Preserve Park - Jan. 15, 2011

Walking Distance: .9 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 26 min. (12:59 - 1:25 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot, Preserve Park, Redwood Shores, Redwood City, CA

A few weeks of warm weather lulled me into thinking I'd become hardy, and immune to winter's chill. But, today it was blustery, cold and overcast, and I realized I'd just been spoiled by all the warm sun.

I walked briskly, with my hands in my pockets to keep warm, from the parking lot in Preserve Park, to the trail, and turned right. The two other walkers I saw were bundled up in hooded, down coats. It's definitely winter now. I walked across this fairly drab terrain along a paved (asphalt) path.

This whole area (including Preserve Park) was the result of recent re-grading and new construction that was not completed the last time I walked through this area two years ago. From what I can remember, the trail has been curtailed a bit (probably to wall off some habitat, perhaps to protect some endangered species like the California Clapper Rail and Salt Harvest Mouse), but the new paved trail is probably more accessible to bikes, wheelchairs, and other types of traffic.

I walked roughly in a loop -- out to trail, following the asphalt trail to the point/intersection where I left off last night. Instead of walking back on Bay Trail (same way I'd come); I walked on Public Access sidewalk then turned right, walked along Shearwater Parkway, past the front of Redwood Shores Elementary School, to Preserve Park, where my car was parked. I'm not sure whether The Bay Trail Map snapshot shown really reflects the current trail exactly, or whether this map was done before construction was completed.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 coots; 50 ducks; 3 great egrets, 7 snowy egrets; 2 turkey vultures; 5 sea gulls; 6 little brown jobs; 2 black-necked stilts; 1 crow.