Today I walked around Mission Bay and along a section of the boardwalk in Mission Beach. The Least Terns are still nesting on West Ski Island.

The marine layer hadn’t burned off over the ocean but there were lots of people celebrating Father’s Day.

Trick bike riders were out showing their moves.

Belmont Park was hosting a car show.

The parking lot at Sea World is home to a family of Osprey.

I went back to La Jolla this morning to view the last eight murals on walking tour. (Part 1)

Murals of La Jolla is a private organization that commissions artists to create art for display on public buildings in La Jolla. Some pieces are painted on the buildings, but the majority are printed on 16’ wide sheets of vinyl and installed in frames on the sites.

Information about the pieces is available here.

The Death of Petronius is installed at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in what is now the Ocean View Dining Room.

I also had time for a little sightseeing.

Today my Meetup group walked at the River Park between the San Diego River and SDSU’s new arena. This was the site of Qualcomm/Jack Murphy Stadium.

Most of us stayed after the hike for a sack lunch and a chat.

Today I met a Meetup group at the Visitor Center to hike the trails at the park. We walked by the memorial, then took the Bayside trail.

We popped into the lighthouse, then stopped for sack lunches at the Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook.

Then we took the newly opened Ocean Side Trail down to the tide pools.

Lots of the usual (Lemonade Berry, Buckwheat, Datura, Sage, California Broom and Wild Cucumber) plus a few unique plants.

I joined a Meetup group for an evening hike at the Torrey Pines State Park Extension.

Mostly buckwheat, Datura and other typical flowers tonight, plus a few wild cucumber.

This morning I hiked the Torrey Pines Marsh Trail. My plan for a Meetup hike was altered by a dead battery – I left the lights on. This hike has been on my bucket list, so I didn’t mind crossing it off.

Plus, you turn around at Torrey Pines State Beach, so what’s not to like?

Coming back on the same trail can give you a new perspective.

It’s getting close to rattlesnake season, so I kept my eyes peeled and caught sight of some lizards basking in the sun and was surprised to spot some crabs.

I saw some of the usual plants but a few new ones as well.

I did make to Balboa Park this evening for a walk with a Meetup group.

Today I joined a Meetup group to hike to Potato Chip Rock, going up a new route for me.

And coming down the fire across road.

Lots of flowers today, especially Chaparral Yucca.

Today after lunch I hiked from the Nature Center to Balboa Ave and back.

Lots of wildflowers and wildlife (especially fence lizards and hawks) today.

Today I joined a Meetup group to hike the Climber’s Loop at Mission Trails Park.

Two of us continued on along the river to the quarries..

Flora and Fauna

The hills are covered with buckwheat and sunflowers. We spotted a couple crayfish in the river and several fence lizards, plus a pair of hawks.

An enjoyable visit to Lake Murray – an easy walk, good conversation, sack lunches, and Brownie Brittle.

Today I walked around Mission Bay and along the boardwalk in Mission Beach.

There were lots of flowers out today, including some native plants.

Today I joined a Meetup group to hike the Climber’s Loop at Mission Trails Park.

Two of us continued on along the river to the quarries..

Flora and Fauna

The hills are covered with buckwheat and sunflowers. We spotted a couple crayfish in the river and several fence lizards, plus a pair of hawks.

Today I finished the Living Coast Discovery Center’s Trail to Bay Challenge (one cleanup and three hikes) with a hike at Otay Valley Regional Park.

After the hike I was awarded a pack with hiking supplies. Then I hiked over to San Diego Bay.

Wildflowers are blooming.

I signed up for the Sweetwater Safari Hike at the Discovery Center and ended up touring the facility and attending three presentations.

The live exhibits are primarily indigenous wildlife, but also animals from around the country that are not able to survive in the wild.

The first presentation was on eagles and hawks.

The Sweetwater Safari Hike was out to the bay with a guide. At one time the site was home to a factory that made gunpowder from kelp.

The second presentation was about barn owls.

The last presentation was sharks and rays.

I joined a Meetup group for my first visit to Miramar Lake. We took a nice walk and some of us brought lunches to enjoy by the lake.

There are still some wildflowers in bloom and I found some wild cucumbers.

Today our Meetup group joined a docent-led tour in downtown La Jolla.

Murals of La Jolla commissions work from artists around the world to be displayed on private property. While the majority are printed on vinyl that is then attached to existing aluminum frames, some are hand-painted, and one was printed and then applied like wallpaper.

To date they have commissioned 47 murals.

They list 16 sites in their brochure and we visited 8 of them.

The murals generally last from two to four years before they need to be replaced.

Information about them is available here.

I joined a Meetup group for a hike to Atoine Peak. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.

I started the day with a walk and “coffee” with the Frontrunners/Walkers in Kendall Yards (downtown Spokane).

I followed that with a Scuplture Walk starting on the WSU campus…

Going downtown and onto the Centennial Trail…

Into Riverfront Park…

Down to the river and back up to Monroe Street Bridge…

And back to Kendall Yards.

Information about the sculptures on the walk can be found here.

Another Meetup hike, this time near Mullan, ID. We met in Wallace then carpooled to the Stevens Lakes trailhead. The hike is pretty much up hill all the way to the lake.

The “excitement” of the first glimpses of snow didn’t last long.

It wore off pretty quickly once I was hiking through it.

It was well worth the effort, though. All seven of us made it to the lake.

After breakfast, I went on a walk with Woofy – my friend’s Bordoodle (Border Collie/Poodle).

Then I returned to Finch Arboretum for a tour with a Meetup group.

Although most of the plants and trees are sporting their spring best, today belonged to the rhododendrons.

Our path out of the park took us through the Peace Garden and by the old Willow tree.