Mad Macedonian

Got Bunions, but Prefer Onions? Enjoy Labyrinths? Read The Foot Whisperer!

My longtime friend, Randy Eady, aka the Foot Whisperer, is a freelance writer and foot therapistr who has written some great articles, lately, that I want to share with you.

He's been published on the Huffington Post website, woo hoo!

Hmmm, didn't know anyone on the staff, there, had bunions!

Anyway, it's a very readable and informative essay, so put up your feet a while, and give it a read.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-eady/bunion-surgery_b_2792421.html

Want to live in an "innovative and functionally foolish way"? Randy shares the story about "Reversible Destiny Lofts" in Toyko, Japan.

This is a report about living arraignments that positively affect the "physical and cognitive changes that often vex those in a later life span position by making you defend yourself against them."
 
Very interesting reading.
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-eady/aging-longevity_b_2821619.html
 
Want to get lost? Want to engage in healthy exercise while doing so? Try a Labyrinth!

Randy writes for the website AFAR: The Collaborative Travel Guide, and has 2 recent stories on labyrinths that I really enjoyed reading.
 
1. Unique in Belgium is Le Labyrinthe Durbuy and, as he describes it is a “collection of labyrinths has a surface that equals 22 football fields with secret corridors and small alleys. Visitors listen to the stories of the wonderful characters they encounter on their way to find the correct route out of the maze." There is a new theme each year, and the photo with this story is beautiful!
 
http://www.afar.com/highlights/le-labyrinthe-durbuy?context=user&context_id=randy-eady
 
2. The Quest Haven Labyrinth, in Escondito, Ca. will have you going around in circles!
 
In addition to that there are also miles of walking trails at this huge retreat.
 
I love this picture, too!
 
http://www.afar.com/highlights/quest-haven-labyrinth-slash-elfin-forest-symmetry?context=nav_location&context_id=encinitas-california-united-states

There rest of his little reports, are here: http://www.afar.com/travelers/randy-eady

A Walk in Irvine Regional Park

 A couple of weeks ago I took a walk around Irvine Regional Park, which is located east of the intersections of Jamboree Rd. and Chapman Ave, or Santiago Canyon Rd., in the city of Orange, Ca. 

The description, below, is based on a bike ride I took through the park in 2006, but, nothing much has changed in the intervening years. :-D

People with cars can get there on Jamboree, from the 5 freeway.

People, like me, with bikes, or no car, can take any number of North, or Southbound, Orange Country Transit busses, depending from where you are coming from, to Chapman Ave. in Los Alamitos, Stanton, Garden Grove, Anaheim and Orange, to catch the #54 Bus heading east.

On Sundays, however, this bus does not go all the way to its normal end, at the nearby Santiago Canyon College, so you would have to ride your bike, or walk, the rest of the way, a mile or so up Chapman Ave.

Arriving at the college I got off the bus at the stop on Newport Blvd, just before the bus enters the college, then walked east to Santiago then a short distance south to Jamboree.

There is a road that heads east and south to the tip of the park, and is a cool 1/4 mile jaunt past numerous Parking Areas. ( To plant your car for the day you need to pay a the entrance to the Park. )

At South Parking Area #15 is the entrance of the Multi-use Trail that runs thru the park.

 As you enter the trail you take a left onto a blacktop trail that follows the west side of the creek bed for just under a mile, passsing Horse Stables along the way.

You take a left onto a road that goes out of the park the way you came, onto Irvine Park Rd, then onto Jamboree.

There are also unpaved hiking/biking trails on the opposite side of the creek bed, and also on the west side of the road described earlier, up into the nearby hills.

There are plenty of open green spaces, as well as oak and sycamore trees as old or older than the park itself (Est. 1897), throughout the park, with picnic tables galore.

There is a pond with a stone-work waterfall and foot bridge located in the center of the park, near a small working railroad. Amidst ball fields, playgrounds, and a horse trail, there are also a Civil War and Spanish American War monument and a popular zoo. The variety of the landscape makes the park a beautiful place to visit.

 

Kids and Nature: Getting the Munchins Outdoors, on Foot, or on a Bike

 Ever since I was 2 years old, in 1962, I've been an outdoors person, riding my bike, or walking, everywhere, as well as using Mass Transit.

My parents never drove cars, what can I say? ;-D

Recently, my friend Randy Eady, of Kosharey Rhythms Therapeutics, and Glider Rider Bikes, joined an interesting website called the Children & Nature Network.

The purpose of the site is described this way:

The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working nationally and internationally to reconnect children with nature. The network provides a critical link between researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.

