Category / hikes

by princesshotflash

A New Trail

Beautiful morning

Got my cousin to take me hiking on a new trail, Mañana Ridge trail. We got an early start, with that comes prime parking, right new the trailhead. Trying to be quiet as it is in a residential area at the end of Komo Mai Drive in Pacific Palisades. Greeting us at the entrance are a brood of feral chickens, wanting us to head them.

We passed through the gates, up a paved section, no one around besides us. It was so peaceful. I think we passed 2 people coming down the trail. Must be neighborhood people doing their morning walk.

looking towards Waipahu

Once we got pass the trees, the view opens up. I was a really beautiful day and views were spectacular.

We reached our destination the picnic tables and took a pictures. I even got a picture of a human. haha.

The feral chickens greeted us on the way and even followed us to the car. A pretty pushing bunch. Wish I took a pictures of them. Next time.

by princesshotflash

Random things

Of what I’ve been doing lately.

Frogged (ripped out)

yarn from Japan

Started this cowl, found a mistake, got irritated, frogged.

Actually been frogging most things these days. Knitting isn’t making happy. After I bought all this beautiful yarn from Japan, I’ve decide to take a break to let my knitting.

Baking and Jamming

Cooler weather brings baking and jamming–banana chocolate chip bread, caramelized onion, carrots, and pepper quiche, custard pie, pickled veggies for salads, mixed berries jam, almond shortbread, and blueberry custard pie.

Sunset, Beer and Friends

Last minute sunset outing with friends.

Keep on hiking

Sights from my many hikes at Aiea Loop Trail. Maybe one day I’ll get others to another trail.

Sleepy cats

Orange and Ollie napping around the house. Ollie is usually up high, too hard to get a shot.

by princesshotflash

My First Trip . . .

on my own . . . to Japan.

I wanted to something that was a little hard, something different, something that I would remember well. So I decide to do hiking trip to Japan, that I would hike from temple to temple on an old pilgrimage trail.

Kumano Kodo is one of two pilgrimage trails that is UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other being Camino de Santiago, another hike that I’d like to do one day.

I decided on the tour because I’ve haven’t done this kind of distance by myself, I wanted someone else to do all the planning and the logistics and I wanted company. And I’m glad I did. Just the luggage transfer was worth going with the tour. But besides, that I got to joined a group of very fun and interesting group of 11, 5 from Melbourne, 2 from Sydney, 2 from Vancouver BC, and 2 from London. Our leader was from Tokyo and we had 3 local guides on our longer hikes.

I have posted pictures of this trip in several places. Here are my favorites of great vacation.

Day 1: Osaka to Koyasan

Day 2: Koyasan to Tanabe to Takahara

Day 3: Takahara to Tsugizakura to Yuomine Onsen

Day 4: Yunomine Onsen to Hongu to Yunomine Onsen

Day 5: Yunomine Onsen to Koguchi

Day 6: Koguchi to Nachi Taisha to Kii Kastuura

Day 7: Kii Katsuura to Shingu to Ise

Day 8: Ise

Now I’m hooked and I hope you can see why. Looking for another trip I do. Iceland is looking good at the moment.

by princesshotflash

Many Views of Aiea Loop Trail

I’ve hiked Aiea Loop Trail 4 times since the beginning of June. It’s become my training hike for my to Japan. It’s a beautiful hike with gradual ups and downs under the cover of the forest from the morning sun. It’s well traveled trail with trail runners, solo, pairs, groups, familes and very well behaved dogs. There’s strawberry guava and lilikoi to be found (not really hiding). I think a couple more times and then I’ll up my distance on a longer hillier hike. Anyone want to come?

Hike with T

With E uphill

On my own

With the Waipahu Crew