Sun 23 Sep 2018

West Highland Way: Rowardennan to Inverarnan (Day 3)

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks, Protecting the Pretty Places
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We had a rough start on our third day. First, the weather — which had been so bright and sunny the first 2 days — finally succumbed to its more typical forecast of drizzle, fog, and gray skies.  More problematic, though, were Rachel’s feet, which had succumbed to blisters.

Ben Lomond

We suffered through the first mile or so before finding a very scenic bench on which to assess feet and apply about five more layers of bandaids. Refortified by the bandaids and the view of Loch Lomond, we got back on the trail.

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Related posts:

  1. West Highland Way: Balmaha to Rowardennan (Day 2, part 2)
  2. West Highland Way: Drymen to Balmaha (Day 2, part 1)
  3. West Highland Way: Milngavie to Drymen (Day 1)
  4. Raining Trees

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Tue 11 Sep 2018

West Highland Way: Balmaha to Rowardennan (Day 2, part 2)

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks, Protecting the Pretty Places
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After lunch at the bottom of Conic Hill, we set off along the shore of Loch Lomond. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves and expecting an easy walk along the lake to our destination for the day: the Rowardennan Hotel.

And the first part of the afternoon was, in fact, easy walking. The trail hugged the lakeshore and even wandered directly onto the beach in places.

Feet by Loch Lomond

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Related posts:

  1. West Highland Way: Drymen to Balmaha (Day 2, part 1)
  2. West Highland Way: Milngavie to Drymen (Day 1)
  3. National Parks
  4. Where the water comes from: Sweeney Ridge

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Sat 1 Sep 2018

West Highland Way: Drymen to Balmaha (Day 2, part 1)

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks
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At the Braeside B&B we had our first of many “full Scottish” breakfasts. It’s a good thing we were walking 14 miles a day — it definitely justified our massive breakfasts!

Traditionally, a full Scottish breakfast includes fried eggs, a rasher of bacon, sausage, black pudding, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, toast, and of course, lots of tea. And sometimes you’ll also get porridge, fruit, or tattie scones (more on these scones later!). It’s quite the substantial meal! Fortunately for us, the good folks at Braeside let us preselect what we wanted included in our breakfast, making it a little more manageable for those of us accustomed to just toast or yoghurt in the morning.

Into the hills

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Related posts:

  1. West Highland Way: Balmaha to Rowardennan (Day 2, part 2)
  2. West Highland Way: Milngavie to Drymen (Day 1)
  3. A volcano that fell over (and cows): Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
  4. Seeking the end of the land: Tomales Point

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Tue 28 Aug 2018

West Highland Way: Milngavie to Drymen (Day 1)

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes
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A couple weeks ago we spent 7 days walking the West Highland Way in Scotland. At 8-18 miles each day,  the West Highland Way takes you 96 miles from just north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.

The West Highland Way starts in the town of Milngavie (pronounced Mill-guy), just north of Glasgow. We took the train up and had fun on the way trying to spot who else might be embarking on the same hike. At the Milngavie train station, we handed off our luggage to the baggage carriers who would be transporting it for us, and then with just our daypacks, we struck off to find the start of the trail.

Start of the West Highland Way at the Milngavie train station

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Related posts:

  1. Mt. Tam, around the peaks loop
  2. San Francisco Photo Tour
  3. Top of Mt. Tam: hiking is better than driving
  4. Raining Trees

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Sun 19 Jun 2016

Raining Trees

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes
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It was supposed to be a warm, sunny day.

We had slathered on the sunscreen and filled the Camelbaks up to capacity. The weather forecast said 68 and sunny throughout Marin.

But as we approached it, the bridge was wreathed in fog. And as we started up Mt. Tam to Pan Toll Ranger Station, the fog got thicker. And thicker. And then it started to drip rain in spurts. And the fog was so thick you could barely see 50 feet up the road.

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Related posts:

  1. Mt. Tam, around the peaks loop
  2. Top of Mt. Tam: hiking is better than driving
  3. Synchronized ducks, colorful dragonflies and not much water
  4. Sneak Peek: Fun trees on the coast!

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Tue 23 Feb 2016

Will walk for ice cream

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes
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Last weekend a little bit of summer snuck its way into February here in San Francisco. To take best advantage of the sun and the three-day weekend, we set a theme for ourselves: a long walk to a different neighborhood each day where we would get ice cream at one of the city’s many fancy ice cream shops.

We kicked things off on Saturday with a walk down to Dogpatch, a neighborhood just a bit south of the baseball stadium and very much in transition over the last few years. Dogpatch has been one of our favorite areas for longer weekend runs as it’s usually quiet on weekend mornings, plus there are nice views and breezes along the Bay and there are a bunch of cute restaurants and food shops. (more…)

Related posts:

  1. Urban hike: Folsom, Mission, ice cream
  2. Twin Peaks
  3. CityGirls Best of… 2012
  4. Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles: A walk down memory lane

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Wed 22 Jul 2015

Tennessee Valley to the beach

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks
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Sometimes you need a quick, easy hike with great views and an excuse to go to Sol Food for dinner. The Tennessee Valley trail has become our go-to for these situations.

We needed some time out of the city, but we didn’t have time for a full day hike, so we made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge and, after checking to make sure traffic on Hwy 1 wasn’t too horrible, wound our way through Marin neighborhoods to the Tennessee Valley trailhead.

IMG_1028

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Related posts:

  1. Back to the beach
  2. AM’s return to hills (and the ocean)
  3. Secret Beach and swimming in the lava pools
  4. CityGirls Best of… 2012

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Sun 12 Jul 2015

Trail run

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks
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First of all, yes, we know, we’ve been gone from the interwebs for far too long. Don’t worry, we’ve still been hiking. We just haven’t been so good about chronicling our hikes.

But we tried something new last weekend that we want to tell you about.

We did our first trail run.

That’s right, your CityGirls are now officially among those crazy people who go running on hiking trails. It all started when we decided to run a half marathon. Did we consider ourselves runners when we made this decision? no. Had we ever run a race before? well, AM has, but T-bell has not. Had we ever run more than 5 miles, much less 10 or 13? ummm…

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Related posts:

  1. Back to the beach
  2. Places we wanna hike: Arches National Park
  3. The call of the sea
  4. Where the water comes from: Sweeney Ridge

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Tue 29 Jul 2014

Hello, Nature

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks
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Took a stroll through the eucalyptus and pine scrub of the Presidio after work today.

Chancing upon a patch of sun-ripened, summer sweet blackberries is more than enough reward for the quick pace up the hill. The patch has been picked over in spots easy to reach from the trail. I’m not the only one who can’t resist berries right off the vine.

But if you know where to look behind the branches and under the leaves, there are ripe, juicy berries waiting still.

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Related posts:

  1. Steel, sun, & sea
  2. Sun and Scrambling: Castle Rock State Park
  3. Yosemite: Waterfalls in the snow
  4. Seeking the end of the land: Tomales Point

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Sun 1 Jun 2014

Sneak peek: Wood art

Posted by citygirlsgohiking under Hikes, National Parks
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wood-pattern

Check out the great artwork bark beetles did in this fallen log!

Stay tuned, and we’ll tell you all about our great hike down the Peninsula with the Woodswoman.

Related posts:

  1. Sneak Peek: Fun trees on the coast!
  2. Where the water comes from: Sweeney Ridge
  3. Russian Gulch State Park
  4. Back to the beach

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