When: June 23 - Tuesday
Time: 1:00- 3:00 PM
Where: Donna Clarke
RSVP: Donna @ 736-4274 by Monday, June 22
Our book will be Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo.
July - Saturday by Ian McEwan
Aug. - the group does not meet
We welcome new members so think about attending one of our meetings. If you have any questions (except to RSVP), please call the Chairperson, Suzanne Ziarnik 830-8339.
Mama Mia, what a night of food and wine at the February Wine Tasting.
Bob an Dale Skok entertained us with pasta and sauces paired with excellent wines from Italy. We hope Bob will share his secret sauces.
We had a small group due to some members who were sick, but those of us, there, made up for. This is a group that enjoys fine wines and wants to share this experience with others.
We are fortunate that a new member, Grace Ayers has volunteered to co-chair with Dale. Welcome Grace…
In January the Gad Abouts were part of a live audience at “The View From the Bay” television program. In attendance were Barbara Alvine, Joyce Ault, Myrna Bachiochi, Julie Davis, Pam Deas, Tina Fischer, Marion Greenwood, Dottie Kaiser, Bernice Pelicas, Sally Powers, Erika Scaramelli, Pat Shockley, Mary Splane, Judy White and Paula Williams. Prior to the show, we had lunch at Il Fornaio Restaurant in San Francisco. We all had a great time!! Pictured are Spencer Christian and Laura Spencer of “View from the Bay” with some of the Gad About ladies.
This Friday, May 9th, we enjoyed a leisurely day of hiking at Ring Mountain Nature Preserve in Corte Madera.
The weather was warm and the sky blue but slightly hazy. We had several guests and newer members with us today enjoying the 360 degree view on top of the 600 ft. hill called Ring Mountain. We searched for the elusive Tiburon Mariposa Lily that only grows at this preserve but alas it remained elusive. There were many other flowers to enjoy including flax, checkbloom mallow, Wally baskets, several kinds of lupines, CA poppies, madia, rattlesnake grass, tidy tips, blue eyed grass, sunflowers, coyote mint, and more. The hillsides were not as heavily covered with wildflowers as in past years. The grasses were tall and golden. It appears that we were too late for many of them. It has been a very dry spring all over the bay area.
We hiked to the top where we could see the city in the distance along with Belvedere, San Quentin, Richmond San Raphael Bridge, a tiny island near the bridge (it’s for sale). We hiked to petroglyph rock where Emmie I. (soon to be new member) climbed to the top.
Today’s hikers were Barbara C., Gretta T., Jacky H., Rose T., Suzy R., Sharon K. and Thang I. Guests were Emmie L., Sheri S., and Tina H. Welcome to the club Thang. Emmie is joining us soon.
After lunch we enjoyed lunch by the water at Sam’s in Tiburon, What a wonderful way to end the day. Thank you Jacky for driving!
Happy Trails, Sharon
It has been decided that we will go to Bosco’s after our Friday hike.
To make it easy we will divide the bill evenly. If this isn’t okay with you let me know ahead of time. So far we only have one person needing to get back to the park and ride right after the hike but that may change. Please let me know if you are one of these people. The restaurant is really close to Sunol Regional Park. I am thinking we will probably be at the restaurant for about an hour or a little longer. Barbara J. has sent us this restaurant review.
Happy Trails, Sharon
This is the third time I’ve written my “last” President’s letter. Each time I get sentimental and philosophical. This is no exception.
Every time I write about how easy this job is and how rewarding. Well it still is. However most of it has not been my doing. My spinal surgery last March was supposed to be just a couple of months to recuperate. Well, it wasn’t. But you, my wonderful SRVNC friends, made it work. I never saw anyone who didn’t offer their help and support. And still does. I love this group and I am so grateful I found it. I will still be on the board because I want to give back and volunteer wherever I am needed. The best news is, however, that Jan McArdle will be President. I can’t wait to work with her-altho I have been for years as she always was there in any capacity. Good luck Jan!!
Just to clear up some business. There has been some confusion about the dues and when you owe it. The board has come up with a fair way to handle dues from women who join after the year (June) starts. We will collect 2$ per month for every month til the end of the year-whether you join in August or March. Our budget year starts in June and so do our dues. I hope that clears that up.
We are still looking for a Gad-A-Bouts chair. It isn’t that hard and we have notebooks of places to go-many of which was arrived at my a member survey. Most of the time it requires just choosing the place, write up a notice, and take reservations. It doesn’t have to be every month, but this group has always been a club favorite and attracts many new members. Think about it.
Thank you all for helping make me “look good” as your president. I could never do it without you all. Jan, you will be a great leader and I can’t wait to work at your side.
