This morning Tony and I walked to our local market for food and supplies. I am not sure I can find my way back. He took one twisty route there and a different one back to the flat.

Hung, Drawn, and Quartered

Later we walked to the Poet Bar to meet Tony’s friend Mark. We passed Petticoat Lane Market and Spitalfield Market along the way.

Inside Poet Bar

Mark at the Poet

Another friend, Peter, joined us and we walked to the Market at Brick Lane. There was an eclectic mix of stuff for sale. Inside one area were lots of food vendors selling an international variety of meals from India, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, to name a few.

Crowds at market

Since the guys wanted to stop at a pub and I wanted to look around, we all got to do as we pleased. After walking around the area a bit, they headed to the pub and I went to Spitalfield Market.

Spitalfield Market

It is quite large and sprawls in this covered area. Did not buy anything, but had fun looking around. The only thing that tempted me at first look were some T Shirts, but they were 35 pounds each!

Near Brick Lane Market

It was the hottest day so far this year, so I walked along outside looking for bits of shade and enjoying all the interesting things to see. I am still amazed at the beauty that can be found in the oddest places.

Works of art on a door in East End

Many of the row houses are in beautiful shape and this neighborhood is quite nice. There are some spots that still need a bit of renovation.

East End housing is in many places being renovated.

Tony took me on a different route on the way home. People ride bikes around here…which is crazy because the roads are narrow and twisty. You can rent them at certain places, but I am not tempted to do that here. I guess you have to bring your own helmet, but most riders on the rentals didn’t wear any.

Bikes you can rent

We also saw this strange vehicle coming down the street twice now. They were pedaling and having a party too.

Cycling down the street
Who gets to steer?

Posed as they passed by

We walked out to dinner this evening. Not sure of my mileage, but it was around 6 miles or so again. Tomorrow I have planned a walking tour while Tony works.

We flew out of SFO to London on Friday evening and arrived late this afternoon. Amazingly gorgeous weather here today, so I took a walk around from the City of London to across the Tower Bridge and meandered around getting a bit lost. I knew once I got back to the Tower of London, I could easily find my way back to our flat.

Thames Walk

The City of London is an interesting mixture of the old and new. The streets twist and turn, with strange alleys and passageways, that it is quite easy to get turned around without realizing it.

The Gherkin behind some charming old buildings. Love the juxtaposition.

I ended up walking about six miles today. We leave for St Bees on July 8 to begin our trek. I plan to do some interesting hikes in London until then.

Recognize this from Harry Potter?

Tower Bridge for Thames Walk

Walking past the Tower of London toward the Tower Bridge

Yesterday I had a lovely ten mile hike with Evan up to the shady side of Bon Tempe. We encountered a rattlesnake along the path by the Meadow Club. Evan spotted him right away and we stepped back and had a water break while we waited for it to slither out of the pathway.

Evan right before we step on pathway with rattlesnake

Right now at the airport waiting for our flight to London. It is quite hot in Marin, but we saw the fog rolling down the hills of Marin Headlands as we began to cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.

Fog rolling in

Since Tony and I have been training for our long hike across England in July, we try to do a longer hike together on Saturday. We have been breaking in our hiking boots,  trying out our new hiking poles, and carrying our daypacks so that we will be prepared for our trek. This Sunday, however, was quite hot which is something we should not have to contend with in northern England….hopefully.

We started our hike on Lagunitas Street just a block up from St. John’s Church in Ross. Parking anywhere near Natalie Coffin Greene Park on a Saturday is a long wait. The dogs were at home because it was going to be too long and too hot for them to come along. I would take them for a short spin in our neighborhood later.

Hot day at PHoenix Lake

Once past Phoenix Lake we headed up Edridrige Grade to Lake view Road.

View from Eldridge Grade all the way to the East Bay. We did some climbing!

We went left at Lake Lagunitas and walked along the more shady side.

Lake Lagunitas and very blue skies

We stayed on the fire road instead of heading down the path to Lagunitas Dam. This road takes you to the beginning of the trail around the shady side of Bon Tempe. We were drinking lots of water as it was even hot in the shade.