He has begun to contribute blog posts on his member page, and has written one, with cool pictures of his kids, on the Glider Rider Pedal-less bikes, that I found interesting.

The point of his piece is how to use nature as a "Great Equilizer".

He points out something very interesting about where he lives:

"We're fortunate to live within 5 miles of our elementary school and bike (4x a week) hike (once a week) right past the car lines everyday.  Astonishingly, though many children live around us that attend the same school, we are one of the few families that ventures to school this way."

 

 He goes on to describe 3 reasons why such exercise is important.

Randy is also an intergenerational rehabilitation specialist, and member of the International Council on Active Aging, and some of his blog posts deal with the young, and the young at heart, doing outdoor activities together.

 

 So, what does this have to do with Croquet?

Read on: Over The Lawn, Through The Wicket, Across The Generational Gap…

 

His Blog is here.

 

The Children & Nature Network Website, with lots interesting articles, resources, and other bloggers, is here.

Taking My First Strolls With the OC Hiking Club

Years ago I started collecting books on hiking, and walking, in Los  Angeles, and Orange, counties.

I was looking for places in urban, and not so urban, areas that I could reach by bus, and maybe with the help of my bike as well, if there was some place safe to lock my bike while I hiked, and I could still get home by bus.

I never did use the books partly because my work schedule would get in the way of doing anything, and partly because other things came up.

Last April I joined the OC Hiking Club, finally determined to get my ass out there, and hike more.

A week later I had my seizure at work, and so for the rest of the summer, and fall, in between a battery of tests, I stuck mostly to my bike riding, commuting part way to/from work.

However, memories of the few hikes I've taken over the years, and the 30 day Sit Spot Adventure, just ending when I had the seizure, stuck with me, and I was determined to get out more.

Last week I decided to get out there, and finally participate in the OC Hiking Club.

I took part in an urban night stroll along the Hicks Canyon Trail, in Irvine, and a Pier to Pier, night stroll from Newport Beach Pier, to Balboa Pier, and back.

The club is the largest such club in the county, open to people of all ages, and hiking experience, and prides itself in also providing "education, empowerment, encouragement, inspiration and healing to at-risk youth through mentorship in the outdoors."

Membership is free, and the variety of hikes, contests, informational resources, and chances to meet friendly new people, are plentiful on manry related subjects from hiking safety, to nature photography tips, and much more.

You can even get your hands dirty, and feel good doing so, as a volunteer (More on that in an upcoming post!)!

There is an online MIle Marker Newsletter, and archives of OC Register articles by Club President Suki Reed.

The Club is on Facebook, and also on the Meet-Up Website for purposes of connecting people with the latest info on the many hikes throughout the week, and this allows for a community message board, and the sharing of hike photos. 

 The good thing for folks like me who don't drive a car is that many hikes are reachable by bus, and bike, and even carpooling, or hitching a ride, to, &/or from a hike is possible.

The Hicks Trail was an easy, & interesting, multi-purpose route, w/a dirt, & paved Bike Trail option to choose from, with the paved trail connecting with numerous others along the way.

For anyone w/Pooches there are numerous trees, & other options for leaving, & "reading" of "Community P-mail" if ya get my drift. ;-D

The trail had lighting, spread out along the trail, & especially the tunnel portions, but bring a flashlight, & is well traveled by other users.

I'd love to return to walk along it during the day as that's a more camera friendly time. ;-D

It is easily reachable by  bus by connecting with OCTA #79 bus to & From Irvine Blvd. & Culver Dr.

The trail begins up the street from the west side of the Albertsons, and makes for a nice 4 mile round trip.

I arrived at the Pier hike a half hour early, and took a stroll along the pier.

I'd never been here after dark, and the last time Ruby's Diner was still at the end of the pier!

Ah, well, at least there's one at the end of Balboa Pier. ;-D

This 4 mile round trip was a nice cool evening stroll along the beach chatting with new acquaintances, and in one direction, for some of us, playing footsie with the incoming tide. ;-D

We walked along the sandy beach, right up against the surf, with the only light to see by was natural, or our flashlights, as the surf pounded nearby, and we steadfastly kept it from getting under foot, was a fun way to get some exercise.

 
The historic Newport Beach Dory Fleet maintains a permanent fresh seafood market, and while its focus is more Sport Fishing than Commercial, these days, the 110 year old busines still flourishes, and they have a very nice website as well.

 

 

As far as the trail is concern, you can walk the beach, or the multi-use trail, south to Balboa, or north to the Santa Ana River, and back, beginning at the Labyrinth...Just put one foot in front of the other, and there's no way you can get lost. ;-D

 

 

The residents, and business owners, are nice and friendly/

Don't let that lady, there, fool ya...she was just playing hard to get!