Hugs,
Myrna
This Friday, April 18, we hiked out from Finley Rd in Morgan Territory. It was another clear day for hiking. The road where we parked was lined with California poppies, a promise of more wildflowers to be seen on the trail. We hiked along a wooded trail until we reached the old abandoned house on the left side of the trail where our single track trail, Oyster Point Trail, headed left.
We almost immediately crossed a small stream with a huge tree that was showing its eroded roots. From there, it was up, up, and more up–much of it fairly steep. The hills were still very green in this area. We were treated with some lovely dark purple larkspur along the trail as well as bright yellow buttercups. The group began to spread out as we went at our own pace. One group made a good spot of the Diablo Fairy Lantern, native only to this area. We also saw some owls clover, a few Wally baskets, and fiddle necks. We didn’t get far enough to see Blackhawk as I thought we might but we could look down on Finley Rd and see the small speck of the house where we had turned onto our Oyster Point Trail. For many of us the turn around after an hour came too early. The trail was finally leveling off a bit and we were getting our second wind. We hiked for a total of two hours.slideshow
We had 13 hikers today including three new members Debby Allen, Barbara Christensen and Suzy Renteln. Welcome to you all. The other hikers were Lois T., Shirley A., Gretta, Barbara J., Jacky H., Rose T., Cathy K., Cindy, April, and Sharon
Our deepest sympathy goes out to April at the passing of her father.
Happy Trails, Sharon
Today’s hikers were Jacky H., Judie B., Jane H., Rose T., Lois T., Gretta T., guest Theresa A and her daughter, and Sharon K. It was another beautiful California spring day. The wildflowers weren’t as plentiful as on other hikes recently but the velvety green hills were wonderful to see. I think the cows have kept this area well mowed. We did see a few wildflowers on our way down Little Yosemite Trail and along Stage Road. We crossed several small streams along Stage Road without one of us getting our feet wet. We did see buttercups, miners lettuce, shooting stars, a few blue dicks, and sticky monkey flowers.
We hiked for a total of 2 hours getting a good aerobic workout hiking back up Little Yosemite Trail. Click here for slide show
Afterwards we all had lunch at Bagel Street Cafe. Our next hike is April 4. I hope to see many of you there.
Happy Trails, Sharon Kovar
Today we had a big group of hikers that enjoyed the beautiful green hills on our hike through Shell Ridge to Borgess Ranch. We started at the trailhead at the end of Marshall Road in Walnut Creek. It was another perfect day for hiking. The day started off frosty but quickly turned to around 70 degrees with a gentle breeze there to cool us as we climbed up and down the hills. We saw a few new flowers, including Wally Baskets and Fiddle Necks. There were hillsides of California Poppies and Buttercups. Cows dotted the hills everyone and we were greeted by friendly dogs many times during our 2 1/2 hour hike.
Today’s hikers were new member Greta and new member Jane—welcome to both of you. It was Greta’s second hike. Also hiking were Shirley A., Rose T., Celia M., Judie B., Aleta S., Julie G., Debbie L., Cindy W., Chris T., and Sharon K. After our hike about 7 of us went over to Bagel Street for a bagel. Barbara Jackson, looking good after her hospital stay, met us for lunch. I hope it won’t be long until you are back on the trails with us. We miss you!
There will be a hike next week on March 28th.
Happy Trails, Sharon
Today, March 7, 2008, we hiked on the north side of Mt. Diablo. We hiked up Back Creek Trail. The trail started out in the open with views of the peaks with fields of mustard in the foreground. We saw a variety of trees and flowers.
FYI - The tree we were trying to identify with the five narrow leaves arranged in groups of five, like fingers on a hand were California buckeye.
After about one mile of hiking along the stream we turned left on Tickwood Trail, traveling on it until we reached Donner Canyon Road. Along the way we spotted many of the flowers we saw last week plus woodland star and scooting star.
The weather was perfect for hiking once again. Once we reached Donner Canyon Rd. we headed steep uphill for a short way and turned left of Hetherington Loop Trail. This took us though an area of manzanita terrain. We had a small water crossing. This loop took us back to Donner, a little lower down the hill, on which we returned to our car. We hiked for a total of 2 hours and about 3 1/2 miles
Today’s hikers were Jacky H., Lois T., Claudia W., Kathy I., Shirley A, Julie G., Sharon K., and guest Greta. It was very nice hiking with you Greta and I hope you will join us again soon. It was good to have Julie G., back with us after a long absence.
Thank you for driving Lois. Afterwards we all had lunch at the Bagel Street Cafe.
Our next scheduled hike is March 21. I may add another hike on the 14th. Watch for my e-mail.
Happy Trails, Sharon
