Friday, April 25, 2025

Mount Diablo SP & Old Borges Ranch (Cellphone Photos)

On the 19th April 2025, my parents and I went for a day trip to Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA and Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA. I went to Mt. Diablo to see flowers. While there weren't too many flowers blooming, I did see some. We dropped by Old Borges Ranch on before heading home, and I saw a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae). I took photos with my cellphone. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Message from the Photographer: I went on a few day trips during this previous long weekend (Easter Weekend). My energy has been much less affected recently, however I think Long COVID has shifted into attacking something else. Recently, my brain has been having some issues with forming speech, along with some other weirdness.

Our first destination (our main destination) is Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA. We drove up to the peak via South Gate Road.

A photo of flowers, trees, and mountains. The photo was shot on South Gate Road in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus).

A photo of flowers, cars (right), Mt. Diablo Peak (top right), South Gate Road (right), trees, and mountains. The photo was shot in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus).

A photo of flowers, pinecones, South Gate Road (left), trees, and mountains. The photo was shot in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus) & Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus).

A photo of flowers, trees, mountains, South Gate Road (right), and Mt. Diablo Peak (behind the trees). The photo was shot in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus) & Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus).

A photo of flowers, trees, South Gate Road, mountains, cars (right), Mt. Diablo Peak (top right). The photo was shot in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus).

It was very smoggy that day so the view from the peak wasn't all that good. I didn't end up taking photos at the peak. We exited the park via North Gate Road in hopes of finding more flowers than we did on South Gate Road.

A scenery of a hill, flowers, trees (top left), and rocks (top right). The photo was shot on North Gate Road in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
The flower species in this photo include: Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus), California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus).

A photo of California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and rocks. The photo was shot on North Gate Road in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.

A photo of California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and rocks. The photo was shot on North Gate Road in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA.
Flower species also in this photo: Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) (top left).

Before we went home, we dropped by Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA to see the farm animals. I saw a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae).

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

A photo of a Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) at Old Borges Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP & Scott Creek Beach (Cellphone Photos)

On the 18th April 2025, my parents and I went for a day trip to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA and Scott Creek Beach in Santa Cruz County, CA. I had a great time seeing the giant Coast Redwood Trees (Sequoia sempervirens). While I did bring my mirrorless camera on this trip, I didn't end up using it as the scenes were super contrasted with no clouds in the sky that day (at least in Henry Cowell Redwoods SP, there were clouds at Scott Creek Beach). I took photos with my cellphone. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Message from the Photographer: I went on a few day trips during this previous long weekend (Easter Weekend). My energy has been much less affected recently, however I think Long COVID has shifted into attacking something else. Recently, my brain has been having some issues with forming speech, along with some other weirdness.

Our first stop (our main stop) is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA. It was quite warm in the redwood forest that day.

A scenery photo of Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), ferns, and Redwood Grove Loop Trail (right). The photo was shot in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A photo of an antique camera in the visitor center at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

My mom helped take a photo of me next to a Coast Redwood Tree (Sequoia sempervirens). The photo was shot on Redwood Grove Loop Trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

My mom helped take a photo of me next to a Coast Redwood Tree (Sequoia sempervirens). The photo was shot on Redwood Grove Loop Trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A photo shooting upwards from the forest floor showing multiple Coast Redwood Trees (Sequoia sempervirens), showing just how tall these trees are, and showing how thick the forest is. The photo was shot on Redwood Grove Loop Trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A photo of Redwood Grove Loop Trail (center), Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), people (center), and ferns. The photo was shot in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A photo of Redwood Grove Loop Trail (right), Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), people (right), and ferns. The photo was shot in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A photo of Redwood Grove Loop Trail (bottom center), Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), people (center), and ferns. The photo was shot in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.
I took this photo just to show off how tall these Coast Redwood Trees (Sequoia sempervirens) are.

A scenery photo of the Old Train Trestle Bridge, San Lorenzo River, and forest. The photo was shot on River Trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A scenery photo of Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), ferns, and River Trail (right). The photo was shot in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A scenery photo of Eagle Creek, rocks, Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), and ferns. The photo was shot at Cable Car Beach in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

A scenery photo of Eagle Creek, rocks, Coast Redwood Forest (Sequoia sempervirens), and ferns. The photo was shot at Cable Car Beach in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA.

Our last stop for the day was Scott Creek Beach in Santa Cruz County, CA. It was super cold by the beach, but I finally was able to see some clouds in the sky that day. While on the beach, an unexpected high wave came in and soaked my feet. Unfortunately for me, I was wearing hiking shoes that day.

A photo of a lagoon, wetlands, mountains, trees, cows (in the distance on the left), and clouds. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 1 (next to Scott Creek Beach) in Santa Cruz County, CA.

A scenery photo of Scott Creek Beach, Pacific Ocean (left), birds (in the distance in the center), State Route 1 (right), mountains (right), and clouds. The photo was shot in Santa Cruz County, CA.

A scenery photo of Scott Creek Beach, Pacific Ocean (right), rocks, Scott Creek Bridge (left), and clouds. The photo was shot in Santa Cruz County, CA.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.