I mean who can resist my stunning good looks, humor, and charm? ;-D

The Pier, and beach area, including Balboa Island (Accessable by a short, cheap, boat ride, are easily reachable, well into the evening, by bus, by connecting with the OCTA #47, or #71.

Where to Hike in Orange County - Regional, and Wilderness Parks, and Beaches

OC PARKS WEBSITE OC Regional Parks Arroyo Trabuco 30892 Trabuco Cyn. Rd. Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678 (949)923-2260 or (949)923-2256 Carbon Canyon Regional Park 4442 Carbon Canyon Road Brea, CA 92823 (714)973-3160 or (714)973-3162 Clark Regional Park 8800 Rosecrans Ave. Buena Park, CA 90621 (714)973-3170 Craig Regional Park 3300 State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92835 (714)973-3180 Featherly Regional Park 24001 Santa Ana Canyon Road Anaheim, CA 92808 (714)637-0210 Irvine Regional Park 1 Irvine Park Road Orange, CA 92869 (714)973-6835 or (714)973-3173 Laguna Niguel Regional Park 28241 La Paz Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (949)923-2240 Mason Regional Park 18712 University Drive Irvine, CA 92612-2601 (949)923-2220 or (949)923-2223 Mile Square Regional Park 16801 Euclid Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (714)973-6600 O'Neill Regional Park 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678 (949)923-2260 or (949)923-2256 Peters Canyon Regional Park 8548 E. Canyon View Ave. Orange, CA 92869 (714)973-6611 or (714)973-6612 Santiago Oaks Regional Park 2145 N. Windes Drive Orange, CA 92869 (714)973-6620 or (714)973-6622 Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park 19251 Seapoint Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (949)923-2250 Yorba Park 7600 E. La Palma Anaheim, CA 92807 (714)973-6615 or (714)973-6838

OC Wilderness Parks Aliso And Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373 Alicia Parkway Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (949)923-2200 Caspers Wilderness Park 33401 Ortega Hwy.( P. O. Box 395) San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (949)923-2210 Laguna Coast Wilderness Park 18751 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949)923-2235 Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park 30952 Oso Parkway Coto De Caza, CA 92679 (949)923-2265 or (949)923-2266 Talbert Nature Preserve 1298 Victoria Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949)923-2250 Limestone/Whiting Ranch Parks Portola Parkway & Market Place Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 (949)923-2245 OC Beaches Aliso Beach 31131 S. Pacific Coast Hwy. Laguna Beach, CA 92652 (949)923-2280 Capistrano Beach 35005 Beach Road Capo Beach, CA 92675 (949)923-2280 Salt Creek Beach 33333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy. Dana Point, CA 92629 (949)923-2280 Sunset Beach Pacific Coast Highway Sunset Beach, CA 90742 (949)923-2250 or (949)923-2252 Sunset Harbour 2901 Edinger Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 949-923-2250 Upper Newport Bay 2301 University Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949)923-2290

 

Hat tip to OC Hiking Club for first gathering this info in one convenient list!

Feel Like You are Losing It? Take a Hike!

I have been walking all my life.

Except when I ride the bus, my bike, or are in a taxi, or car belonging to family, or friends. ;-D

Did this account for my good grades in school.

My eventually giving up Liberalism, and becoming a Conservative?

My talent for Creative Writing, and Poetry?

I don't know, but there is an interesting new stud just released that encourages everyone to walk more so they don't lose their minds. ;-D

"Brain size shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems. Our results should encourage well-designed trials of physical exercise in older adults as a promising approach for preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease," said study author Kirk I. Erickson, PhD, with the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.

Read more here: Walk much? It may protect your memory down the road

Short Hike to Rock Climbing & 3 Waterfalls in Anaheim, & a Footwear Discussion

Over a week ago I took the plunge, and joined the Orange County Hiking Club.

It is something I'd been meaning to do for a couple of years, but put off because I was never sure when, or if, I'd be able to join a group hike, or do a solo jaunt.

Over the years I HAVE blogged about the 2 group hikes, and one solo hike, I've gone on (All with pictures), plus about walking in general, here - Take a Hike!

An article by Suki Reed, Club President, changed my mind.

It was a simple article in the local paper, giving a few exercise tips, and encouraging people to check out 2 very short walks near Kaiser Hospitals in Anaheim, and Irvine.

With a couple of days off, this week, I knew I could find time to check out one of them.

Locally, Kaiser Permanente Lakeview in Anaheim has built a path from its parking lot to a local outdoor nature area. The two-mile trail known as the Thrive Path is used by people to walk, exercise and de-stress. It starts on the Kaiser campus and goes to the Imperial Woods Trail.

