Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to our favorite home improvement-er, sluggy! Never underestimate this limbless, eyeless entity, because she has been known to show up to work with an acid mark on her forehead from acid cleaning her deck. Here's to another 87 years, sluggy!
Showing posts with label banana slug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label banana slug. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2008
Happy Birthday to sluggy!
Friday, July 27, 2007
MPBSFA Day 2: Phleger Estate
Here we are at official Phleger Estate sign (left to right: Stillman, Freelance Midget, MonkeyPig, and Nonny Nu). It was a really fun day. The weather was just right, not too hot and not to cool. We saw a banana slug, and MonkeyPig and Freelance Midget poked it a bit. Before we knew it, we were already at the halfway mark. Of course, there was the usual antics, including taking pictures of each other as we took pictures and surreptitious photography.
Stillman and I showed MonkeyPig the landmarks, like the bridge where we took a group photo, and the graffiti rock. MonkeyPig had a bathroom break at Yoda's house, btw. Then, I had a failed attempt at using my timer to take a photo with MonkeyPig on a log. All in all, it was a very fun hike, except for Freelance Midget who suffered a bee sting to the head. Stillman was quick to produce a first aid kit, and I, being the documentarian that I am, saved the stinger for show and tell.
After that and because the dim sum place was too crowded, Freelance Midget, MonkeyPig, and I had a steamboat lunch (clockwise from upper left: enoki mushrooms, beef, lamb, fishballs, napa cabbage, udon noodles, taro, spicy fishcakes, spicy tofu; and clockwise from upper left: spinach, deep-fried gwais, bamboo shoots, more beef). What you do is you cook the food at the table using boiling hot broth. The spicy side of the soup was way too spicy, though, and we just didn't have strong enough taste buds to endure it. MP and FM had a good time. Some people like to cook as they go, but here's how I like to assemble my stuff.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Forgive me...!!
When I got up in the morning, I was super giddy because I had bought a new camouflage hiking outfit and I couldn't wait to see how well it would work. So, I donned my camou-wear and headed off to Buck's in Woodside* to have breakfast with Stillman, and then off to Purissima Creek Trail. Before setting off on the hike, we made double sure that we didn't have any contraband and took a refresher course on how not to be dumbasses. (Dudes, notice the posting above the one about the mushrooms. We are so in NorCal...)
We set off on the trail where we were met with a fresh-faced banana slug.** Soon, we came upon Purissima Creek proper. Sure, there were a lot of rocks of all shapes and sizes in the creek and, sure, rock crushes scissors in a game of RPS. But,
[deepthought]
in the game of Life, fern grows out of rock.
[/deepthought]
The trail was well-marked and bedecked with trees that were straight as arrows or of the Marianne genus. We continued along the creek and headed into the forest, and encountered a field of magical ferns.
Not to be outdone, members of the Halle genus popped up to say, "Hello!" We also saw some Salad and Orangina (two species that have been known to go well together).
[soothingly]
Shhhh...I know you have questions right now, but you really just worry too much. Sure, anyone in your situation would be wondering how to get a refund from the educational system that never introduced you to the scientific names of these beauties. But, hush...relax. Just enjoy your newfound knowledge. Trust me--I'm a doctor.
[/soothingly]
There was no shortage of (everyone's favorite) Yellow Faced Pink Lions. There were even a few Spotted Spunky Spamajamas. While it's easy to like the elusive Purple Palloja al Shanti Shanti, true camou-wearing sherpas know how to appreciate the rare Spikey Globe Bebop. At this point, our banana slug friend opted for an afternoon nap and Stillman decided to trek on.
Good thing, too, because we next sampled some vistas(!) and some more vistas (!). We then got into a more sunny area where we encountered my camou-competitor. There were also a lot of Jurassic sized plants (taller than Stillman), and the place was just ablaze with activity. Not just bees, butterflies as well. [Stillman: "Oh, look! It's a butterfly gang bang!]
Anywho, it wasn't a surprise that the bees and butterflies were out in droves to see the Purple Panic Punk Rock, and the Aloha Mello Yello. The Pom Pom Peabody were in season and, set next to the White Widow Walanda, the Redrum Redrum! was exquisite. With all these colors, my camou-wear worked like a charm.
* I had the Chorizo Scramble and Stillman had the Buckwheat Pancakes with eggs and bacon (and didn't offer me any of the bacon, just like she didn't offer me any additional blackberries).
** Does anyone know why banana slugs are always so clean, even though they spend all day rolling around in the dirt? Yeah, that isn't one of those questions that the asker knows the answer to.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Does a bear shit in the woods?This and other life changing questions answered on today's...Journeys with Nonny Nu.
Anyhow, as I was saying, oh, joyous day!! Stillman and I were graced with Mr. Nonny Nu's presence on Sunday when we visited Memorial Park. (I played sherpa to Mr. Nonny Nu.) I was very excited to go on this hike because I skipped last weekend (due to the recent No Hiking By Yourself Decree that was seconded by several readers *roll eyes*). I even printed out color packets of information, including a description of the hike and the map but there were no takers.
