So far, I’ve only visited the inside and outside of the bay, meaning the ocean. There is a small mountain range between the Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean, and the quickest way to reach places like Half Moon Bay is through this range. A wide network of trails has been developed here, known as the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. You can reach more than 20 trails within 30 minutes by car from the city. Today, I want to walk one of them, the North Ridge Trail.
This is the trail map of the area. Close to the city means it gets crowded, so I recommend arriving a little early. Some nearby recreation areas get so crowded by midday on weekends that there’s no place to park. I arrived before 8 a.m. this day.Soon after starting my walk, I encountered a family of California Quails with their crests. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture the whole group in a photo.A chipmunk emerged from nearby. The one that looks most similar according to my research is the Sonoma Chipmunk, but its distribution range is said to be from the north side of the bay. So, what else could it be? After further searching, I believe it’s a California Chipmunk. However, when comparing photos, the Sonoma Chipmunk seems to fit better…Spotted Towhee. With its red eyes and strong color contrast, it’s unforgettable once you see it.The trail is pleasant, with no bugs swarming around. By the way, the Bay Area has no mosquitoes (amazing).I looked toward the sound of birdsong and saw a beautiful blue bird.Steller’s Jay. The deep blue is stunning. It doesn’t seem particularly rare; I saw about five of them during my round trip on the trail. There are types with different coloring further inland.This large squirrel here is the Western Gray Squirrel. Along with the chipmunk, it’s a type you don’t see in the city.I wonder if it can fit that in its mouth. It looks quite mouse-like when seen this way.The trail continues with views of the Pacific Ocean. Since I started from the top of the mountain this time, the return is going to be tough.