The path is being used by its members, their families, Kaiser employees and the public. There is a similar trail at the Kaiser Permanente Sand Canyon complex in Irvine – just follow the arrows in the parking lot.

Nothing could be easier right? Yes, and no. ;-D

 
There was a sign near the entrance to the hospital, with the directions drawn on a map.

The Thrive Path, in Anaheim, is short, and easy, and most of it is in a small park west of the hospital, but trying to follow the map, exactly, is a waste of time.

All you need to really know is that you walk around the block, from the map, along the sidewalk, on Lakeview, then Riverdale, once around the park, and then back to the map.

 
The map seemed to indicate that one had to walk through Kaiser, from Riverdale, just before getting to the park, and enter the park through an opening between them, but the only time I saw a sign indicating this was when, walking in the park, I saw Docs, & Interns, on break, walking from the hospital to the picnic tables in the park.

 
Rather than return the way I came I went through a gate leading to the bike Path, with the so-called Imperial Woods Dirt Trail  running parallel to it.

I walked west, over a mile, to Tustin Ave., where I caught a bus.

Along the way I enjoyed seeing 3, um, waterfalls (This pic is of the 1st one, looking east from just outside the park.)...

Smelled the many flowers along the trail, and...

A Day Trip to San Clemente Leads to Walks on the Beach

Last Saturday was a great day as I met a freind of this blog, and another gentleman, in San Clemente, and we spent the day chatting, and walking along the beach.

A highlight for me was a quick solo walk to Trestles before the others arrived.

It was 730am when I arrived in San Clemente.

I spotted a group of cyclists, from a local YMCA I was told, preparing to ride around Camp Pendleton thanks to a Special Military Pass one of them had obtained.

This would not be even remotely like the ride the general public has been allowed to do again, since early 2005, good news that I was instrumental in making public, and clarifying, at the time, thru e-mails, and phone calls (Here was Pre-access rte - 2004, then here the good news in 2005).

 

I next headed toward the trail that leads to Trestles Beach, the fabled Surfer Mecca, located at the nearby San Mateo Creek Natural Preserve (Conservancy), a short 15 minute walk, one way.

 

 

As I made my way to the side trail to the beach I was passed up by the YMCA Riders. ;-D

 

 

 An easy, quiet, walk down narrow, paved, paths to the beach  leads to an encounter with the areas namesake...

 

 

and spectacular views of the beach, sand, and surf.

As you can see, in one of the above pictures,  many cyclists rig their bikes so as to transport their boards to, and from, the beach.

You can read about the rest of the day, see pictures, and learn about the work of the 2 men I met, in a 3 part series of post on my Bike Blog, The Cycling Dude. ;-D

Holy Jim Falls Short Compared to Mysterious, Almost Inaccessible, Waterfall in Black Star Canyon

In the Summer of 2003 I took my first hike into the mountains, a journey of exploration with members of an Orange County writers workshop that I belonged to at the time.

It was a leisurely, nearly 3 mile round trip, stroll along the trail to HOLY JIM CANYON AND FALLS, in the CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST, in the South Orange County community of Trabuco Canyon.

It is said that this hike is the most popular family hike in the OC.

I had a ball, took pictures, and blogged about the experiece.

Well, David Whiting, the wonderful outdoors columnist for the Orange County Register, recently confirmed something that he believed to be only rumor.

As he writes:

I've tromped around O.C.'s back country for years and was skeptical that the photo I was seeing was taken in Orange County. Here, our most famous water fall is Holy Jim – a pretty, but narrow slice of water that spills about 20 feet.

This thing in the photo appeared to plunge at least 80 feet, was a double fall, and cascaded into a crystal pool big enough to swim laps.

Misplaced picture? PhotoShop prank? Or giant, secret waterfall?

In a touch right out of Hollywood, the e-mailer, John Wesley Thomas, wrote that if one wanted to actually see this fall, the viewer would have to follow certain, shall we say, conditions.

The story he has to tell (With map), of reaching this remarkable Waterfall, and the great collection of photos will no doubt inspire others with the time, and skill, to make the same trek.

Reading the extensive comments will reveal that there are others who have long known of this hike, and that there are apparently other falls, not quite as impressive, to be enjoyed in our backyard.

A reader of this story was inspired to look up info on Holy Jim Falls, and encountered my old story and, under the name of "Eric", left the following comment yesterday:

 

"Please, Please, Please pick up your trash, and anybodies elses trash left behind

THANK YOU"

I sent him a reply:

Yes, SIR! 
 