On that beautiful foggy morning, we set off on the Memorial Park Trail. It was inadvertantly apropos, since the park is dedicated to the veterans of WWI. We started off on a fire road, which was wide enough for all three of us.
We three stood at attention as the Banana Slugs Memorial Day Parade passed before us. (Okay, the previous sentence is most certainly true if you take into consideration Einstein's Theory of Relativity.) It was a dewey morning, so it's no wonder that we had a great turn out of banana slugs. Boy, was it dewey! Just look at all that dew! (Happy now, Stillman? SHEESH!)
It was a beautiful day, with much opportunity for contemplation. Soon, the fire road narrowed and the trail became sketchy. I thought, "Where's the trail?" So, I kept looking at the map and hike description to make sure we weren't lost. As we went deeper and deeper into the woods, we saw all sorts of stuff. We saw artsy fartsy trees, and Christmas trees. There were trees with vines running through them, and twisty trees. There was also a freaky tree that had like fifty branches coming out of it.
But, we didn't just see trees, we also saw flowers. There were ferns that I had never seen before. There were wild lilacs and white wild flowers. We saw a gigantic mushroom attached to a tree, and a lot of blackberry bushes. Stillman gave the go ahead, so I ate a blackberry.
I started hallucinating and thought that centipedes were crawling all over me.
Okay, I'm just kidding. The blackberry was delicious. As you can see, there were several blackberries available for consumption, but I was only offered ONE. That is why I laughed long and hard when Stillman got slimed by some mysterious foam that was all over the plants. But, then, my comeuppance was mercilessly handed to me when I got wacked with an errant thorn whip. Okay, so maybe that isn't the proper name of that plant, but that is in fact how it worked. Just look at how overgrown this trail is! Since I was wearing shorts, I ate it pretty bad. My leg was tingly all over, like the thorns had burrowed into my muscle and was squirming around. Dr. Stillman then administered some Claritin and told me to not scratch at it. It worked! Because after 48 hours of feeling like I was carrying a pissed off porcupine inside my leg, I'm all better now.
Soon enough, we started to ascend Mt. Ellen. Along the way, the trail widened and we passed some very Shire-looking panorama. Finally, we got to the top, and all we had to show for it was a wooden sign. So, we headed down the hill and back to our starting point.
I paid attention during the hike and I can tell you with 100% accuracy that, no, a bear does not shit in the woods. Well, at least this one didn't.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Day 2 -- I'm not paying for thatby MonkeyPig (guest blogger)
I went to the Everglades. By the times I got to Shark Valley, it was 2:30.
The bike rental place told me that it costs 6.50 / hr and if I return it after 4 pm, there will be a late charge. I was totally blanking out when he was yakking away about the late fees or the other option of tram 16$/adult....I politely declined and told him I'll run the trail instead. I'm not going to pay late fee and 6.50$/hr or pay 16$ when I have two legs. I figure, there's still 3 1/2 hr before the parking lot close, so I can do the 15 mile trail.
Off I went with my 4.84$+tax bag. There were water / a granola bar / some grapes / tomatoes / casava chips / camera and camera stand. Yes, it was a shoulder bag and some what difficult to manage when one is running. But, I'm not paying 20-30$ for a back pack.
It turned out to be a good decision. I got a good run and saw the most gators of all the visitor there that day. I got to see the flora and fawna (wow, English...sometimes the refugee briefly takes a back sit) up close. There were gators along sides - some 7-8 feet big, some teenage ones, and some baby gators. Many of the gators in the water on both sides of the trail. There two along the side of the trail. Man, do they move quick. I was glad that they were moving in the opposite direction and not not toward me.
Remember the Banana Slug, it took 3 hours to move 3 feet. The big slug that I saw at the Everglades moved fast. OK, I wasn't able to upload the movie. There was a 8-10 feet snake that moved from one side of the trail to the next.
There were lots of snapping turtle. Some of them were the size of a medium piza. I didn't know they can get that big. I saw a whole bunch of herons and some other birds. Made it out the park by 18:30...greeted by some gator poop. Actual size is about small burritto or big egg roll.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Phleger Estate
Today, Stillman took me to the Phleger Estate for a good long hike. Our hike actually consisted of a conglomeration of four trails: Crystal Springs Trail, Miramontes Trail, Raymundo Trail, and Mount Redondo Trail. Here's a map. The total hiking distance was about 7 miles. It was a pretty good work out because of the grade in the Raymundo and Mount Redondo portions of the hike. We parked in Huddart Park, which is not on the Phleger Estate, but that is where we entered Crystal Springs Trail.
As we discussed on the blog earlier this week, rain was predicted for Saturday and Sunday. I was concerned that that would throw a wrench into my hiking plans, but Stillman suggested that we get an early start, since rain was predicted for Saturday afternoon. So, I donned my old kicks, and I followed Stillman into Crystal Springs Trail. (See? I TOLD you she looks just like Elisabeth Shue.)
