Smiles and Miles on Our Trips : LAST SIX DAYS AT MORGAN HILL THOUSAND TRAILS IN MORGAN HILL, CA (BIKE RIDES AROUND MORGAN HILL AND IN THE CAMPGROUND; & OUR LONG AWESOME BIKE RIDE ALONG COYOTE CREEK TRAIL) - Wednesday, October 18

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Today started out sunny at 55 degrees and would reach 91 degrees in the afternoon. This morning Mel went for a two hour, 17.8 mile bike ride around Morgan Hill (see the Garmin GPS screenshot below).

After lunch, I went for a bike ride from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. around the campground for about 4 miles (see the Garmin GPS screenshot below).

For dinner, we had grilled hamburgers.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Today was another sunny day with a temperature of 62 degrees that would reach a record-breaking 101 degrees.

In the morning, Mel drove into the Bike Center in Gilroy, California for a bike part. I stayed back at the camper to work on my blog. For the rest of the day, we just hung around the campsite. For dinner, we had rock fish and grilled potatoes, zucchini, onions and peppers.

Friday, October 20, 2023

Today started out cloudy at 57 degrees, but would soon turn sunny and reach 82 degrees. Mel rode his bike into Morgan Hill again today for 19.6 miles in a little over 2 hours (see the Garmin GPS screenshot below). I again worked on my blog.

For dinner, we had meatloaf and baked potatoes.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Once again another sunny day with temperatures ranging from 57 degrees to 80 degrees.

In the morning we did a couple loads of laundry. Then around 1:50 p.m., we drove into Morgan Hill to the Taco Bell for a late lunch (cravings box -- our favorite). We then went to Walmart for a few groceries. We got back to the campground around 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Today was a very cloudy and rainy day with temperatures ranging from 56 degrees to 69 degrees. We just stayed inside the camper most of the day.

Monday, October 23, 2023

The sun was back again today starting out at 61 degrees and reaching 76 degrees in the afternoon.

We loaded our bikes on the back of the truck and we took off at around 9:30 a.m. heading to the Coyote Creek Trail in the Morgan Hill area for a bike ride.

It was easily reached from the Cochrane Road exit off of US Hwy 101. We then passed the entrance to Coyote Estates (see below).

The Coyote Creek Trail stretches from Morgan Hill up to the southern extent of the San Francisco Bay and is one of the longest trails in San Jose.

The map (shown above) highlights the trail in red that we rode our bikes from the Anderson Lake Visitor Center at the lower right hand corner of the map to the Metcalf Road at the top left hand corner of the map. This is where we turned around and did our return trip -- for a total of 18.7 miles in just over 2 hours.

* * * * * * * * * *

We drove into the Anderson Lake County Park and parked the truck and unloaded our bikes.

We started the bike trail to the left of the visitor center.

The above storyboard told us about the park by welcoming us. The tinkling melody and lush greenery lures people to the creek. Walking under the shady canopy of trees with the creek trickling nearby immerses in the natural world, washing our everyday stresses downstream with the swirling leaves. The solitude and silence recharges our daily battery. A glimpse of a bird returning to the nest or a bobcat crossing the path enhances the moment. This shady, watery world is right in our own backyards. Yet, we are guests here. Birds and animals are busy living their lives along the creek bank.

And we are now off on our bike ride!

There are signs like the one shown above along the trail.

The above storyboard told us about how to be a good neighbor. While we may only visit creeks occasionally, many things we do in our daily lives are connected to them. The water we use to wash our cars and water our lawns and gardens flows back into the creeks through storm drains. Chemicals sprayed onto plants, leaking solvents, oils, gas from equipment, pet waste, and spilled coffee and sodas are washed into creeks through storm drains. These substances can harm plants and animals that live in the creek habitat, and even us. Everything that flows into a creek may end up in our drinking water. By picking up after our pets, maintaining cars, washes brushes in indoor sinks, disposing of oils and solvents properly, applying chemicals according to their labels and pouring only clean water into the gutters we can be good creek neighbors.

The storyboard above told us about getting to know the neighborhood. A turtle suns itself on a rock in the creek. Scrub jays rest before gathering acorns for the winter. A lizard scurries after a beetle. A track of claws announces coyote's passing. A great egret flies to its nest in the top of a tree. Walking along the creek we discover wildlife's neighborhood. Holes in the ground, nests in tree branches, bush piles, and every nook and cranny can be a wild animal's home. Animals compete with each other for berries, nuts, seeds, grasses, leaves and other animals to feed themselves and their young. The water that recharges our spirits refreshes their bodies. Wildlife use the unbroken creek corridor as a highway. Animals travel from mountains, through oak woodlands and grasslands, down to the saltwater bay and ocean shores. As they search for food and shelter, they safely pass houses, office buildings and factories, and go under road and freeway overpasses. In the dense vegetation, animals can be hard to see. Often, wildlife leave other signs such as tracks, animal droppings, feathers, nests, bones, and chewed plants as clues to their existence. While you're visiting, look for animals and their signs.