Thanks for that reminder...now tell us what you thought of the story itself, and what led you to discover my humble little blog. ;-D

This morning I found this response:

I thought the story was pretty good, and the newspaper story with the waterfall on the page is how I found out about your blog.

But we have to remind people to please take their trash, and if they see more on the ground  please pick it up, and take it out.

I have been going up in the canyons, and peaks, for over 25 years, and the trash has gotten worse over the last few years .

Please don't mess it up for the rest of the people.

Thank you.

Carl Albright

I plan to do more hiking myself, this year, but tackling trips like this one sound like something beyond me for now. ;-D

You can read about my other, previous, hiking adventures, in my archives called Take A Hike!

Fullerton Hiking and Biking Trails: Do your Mind, and Body, Good, and Go

 

The City of Fullerton Ca., in the north of Orange County, has approximately 28 miles of recreational trails, which are spread throughout the city.

Hikers, equestrians, mountain bike riders, walkers, and joggers take advantage of these scenic trails.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hiking Stick and camera in hand, I spent 4 hours walking 4 of the trails in the network, from Downtown Fullerton to the border with Buena Park, a total of 8 miles or so.

There are 11 Featured Trails with Info Links on the city website, and 8 other trails that are listed on the site, and related interactive maps.

List of Trails.

Interactive Parks (38) and Trails Map (Google Map - Regular, Satellite, Hybrid).

Parks and Trails Map.

The connected Trails I explored are as follows: Juanita Cooke Greenbelt & Trail, Bud Turner Trail, Nora Kuttner Trail, and Rosecrans Trail.

In Orange County, if you know where to look, there are corridors of nature within the urban landscape, and what one finds in Fullerton is a prime example.

The OCTA Bus #43 will take you to within a block of the start of the Juanita Cooke Trail, by dropping you off at the Jack in the Box at Harbor Blvd., and Berkeley.

The trail entrance is on Berkeley, west of the intersection, and can't be missed, as can be seen in the picture above.

A wide dirt, and sawdust, trail leading you away from the city into a quiet forest-like landscape between residential houses.

As you head into the first mile you notice the permanent imprints of horshoe tracks in the hardpacked dirt, a feature common to many of the trails in the system.

Eventually you come to the Hiltshire Trail Connector, a spot with some unique benchs lay claim to the landscape, near a water fountain, and a private garden.

As I rest a minute I notice a few walkers, joggers, and cyclists, coming down the trails.

An interesting thing along the trail is that you can see into the backyards of some homes, and that many homes have wooden, brick, or concrete steps leading from the trail to their lock gates, allowing them easy access to the trail when ever they want it.

The lack of graffiti anywhere I walked is refreshing, and I saw families, and also individuals walking their Dogs.

For bicyclists this trail has the option of riding a rugged parallel trail set above the main trail, and many of the trails in the system are of a narrow, bumpy, winding nature popular with Mtn. Bikers, so everyone has to be on the lookout for foot, and pedal traffic, and share the trails safely.

The trail comes to Bastonchry Rd and Morelia Ave., and you cross and walk up Morelia for 3 blocks before finding the trail again after crossing Laguna Rd.

Eventually you come to an old Stone and Iron Bridge that crosses over a railroad track that dissappears into the canyon on either side of the bridge (That's the tracks just behind me in the picture!)

Sit here awhile, and ponder not just all the beautiful trees you have encountered already, but the natural landscape around you at this moment, in this spot where the only sounds you hear are those of birds chirping in the trees, and sky.

If, like me, you like to write, and are looking for a nice quiet place to contemplate your navel, and get in touch with your muse, these trails provide plenty of spots to do so.

After a stretch where you walk through a canyon where the homes are high above you on one side, and mostly below you on the other, giving you a real feeling of aloneness, the trail spends a bit of time parallel to a residential street until it reaches Laguna Lake Park, at Hermosa Dr. and Lakeside Dr.

Laguna Lake is a wonderful spot for fishing, and bird watching, walking, and cycling along the south shore trail as it become the Bud Turner Trail on the otehr side of the lake, and heads past the Equestrian Center.

I saw some Hispanic men, some young, some old, alone, and in small groups, spread around the lake, fishing for Catfish, Bass, and Trout.

I saw a man waking with his 3 daughters age 3 to 10.

I saw couples, young, and old, walking around the lake, and bicyclists as well.

There are picnic tables around the lake, and restooms, and parking lot on the west end.

One of the fun things is the opportunity to get up close, and personal with the feathered residents of the lake.

Just don't feed the little darlings!

Mallard and Wood Ducks, and a couple of noisy Geese, all trying to ignore the 2-legged intruders into their paradise. ;-D