One of the first things we saw was a moss covered rock that was *gasp* vandalized. I was appalled and my blood began to boil. Good thing I ran into a kung fu master who advised me to quiet my emotions and enjoy the rest of the hike. "One shouldn't let a pair of fish eyes spoil the whole fish soup," she said. I thanked her and continued my hike. Soon, I came upon a lizard who flagged me down and asked me, "Nonny Nu, may I mumble dog face in the banana patch?" I graciously allowed him to do so. Besides, since I only had a small breakfast, I was too busy eating my mid-morning snack to argue with him. Stillman was otherwise occupied. She was trying out a new aerodynamic style of hiking, which made the trees' heads spin.
Anywhoo, we soon came to the Miramontes Trail, and the forest became darker because of the thick canopy overhead. I noticed quite a bit of poo here, which was quickly explained when the poo factory passsed us along the trail. Seriously, though, I love horses. They are like well-mannered, non-snobby cats. This part of the hike was shady and mossy, with trees strewn all over, and a lot of massive clovers. There was also a beautiful brook, a bit wider than the one we saw at Long Ridge last week.
As we progressed, we entered an area known as "chapparal" that had more sun because the trees weren't as large and the leaves didn't form much of a canopy overhead. There were a lot of smallish wild flowers in bloom, but the prettiest flower there was the wild iris. Soon, we were headed back toward the larger redwood trees with the canopy overhead.
Now, we were ready for the loop, which begins at the Raymundo Trail and continues through the Mt. Redondo trail. The grade was pretty steep here. There were switchbacks galore, and spots on the trail where you had to really look to find the next part of the trail. That was one aspect that was totally awesome about the trail! Here, the trail was a bit muddy, but the trees were gorgeous. Moss covered trees and rocks alike.
But, the coolest thing we saw was a pair of deer. Sorry, I couldn't get a clearer picture, but there are two right in the middle of this picture. We saw the same two deer again a little bit later. Check out their eyes reflecting the flash from my camera. At first, I could only see an all black photo on my camera viewscreen. It wasn't until I got home and enlarged the photo did I see their eyes and the outline of their heads. (Good thing I didn't delete that photo, Stillman!) All I could do was stand there in awe. It was at this time that the kung fu master reappeared and told me, "Good fish soup, eh?"
Last but not least, we saw the Earth Day Banana Slugs Parade.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Caution: Banana Slugs Are NOT Made Of Bananas.
For those of you not in the know, I have been trying to get a bit more healthy. Veggies have been scarce in my diet and, for a rabbit, that's a problem. So, I've taken up running, thanks to Coach Nelson who trains with me Tuesdays and Thursdays. But, on the weekends, I have to do a bit of something so that I don't fall all the way back to square one come the following Tuesday. (Coach Nelson gets grumpy if that happens, and I am worried that I will find Stubbie with piano wire around his little neck as a "warning." You know those Germans...)
So, anyhow, I've been running on the weekends, but this past weekend, I went for a hike instead with my good friend Stillman. I googled for hikes in my area and found a very good website. I clicked and read and read and clicked. Finally, I found one that looked like it would give me a good work out but wouldn't kill me. I decided on Long Ridge in San Mateo. It's 4.7 miles at an "easy" rating.
Of course, getting there was adventurous in and of itself. Yahoo! directions instructed me to take Big Basin (CA-9) all the way up to Skyline. So, I drove through little downtown Saratoga on Big Basin. Once I got into the residential area, the street signs unexpectedly began to read "Congress Springs" instead of "Big Basin Way." I doubled back and asked an old couple if I had gone the wrong way, but they said I had gone the right way and had doubled back the 6 miles for no good reason. GAH!
Finally, I arrived at the trailhead (which turns out to mean "the starting line"). Stillman, of course, was already there with her Giants cap and map--WITH NOTES. *rolls eyes* So, we hopped out of our cars and started hiking. It was like a lite version of The Shire. Cyclists instead of ring wraiths threatened to run us over. Early on, we spotted a banana slug. (It looks like a banana, but isn't made of bananas.) The trail narrows about a quarter way through, so I just had to follow behind Frodo Stillman. At the highest point, there is a nice stone bench where you can sit and admire the ocean--I totally didn't expect to see all the way to the ocean! The trail has spots of shade and sun, so it's a very good mix. In the sunny spots, there were a lot of wild flowers and trees in bloom. We even saw the California state flower. In the shady areas, the trees were covered with moss. It had just rained the day before so there was a nice little babbling brook to complete the picture.
As we headed back toward the trailhead, we spotted the same banana slug we saw coming into the trail. The poor dear had only moved around 3 feet in almost 3 hours. I asked Stillman if we could do a moderate hike next time, and she responded, "At this speed, we can do anything." Ha! That Stillman...
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