Sausal Creek

Went for a walk Sat. Picked up the trail at the end of Bridgeview Drive in Oakland. My fav hiking stick, hazel and a Red deer drop, all the way from England via Ebay.

Nice wide path, some joggers, some dog walkers. I hadn't been on this trail before, I was pleased it wasn't more crowded.

Some nice views across the canyon.

After heading uphill a bit I found a trail down to Sausal Creek. Left at the post.

Good trail all the way down. I think 5 switchbacks, probably 90 or 100 nice long paces apart.

Once I got down I felt at home.

When I was 5 or 6 we moved to a house next to a large (to me) vacant lot, many trees, lots of brush. A creek ran past our back yard and cut thru the lot. I spent many hours wandering that lot and creek. That's when I started tuning creeks. I would shift the rocks at key points to get the sound I wanted. Maybe taking out the middles so the bass and treble had more separation, sometimes featuring one or the other, sometimes louder, sometimes softer. I still do it some times.

Catching crawdads, scrambling up and down the banks to no particular purpose,   idling,   listening,   seeing.  Still these places are special to me. I think most people favor the open hillside and grand view. To me those places can't compare with the pleasure of traipsing the creek bed. Judging which rock won't roll under my step, listening to the squirrels chatter, the birds in the brush. Sheltered from the sun by overhanging branches, the world seeming to be cut back to this close view. Alone, in such good company.