A couple of friends and I hiked the Clevenger Canyon South Trail this morning, which is between Escondido and Ramona just off Highway 78. (A few weeks ago I posted about the Clevenger Canyon North Trail which is slightly farther east from today’s hike.) One of the interesting features of the trail is the two metal chairs that have been cemented to the top of a large boulder, presenting a view westward down San Pasqual Valley.
Links: Clevenger Canyon North trail
This pic shows Highway 78 between Escondido and Ramona, as seen from the Clevenger Canyon North trail. A great hike with plenty of interesting rocks, nice views, and 1400-1600 feet of elevation gain for a good workout.
Links: previous related post
This pic shows the beautiful exterior of St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in Escondido. The Serbian community in North County San Diego traces its history to 1961, with this church building being consecrated in 1991. Services are held in Serbian and Church Slavonic. Too bad that the drought has apparently halted the operation of the fountain.
Links: SPSOC
Rhinos are a favorite attraction at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and they love to visit their favorite mud hole for a delightful mud bath.
This redwood barn at Daley Ranch in Escondido dates from the late 1800’s and was used in the filming of the Renegade tv episodes (starring Lorenzo Lamas).
Links: Daley Ranch previous related post
Escondido Creek begins in Bear Valley above Lake Wohlford and flows for 26 miles before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at the San Elijo Lagoon. This very beautiful and accessible view is from the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. The Escondido Creek Conservancy has helped preserve over 3,000 acres of this important watershed.
Links: EFRR Escondido Creek Conservancy previous related post
The Daley Ranch house was part of the 3,058 acre conservation area acquired in 1996 by the City of Escondido. This building was built in 1925 as a summer cottage for the Daley family who entertained here until the 1980’s. Ranger-led tours are offered on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 11am-2pm.
This impressive sculpture garden is the last major international work by the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle and consists of a maze entryway and nine large-scale sculptures enclosed within a circular “snake wall”. The garden is located within Kit Carson Park in Escondido and is generally open one Saturday per month from 9 AM-noon. A recent article in the New Yorker recounted her life and showcased her Tarot Garden in Tuscany.
Links: QCMC New Yorker article
One of the reasons we love the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is because of the lorikeets, which are so much fun to feed. All you have to do is purchase a couple of little cups full of nectar and then enter the lorikeet enclosure where the birds proceed to perch on your shoulders, arms, hands, head, etc. It’s become a birthday tradition for us.
The Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir is located within the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve and serves as an emergency water storage facility for San Diego County, to be used in the event of an earthquake or other disaster severing incoming water transportation lines. It was the first roller-compacted concrete dam built in California and was designed to remain fully functional during a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. Completed in 2003, the reservoir can hold 24,000 acre-feet of water.
Links: SDCWA Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve previous related post
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