Brandy's Adventures

We planned to go to Sycamore Creek via Stoneridge Trail and turn around at the bridge on Old Coach Trail. But, the day was beautiful and we thought we’d try to find the north end of the Old Coach Trail as we had previously gone just a short distance past the bridge.

The Poway Trails Guide showed Old Coach Trail meeting Highland Valley Road but I couldn’t determine that by using Google Earth. We followed Old Coach Trail north to its unmarked “Y” and took the left, northwestern segment. We crossed Heritage Drive and the trail became a steep downhill road. Ahead, we saw the sign on a barricade across the road and shoulders that read, “Emergency Access Road Only” and assumed that was the end of the trail. However, we took a closer look and found that there was a “labyrinth” pedestrian access through the barricade.

At the bottom of the hill was another barricade, and a sign the showed “Emergency Access Road” with a directional arrow to the right. We followed the road to the right and a few hundred yards later we came to an unmarked intersection with unpaved roads that appeared to go through a nursery. We made our best guess and followed the most-improved road. We quickly found ourselves in the middle of a large nursery, among the palm trees, evergreens and various other large plants. The road we were on kept getting narrower and less traveled as we hiked on. We, obviously lost, could see Highland Valley Road so we just headed to it. However, the nursery road didn’t provide an access.

We were now very aware we were on private property with only a few field workers around and we wanted to quickly get out. Fortunately, I correctly noted landmarks which made our “escape” easy as we returned to the paved emergency access road. Perhaps, I’ll follow up by telephone after New Year’s Day and determine where the emergency access road is located.

We returned to our car on Old Winery Road retracing the way we had come. Total round-trip distance was approximately 7.5 miles, including a few exploratory diversions.

We have a new waist pack with two water bottles. We replaced one of the water bottles with Brandy’s water bottle (fits perfectly), although Brandy drinks very little, if at all, on our hikes.

Yesterday afternoon, we hiked Poway’s Western Ridge Trail that runs at times along the border of Poway and San Diego. We were hiking from the south and paused to enjoy the view just as we reached the top of the hill (Google Earth). I heard a buzzing sound that I recognized as bees but wasn’t focusing on it as I was taking in the view. Finally, I looked to see where the bees were and then I saw that I was by a hive in the rocks with an entrance just a few feet from me. I watched a bit as the steady streams of bees entered and left the hive and then we moved on. Brandy had been patiently waiting.

We then hiked to where the trail starts to decend and then turned around. Brandy, of course, wanted to continue. I promised her that we would hike the trail the following day. We passed the bees again on the way back and then I thought about reporting them to those in Poway who maintain the trails. The bees weren’t bothering me (if fact, I like the interest they add) but I know that some people are allergic to bee stings.

Today, we hiked the Western Ridge Trail from the north where the trail begins at Old Winery Road. We went over the hill and found that the bees were still there and as friendly (no stings!) as before. I understand that tomorrow someone from Poway will be evaluating the bees.

There was no way to avoid it; it was raining and we had to do our evening hike. I wasn’t sure my jacket would keep out the rain and, besides, it was cold outside. I bundled up and off we went. As we approached the narrow trail to “Coyoteville”, Brandy was ahead and as soon as she was beyond the solid wood fence and could see the trail she suddenly ran down the trail to the end of the retractable leash. The fence was blocking my view so I couldn’t see what Brandy was chasing. Two or three seconds later, I was past the fence but by then whatever she was after (rabbit or coyote?) was gone.

We took the wider trail on the south side of the creek and explored the creeks in “Coyoteville”. Water was flowing over the trail in one place and the creeks were full. The ground wasn’t muddy due to the grass and debris from the trees although it was soft in places due to the myriad gopher holes. We explored a bit more and then returned to Summer Sage Road.

Brandy didn’t seem to notice that it was raining, as she was poking, sniffing and exploring as usual. We stayed on the pavement and didn’t go on Espola Trail as we usually did because of the mud. As it became dark I shortened the leash and we walked on the left side of the road facing traffic, jumping on the curb or into driveways as cars passed.

We have begun calling the open area off Summer Sage by our home Coyoteville, because we know the coyotes live there. We go there frequently to enjoy the meadow, creek, shrubs and trees as well as to look for the coyotes. We were there late this afternoon and Brandy either picked up a scent or saw a coyote as she suddenly started pulling hard. I didn’t see anything immediately but in a few seconds a large coyote appeared from behind a small hill and was running from left to right toward the trees and creek. I took note of the long, flowing tail as it ran; a beautiful sight for me to see. I don’t remember having seen a coyote running fast before. I’ve always seen them either stopped or moving just fast enough to stay out of my way.

