecolote Canyon from becoming the site of a city dump in 1957. In the 60s they opposed plans for residential development. In 1969, they were joined by Kearny Mesa residents in petitioning the city council to approve the “San Diego Park District Procedural Ordinance” which became the open-space blueprint for the city of San Diego. In 1978 the city purchased the land to create the park.

We walked from the Nature Center to Genesee Avenue and back.

I took advantage of low tide and walked (and scrambled) along the shoreline. I started at False Point in La Jolla and headed north.

Even at low tide I was unable to walk the whole way on the beach – an outcropping of rock proved too difficult to scramble over. I walked to the next beach access point and continued north up the shoreline.

After a couple fruitless attempts to get around another outcropping of rocks, I turned back just south of Windandsea Beach.

After returning to False Point I walked south to Crystal Pier and back.

A friend from Meetup and I drove to Cleveland National Forest for a hike. It was drizzling when I left, misting when we met in La Mesa, and dry at the trailhead.

We hiked back towards the trailhead and took the fork to Eagle Peak.

We could see Mildred Waterfall from the trail.

Flora and fauna on the hike (and drive)

I spent the afternoon in Balboa Park with a Meetup group attending the Chinese New Year Festival.

The House of Public Relations International Cottages (a vestige of 1935 California Pacific International Exposition) consists of 32 “houses” representing different countries.

Stage performances ran throughout the day.

And, it wouldn’t be Chinese New Year without a Lion Dance

This morning my Meetup group took a walk along the boardwalk – starting near Belmont Park in Mission Beach and turning around at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.

Solo walk around the bay.

With a side trip to the ocean.

I spotted some familiar plants along the way.

And some birds

The recent rains caused a change in plans and we hiked along the San Diego River in Mission Trails Park.

Flora and fauna

Today I returned to Mission Trails Park to hike Oak Canyon and Springs Canyon. We passed by Old Mission Dam, over the river, and stopped at the old oak tree.

Then we headed up Oak Canyon.

We crossed over to Springs Canyon for the return trip.

Flora, fungi and a hawk

My first hike with this Meetup group was up Black Mountain mainly taking Ahwee Trail, Glider Port Trail, and Miner’s Ridge Loop trail. The recent rains left parts of the trail wet and muddy.

Flora and fungi along the trail.

One of my Meetup groups met for a Kumeyaay Ethnobotany Hike. We learned about native plants and how they were used by the indigenous Kumeyaay people.

Eucalyptus, Jade plant horehound, and Mexican Fan Palm are among the invasive species found here.

One section of the park has been restored to what it would have been like before the arrival of the Spanish.

Most of the native plants we saw were used for teas to treat problems like fertility, fever, indigestion, and constipation. Buckwheat was primarily used for food.

Chollas Lake is a reservoir created in 1901. They are recreating a typical riparian habitat along part of the shoreline.

In 1966 the lake became part of the Parks & Recreation department and is was designated a youth fishing lake in 1971.

A few Eucalyptus stumps have been turned into public art.

Campbell House was built by Amasa Campbell, in 1898.

For the Discovery Center’s Trail to Bay Challenge you complete three hikes and one clean-up. I did the clean up (posted Jan 15 ). Today is my first hike: Mother Miguel Mountain (1527 ft) in Chula Vista.

This morning I met a group at La Jolla Hermosa Park for a hike up Mount Soledad.

Mount Soledad Veteran Memorial

After snacks, we walked back down to the beach. We took the LaJolla Bike Path part of the way.

After a quick lunch I met a group at the library in Mission Valley for a Lion Dance performance to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

This morning I joined a Meetup group to hike in Mission Trails Park. We met at the dam and went up Oak Canyon.

We crossed over to Springs Canyon for our return.

The final leg of the hike was along Grasslands Crossing.

Today I met a buddy at Ellie Lane Trailhead for a hike up Iron Mountain. Traffic was horrible due to road work and we got a late start, but it was a nice hike.

We spent a few minutes at the summit enjoying the views – and the breeze.

We returned to the trailhead on Wild Horse Trail off of Iron Mountain Trail – shorter (.9 m) and easier.

Today I joined a Meetup group for a tour of La Jolla. Our first stop was the Famers Market.

Then we headed downtown.

We checked out views from the historic La Valencia Hotel.

Then we walked to the La Jolla Cave.

We didn’t visit the cave, but we joined the Coast Walk Trail and walked south almost to Pacific Beach.

We returned via the La Jolla Bike Path along the path of the trolley line that ran to downtown San Diego until 1940.