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| Blue-blossom ceanothus |
When February revisits the Santa Clara Valley my fingers begin to tingle and the only relief turns out to be hours of vigorous weeding. Okay-granted. I do relieve all that vigorous weeding with bouts of dreamy weeding as the Red-tailed hawk slowly circles the sky. She puts everyone in her domain on alert with her air tearing cries. The earth is soft and yielding after being pounded and kneaded by series of heavy rains; Invasive annual grasses surrender the soil much more easily than they are wont to at drier times. The grasses are soft in my hands, and as I pull them out and pile them in stringy heaps I am soon rewarded with bundles of ceanothus blossoms bursting forth and all the bees drawn hither who lend me their subtle, warm companionship as they tumble the flowers. Nearby animals do not hesitate to maximize on unearthed insects, freed up flowers and sleepy seeds my hands and thrashing form shake down from their withered chambers. About an hour into my work, I am no longer separate from all this nonstop interaction and mutualism. No longer foreign to the busy oneness enveloping me.
I got off light-rail at River Oaks Station and crossed the bridge over the Guadalupe which is out past Valley Transportation Authority offices and new playground built for the apartments adjacent to the the river trail. People of all ages and dogs of every size were out enjoying their strolls, jogs, and bike rides. Here's a view of the trail after I have crossed over into Santa Clara but before I have reached the down ramp into Ulistac.
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| Santa Clara apartments and Guadalupe RT Levee |
The GRT parallels apartment complexes so that it takes you past people's kitchens and bedrooms. I gaze at balcony decorations and container gardens on my way by. The trail is heavily used by office workers and other residents. Thamien Park and Rivermark are very close. People commute over the bridge to go to Safeway or else wander over to Peet's and other amenities over in Rivermark (Stone Cold Creamery, Smash Burger, Posh Bagel, the Prolific Oven among others).
Don Callejon students play on the Thamien Park field and the young children enjoy the sand and playground at Thamien Park while families, often mothers with young children, visit. Older folks take advantage of shaded benches near the tennis courts and behold the pageantry. There is also a well-tended basketball court where quick games are often in progress or children zip around on small bicycles. If you walk up the switchback ramp from the Thamien tennis and basketball courts you come upon a bench and overlook with a rail, but what you gaze upon is a litter and rubber ball graveyard.
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Trash Clog
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Heading north on the trail, in several minutes I come to the Hetch Hetchy change over station and the footramp down to UNAREP's work shed at Ulistac.
There is a charcoal black fence lizard sunning on the lower boards. He welcomes me into Ulistac Natural Area with curious upward tilts of his perfect little head. I get his picture before he slides out of sight only coming right back to watch me from the T of the boards. His eyes look deep dark and intelligent to me.
I get a sunny feeling all over me from my brief flirtation with Lizard. This special place is full of welcome.
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| Greeter |
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