Clearlake State Park

Clearlake State Park Entrance

I have found my new hiking/running place!  Today I stopped at Clearlake Park, which is just a 5 minute drive from my house, and is on the way to where my horses live.  I only explored a fraction of the trails.  Here are some pictures from my explorations.

California Buckeye.

 The California Buckeye looks like a tree festooned with Christmas decorations. It made me want to come through with gold and silver paint to color the balls.   At first, I thought they were galls, which are swellings filled with larvae.   But they are supposed to be there.  Evidently Native Americans used to grind the buckeyes into powder and then soak in running water for days to get the poisonous elements out.

Dorn Nature Trail

View of Clearlake

Hobbit Land!

Lizard in the sun.

In the channels and quiet sections of lake, there were thousands of tiny fingerling fish. Not sure what kind they were.  The lake is home to very healthy stocks of catfish and bass, so maybe young ones of those species?  They would swim, and suddenly a whole school would leap out of the water in successive waves, sounding like hard rain hitting the surface again. 

Marsh Channel

Mountain Mahogany

Closeup of Mountain Mahogany

Fire-color

Mt. Konocti from Clearlake Park

My House, From Clearlake Park

Closeup of My house...  You can just see the islands, to the left.  My house is behind them.

Skylight in the trees.

Squirrels and Woodpeckers are not friends. I watched as a pair of woodpeckers repeatedly strafed a grey squirrel, hopping through the trees. Down would come the woodpeckers and out would leap the squirrel, jumping from tree to tree to escape.  The woodpeckers did not give up.

Snag silhouetted on mountain

This wood path goes a long way. 

Ber and Gio are doing great. They are very happy at M-Square Farms.  I'm really enjoying working with them, because there is zero stress/anxiety.   They are back to being happy, responsive, respectful beings.  Phew.   I was seriously beginning to doubt my abilities as a horse-person.   The only one who really knows how bad it was is my brother Stuart, who saw them at their worst, unfortunately.  Ber rearing straight up, squealing and striking out with his front hooves.  They really were pushed to the edge of their ability to cope, I think.  Horses do not lie, and they do not make things up. What is, is.   So I have learned a huge lesson about listening to my horses!   They have thankfully recovered from the physical manifestations of their stress, and are, well, as healthy as horses!

Ber, ready to go. 

Ber, waiting for me..He turned around while I was snapping pictures.

Gio at the trailer, ready to go. She was reaching for something, hence her neck muscles bulging. 

Modelling new bridle and walking.

Alerting on the sheep next door.

I'll leave you with some pictures of "my" lake view, at dusk.    May you enjoy this last week of October.  :)

My islands at dusk.

Can you see the reflection of the Great Blue Heron, stalking frogs and fish?                                                                Look to the middle, then  just to the left and up a bit.