Monday Morning Patrol --Butts!-- plus mountain views

The Patrol skipped several days of picking up--the wind and rain seemed to wash everything clean.

Today, we patrolled the north side. Picked up:

• 12 cigarette butts (really, people? this is trash, too)
• 4 water bottle caps (see previous comment)
• Many small shards of broken glass--this is new, as there were no mud splatters. But someone had previously picked up most of the larger pieces, thanks whoever you were
• 4 random things
• 1 doggie poop

But still--it's a beautiful day to be in the park!

Looking down the yet-to-be-opened entrance midway along the northern side, towards the visitor center and the Santa Cruz Range

Mount Umunhum and its tower seen through the big oak on the north side

Sunday Sunset looking northeast

Saturday Stroll Apres Rain

Did not actually patrol today--just walked, as the skies and the results of the rain were more interesting, and I just didn't see anything to pick up when I did look. The new--let's call it--Cottle River intrigued me--so that's what that ditch is for! The water doesn't seem to flow anywhere--the huge ripples you see are from an enthusiastic wind--but instead sinks into the ground to replenish the ground water, which is a wonderful idea.

The instant the rain eased up, people and their dogs appeared as if by magic upon the perimeter trail, and the wind went to work drying everything. But plenty of rain evidence remained.

Looking east along Branham--notice the "Cottle River"

Wow, mom, kin I goes swimming pleez?
The wind was strong.

Another view looking east along Branham

Ooops--I guess it was a mistake to step off the trail to get that photo.

Looking south along the west side--the wind hasn't completely dried the trail yet.

Parts of the Cottle River weren't very deep...

...but parts came nearly to the top of the ditch

Saturday Sunset looking northeast across the park

Monday Patrol, More Dogs, and Thanks

North side (along Branham) will be closed tomorrow until 4:00.

The Patrol was indisposed this morning and couldn't get out until after 5:00.  Houses along the west side nicely shaded that stretch of trail, which is good for my old dog.

Lots of folks out strolling.  Dogs, too; here are four of them (two in the background).

Sometimes you hardly notice the mountains in the background, but if you take a photo from the right angle, you can really see how lovely they are from Cottle Park.

I have to say Thanks to whomever is cleaning up the trail after Naughty Neighbors. I expected all kinds of messes today, but almost nothing! Even if it's a Santa Clara County Parks job, I for one appreciate it. Because today I picked up only--

West side:

• 2 poops
• 3 cigarette butts
• 4 wrappers or partial wrappers
• A few random small scraps of this and that

Not bad at all!