The above storyboard told us to be on the lookout for mountain lions on the bike trail. Mountain lions are important members of the natural community and have been seen in this park.

Next, we crossed our first bridge. The bridge was very soundly and charmingly constructed of iron and wood. The planks made a nice rumbling sound as bikes rolled across them.

The above storyboards told us about keeping our home green. As you duck your head gthrough the trees and bushes lining the creek bank, they become just a green wall in the background as you focus on the trickling water. For animals, birds and insects the plants are their homes. Creek plants provide food, cover and nesting places. Trees and bushes shade the creek, cooling the water for fish, frogs, turtles and insects. Unofficial trails remove plants from the creek banks and are the first domino in a tragic chain reaction. Bare ground allows dirt and rocks to slip easily into the creek bed. Dirty water is hard for fish and insects to breathe. Spawning and resting areas are buried. As a creek bank crumbles, trees and bushes topple into the water, removing animal homes and the shady canopy. The water warms. Aquatic animals and insects die off and basic links in the food chains disappear. Without plants along the creek to slow down and soak up the water, creeks flood and damage our towns and farms. If we mind our manners, stay on official trails and keep our dogs on leashes, we can keep the creek and the surrounding community safe and healthy.

Continuing on our bike ride, we were soon at the Walnut Rest Area.

We then arrived at the next bridge along the Coyote Creek Trail.

The bridge was over Coyote Creek, and was once again a very sound and charming bridge constructed of iron and wood. The planks again made a nice rumbling sound as our bikes rolled across them.

And not too long down the trail we came to the Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark, where we are told to watch out for hobbyists flying model airplanes.

The model airplane flying area ("Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark") next to Coyote Creek Trail

There were a few people flying their model airplanes as we rode by.

Next, we rode by the Ogier Ponds, which were kind of dried up (see below). The ponds are old mining pits, now used for public recreation and they support a wide variety of habitats and wildlife.

The Ogier Ponds is a quiet, birdy, freshwater haven located in Morgan Hill along the Coyote Creek Trail. It is the perfect spot to visit during fall and winter to look for wintering waterfowl, gulls, and sparrows.

Next on the trail, we came to the Eucalyptus Rest Area.

In a short while, we then rode by the Coyote Creek Golf Course.

After about another mile along the trail, we came to the Coyote Ranch. Coyote Ranch is nestled along Coyote Creek and presents a vintage countryside wedding or event venue just 15 minutes south of downtown San Jose, within the rural Coyote Valley.

The trail passed by Coyote Ranch, which is an historic ranch now used for corporate and group picnics and barbecues, with an old-fashioned country atmosphere.

Just past it, the trail crossed the Coyote Creek, and then it ran along a large pond before dipping down to cross the creek again.

Coyote Creek is shown above and below.

We did see a few blue heron here at Coyote Creek.

We crossed the Coyote Creek on Coyote Creek Trail in an area that's a little bit prone to flooding.

And then just before we crossed Metcalf Road, we could see the Metcalf Energy Center in the distance. Then as we turned around to head back, we saw the tamienne monument.

This is an interesting stone marker set into the ground that is known as the Tamienne Monument and is said to be at the geographical center of the Santa Clara Valley. It is engraved with “Santa Clara Valley” in both English and binary numbers (see above and below).

The Tamienne Monument, marking the geographical center of the Santa Clara Valley, was a slab of granite with "Santa Clara Valley" carved in both English and binary code, symbolizing the shift from the Valley’s agricultural past to its present identity as Silicon Valley and a center of the high-tech business world.

At this point, we then turned around and headed back.

The Coyote Creek Trail was just as pretty on the way back -- however we both were getting extremely tired butts from riding our bikes.

Above is a picture of the Coyote Creek Trail, with Highway 101 also in view.

We are now crossing under Highway 101 on Coyote Creek Trail.

And after about 9 miles, we were back where we started. We loaded the bikes back on the truck. We then headed back to the campground.

We did get to see some wildlife today -- we had seen some blue herons on Coyote Creek, and now we are seeing some wild turkeys as we are leaving (see above).