Autumn Hike

SUMMARY: Friday morning scenery, with dogs.

Not quite as stunning scenery as some of those Colorado blogger photos, but there is a lot going on here in San Jose, too.

Most weeks, I do Friday walkies with the Merle Girls and a friend who's battling cancer in various ways, including trying to live a healthier, more active life, and by laughing at what she's been through. (Her dog, Sparky, and my Remington went through cancer at the same time way back when.)

We usually hike along the Guadalupe River Trail above or below Lake Almaden, and then on to Los Alamitos Creek Trail. This week, we started at the lake.

Climbing plumbago--beautiful blue (although, yeah, invasive).

Somewhere along the way, Boost picked up a little blue flower on her left shoulder and carried it all 2.6 miles. Does that mean she's single?

The trail is level and paved and winds among civilization and nature.

The autumn flowers are finishing up, like this buckwheat.

And like this horridly invasive nonnative yellow thistle.

Some other kind of grass. Everything glowed in Friday morning's light.

There's always a way to practice 2o/2o contacts.

Spits and spots of autumn foliage along our trail.

And more dried vegetation with the creek running behind.

I think I take photos of the leaves of this kind of tree every autumn; such rich reds.

What lovely dogs you have, ma'am.