We set out this morning to explore the east end of Blue Sky Trail. We found several spurs at the end and investigated most of them which are ultimately blocked by Ramona Municipal Water District “No Trespassing” signs. One trail petered out by what appeared to be the remnants of small stone buildings, perhaps houses, and we didn’t try to extend the trail. We met a runner on one of the trails, stopped briefly and discussed the extent of the various trails. We were all on these trails for the first time.

We returned to the junction that leads to Lake Ramona and decided that we would attempt that. I’d been on it before with Goldie, but never with Brandy. It was a pleasant hike up with Brandy once leaping toward an almost vertical dropoff while presumably chasing a lizard. I quickly pressed the thumblock on the leash and caught her in midair bringing her back to the shoulder of the road. Otherwise, she would have stopped at 26 feet, the leash length, and I would have had to drag her back up the hill.

We finally got to the top of the dam and explored a bit. To the right (south?) was a private road obscured by a hill and we went as far as we could. We went across the dam, taking a few pictures of the view, and then decided to explore a bit more. I knew from the trail map that there was a proposed trail that was to connect to Old Coach Road and was trying to find the Lake Ramona end. There were several trails and trail branches and we randomly took one of them. We quickly reached the top of a hill and could see parts of Old Coach Road and a couple of roads or trails nearby to the north that might be viable. We’ll plan to explore those next time. We understand that a new trail map is in the works. (Here’s a temporary link to the current trail map.)

We then returned to Blue Sky Reserve and about half-way back I saw a small snake stretched out on the road. Brandy either didn’t see it or just ignored (not likely!) it. It was about three-eights inch in diameter and almost three (est) feet in length– a very skinny snake. I stepped around it and then it occurred to me that there might still be rattlesnakes around. I had expected that the snakes would not be active and felt comfortable hiking close to the brush along the trails. I’ll rethink that!

The trail that was damp and firm earlier in the day was dry with the ball-bearing-like DG making descent a challenge, especially when Brandy would extend the leash to the end and give me a tug to help me along.

I offered Brandy water numerous times but she refused all but once and drank very little. It seems strange that she drinks so little water on our hikes.

We began at the west end of Stoneridge Trail. This brought back memories of Amber, who first introduced me to this trail and which is one of my favorites. We made it almost to the open area to the east when we met a lady with a German Shepard and a Golden Retriever. She had stopped on the trail constricted with two fences and I signaled that we would move off the trail in an open area while they passed. She insisted that we proceed, which we did. Suddenly, she was being pulled by her dogs toward us and unable to stop them. I don’t believe that she could have stopped even one of them from pulling her as these dogs were big. I was concerned that Brandy might snarl and start a fight, even though the dogs seemed friendly. Fortunately, she, the dogs and I milled around for a moment and then Brandy and I were able to pass with no snipping or snarling.

We went past the houses, hiked a few minutes in the open space and came to a small trail that led toward the creek. We thought we’d take the small trail and a couple of minutes later Brandy stopped and placed her body across my path. I stopped and moved slowly ahead. She gave a little but still kept her body crosswise to the path. I thought that maybe she sensed something ahead so deferred to her, returning to the main trail.

Shortly we came to Sycamore Creek and met up with Old Coach Trail. We took it to the left, toward Highland Valley Road. After a climb up the steep hill, we took a spur that was used to reset the power poles and then returned to the main trail. Once again Brandy put her body across my path. I moved away from her back the way we had come and she quickly moved ahead of me. I thought I’d reverse direction and once again she moved in front of me and blocked me. Once again, I deferred to her and we continued back across Sycamore Creek.

When we started up back up the hill we saw a smaller trail off to the left and took that. It was a pleasant walk along the creek and then back up the hill but at a more gentle slope. This trail was the same one that we had previously started on that from the main trail; it was just a bypass. Brandy didn’t seem to have a problem with using it from the other end.

We came upon some shrubs with white bumps and no leaves. Upon closer inspection, the white bumps were flower buds just beginning to open. I think we’ll come back in a week or so and enjoy the flowers!

We uneventfully completed the hike.