Prelude to a Hike

I hadn't hiked since last December, when a few of us made a twelve-mile trek around Rancho San Antonio. Okay, it was only supposed to be ten miles, but a wrong turn and some backtracking can sure add up.

A day after that hike, I fell ill and spent a number of weeks recuperating. The prolonged idleness soon produced guilt, which eventually fostered a restlessness to be outside again.

Unable to wait any longer, I joined a group for a short five-mile hike through San Bruno Mountain State & County Park on Saturday. I wanted something moderate to see how my body reacted.

We were lucky the morning was cool and overcast. The treeless trail offered no shade. The hardest part of the hike came immediately. Reaching the first vista point required a long and steep climb. A beautiful view of model-sized San Francisco was the reward for our efforts.

The group made its way along the Ridge Trail and stopped for lunch shortly after noon. From where we stood, we could see everything from the peninsula to the bay. South of us, miniature planes took off from SFO. We stayed until the chilly air became too much to bear.

A few hours after the hike, I joined the rest of my family for our traditional Chinese New Year's dinner. Have you ever noticed how good everything tastes after exercising? The meal was exceptional.

Before calling it a night, I did a quick internal check. Everything felt fine, better than fine. With my worried mind eased, I let myself dream about Sunday's hike.