Trail along the shady side of Bon Tempe

We crossed over the Bon Tempe Dam and headed down the hill to a small gravel parking area. There we took a left and saw a lovely view of hills and Alpine Lake. We took the next right which is a fire road that turns into a path. It skirts along the edge of the Meadow Club.

View below Bon Tempe Dam

Our trail ended at Sky Oaks Road near the Ranger’s Headquarters. We walked past the buildings and stopped to refill our water bottles at the spigot by the fence. Then we headed down the Taylor Trail. From the Taylor Trail we made a right on Concrete Pipe which took us to Five Corners.

Taylor Trail

It was a hot , but easy walk down Shaver Grade back to Phoenix Lake and down the road to our car. It was about 13.3 miles with 1, 460 foot climb for me and a bit longer for Tony as he strides ahead and then comes back.

Tony trying out his new poles on the shady part of Shaver Grade.

June 18  – Hiked up from Lagunitas Country Club through Natalie Coffin Greene Park. Went up Shaver Grade to Five Corners and took Concrete Pipe Fire Road. Went left on the Taylor Trail up the Sky Oaks Road.

Taylor Trail

Crossed Sky Oaks and took the path right out by the porta john.

Trail from Sky Oaks – no trail name posted.

At the fork I took a left and skirted the edge of the Meadow club following this path/roadway to the BonTempe Dam.

Meadow CLub

Below Bon Tempe Dam

Walked up the hill to the trail on the sunny side of Bon Tempe which took me back to Sky Oaks Road where I turned right and headed to Filter Plant Road.

Sunny Side of Bon Tempe

Filter Plant ends at Eldridge and we took Eldridge back down to Phoenix Lake on our right following the fire road to back to Natalie Coffin Greene Park.

Filter Plant Road

Over 10 miles for June 18.

June 16 – Hiked with Linda up Fish Grade to Lake Lagunitas. We hiked around the Lake and came back down on Eldridge. Beautiful day and my body felt okay after doing the Dipsea.

June 15, 2013 Martha Giblas 2013 Dipsea Trek – 7.4 miles with a climb of 2,000 + feet.

Climbing up Dynamite – root stairs in places

For about 30 years my friend Martha has inspired her friends to hike from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach for her birthday. We start at the Depot in Mill Valley and walk over to Old Mill Park. Then it is a bun-burning climb up three flights of stairs for a total of 672 steps, as tall as a 50 story building. After climbing some more, we headed down into Muir Woods across Redwood Creek. This begins a hard climb up Dynamite and Cardiac through gorgeous woodlands.

Water Fountain at top of Cardiac Hill

     Over the years we have picked a spot after we crest Cardiac to take our water and chocolate break. Imagine our surprise to see a beautiful water fountain standing in our favorite rest stop.

Martha and Salvador wearing previous year’s Dipsea Trek shirts

We met up with others from the party and they passed on by heading towards Steep Ravine and Stinson Beach at a much quicker pace. Tony also passed by us on his way from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley. Earlier he had dropped us off in Mill Valley and then drove to Stinson Beach where he was going to start his hike to Mill Valley and then back again!

On the trail before our descent into Steep Ravine.

We had cool temps with the fog drifting through spots and sunshine warming us too.

Steep Ravine before it gets treacherous.

Steep Ravine is cool, lush, very green and often damp. However, it is also a very steep descent which made me glad I was using my hiking poles.

View of Pacific with fog still along the coast

Once out of Steep Ravine you climb up a bit and then you can see the Pacific Ocean!

As Tony, my husband, has often said, “Just one more hill!”

Once I can see the Pacific I know that I have it made, but the trail still goes on for longer than it looks. Although Insult Hill is still ahead, the birthday party with good food and friends awaits.

Rochelle on the trail

Down hill through another magical path of greenery before you hit Highway 1 and Stinson Beach.

Met up with my friend, Paula, who had hiked up from the beach. It was a nice walk down into Stinson Beach where the birthday girl had already arrived.

The birthday girl (wearing her Martha Giblas Dipsea Trek 2013 T Shirt) and friends at Stinson Beach

Good food, old and new friends, my decadent S’More Bars were all waiting for me at Stinson Beach Park.

For more info about doing this hike yourself go to:

http://www.dipsea.org/course.html