As a teenager, I wanted to see the world. I couldn't wait to go to college and move away from my little corner of Northern California. Now that I've lived in the desert for almost 8 years, I see the ordinary beauty of my hometown with new eyes every time I go home to visit. This park was always the source of negative memories as a teenager... I worked a summer job here that I hated, and my track coach liked to make us run up the hills here for training. Needless to say, I didn't have fond memories of Pena Adobe.
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| Cousins |
My brother-in-law is now raising his family in my home town, so while we were visiting, they suggested hiking together in Pena Adobe. Not only was it fun, but gorgeous too. Early winter rains had turned the hills green and it was beautiful.
There's many fire roads and trails that lead to the tops of surrounding hills, so we tackled one my nieces and nephews are particulary fond of. There's a super big oak tree with lots of low branches for swinging, climbing and playing.
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Almost done with our hike, we made the kids pose on these rocks for a photo. 
We had so much fun, I'll think we'll make hiking Pena Adobe a regular addition to our "must do" list while we are home visiting. Maybe next time it will even be a bit warmer. ;-)
