It's nine in the morning on the Fourth of July. I'm in my car, driving along Big Basin Way, just west of Saratoga, on my way to hike with friends in Pescadero Creek County Park (an idea inspired by a recent post on Two-Heel Drive). I'm feeling rather proud of myself for taking this route instead of the route suggested by Google Maps, which recommended driving up 280 to Palo Alto and then back down Highway 84, through La Honda, to reach the park.

My way is eight miles shorter and more scenic. I'm mentally patting myself on the back when I come upon an intersection without street signs.

"What street is this?" I ask the empty car. "Is this Skyline Boulevard?" The car remains silent. (In an ideal world, I would have said, "Computer, am I at Skyline Boulevard?" And my car would have said, in Majel Barrett's voice, "Working... affirmative.")

I frantically scan the intersection for clues, but nothing reveals itself. I check the odometer and do some fast math. I've been on Big Basin Way for more than six miles. The written directions resting on the passenger seat say I should be on it for more than seven.

I peek in my rearview mirror and see a car coming. I inhale deeply and make a right turn onto the mystery road.

The next six miles are agonizing. I pass mailboxes with only numbers on their sides. Every road I cross only has the name of that road. The suspense is killing me. Relief finally arrives when I see the sign for Alpine Road.

The next few miles are bliss. It doesn't matter that the road is no wider than a bike path in stretches or that my heart is in my mouth every time I pass a cyclist. All that matters is that I know where I am.

Soon, I reach the entrance of Memorial Park on Pescadero Road. Three of my fellow hikers are already there and tell me to park at the Hoffman Creek Trailhead on Wurr Road, a quarter-mile back. It's free and there are plenty of places to park.

We regroup at the trailhead. One member of our group hasn't arrived. He told us he would be late and not to wait for him. We wait a few minutes anyway before setting out. It's 10 when we start down the Old Haul Road Trail, a wide, shaded fire road. We pass a few unmarked junctions before turning left onto the Pomponio Trail.

We are barely on the trail for five minutes when we encounter two equestrians. While they pass, I take a photo of the creek running parallel with the trail.

I also photograph the sun shining through the trees that line the trail.

After a quick creek crossing, we arrive at Worley Flat, one of the few unshaded sections in the park.

We're admiring the view when B, our missing trailmate, comes sprinting into view. It had taken him all of five minutes to make up the distance it had taken us twenty minutes to cover, and he hadn't broken a sweat. I had no idea we had been moving so slow!

With everybody accounted for, we pick up the pace and soon cross Towne Creek using Granger Bridge. We continue along the Pomponio Trail, which now has the added designation of the Brook Trail Loop.

I had hoped to take the Brook Trail Loop towards the Bear Ridge Trail via the Towne Fire Road, but confusion and navigation-by-committee leads us to stay the course, which in this instance means continuing along the Pomponio Trail.

I quietly stew at the missed opportunity, but it's impossible to stew for more than a minute in such a setting. It's so peaceful and relaxing walking in the redwood forest. There isn't a breeze, but it feels cool here. While everywhere else in the Bay Area is brown and dry, this place is green and moist.

We soon reach a sign that brings a halt to my reverie.

While admiring the trees, I had forgotten the park is home to a county jail. I'm sure Pescadero Creek is perfectly safe (at least as safe as any park can be), but it would feel a lot safer if the prison wasn't present.

It's now just past noon and the majority decides it's time to turn around. We retrace our steps along the Pomponio Trail and take a turn at the Shaw Flat Trail.

After another creek crossing, the trail returns us to the Old Haul Road Trail. Across the way, I see a sign that says Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a mere seven miles away. One day, I'm going to try hiking from Portola Redwoods State Park to Waddell Beach.

We reach the cars shortly after one o'clock and decide to have lunch in Mountain View. We caravan through La Honda and take Highway 84 to 280. It's longer, but admittedly easier to drive than my route, so I may take it the next time I visit, but let's keep that between us. If Google Maps ever found out, it would just gloat.

Update: Two days after our visit, Tom Mangan at Two-Heel Drive revisited the park and published this great write-up on his site. He hiked the same trails we did, plus some. Now I'm inspired to make a second trip soon to see the spots he highlighted and more.