Hello Mommies and Daddies-

We never stop discovering and learning!

I recall vividly the day when Max, in his few months of age, first saw a
squirrel high among the trees on a hike to Lexington Reservoir, along Los Gatos
Creek Trail, and his fascination with critters has not wavered. Two weeks ago
after our Toddler Trek to Sanborn Park, we stopped at Lexington Reservoir Park,
to visit the side of the reservoir that was entirely depleted of water last
summer, to see how it was doing, in its refilled state. There is a little
footpath from the parking area off Black Road down to the reservoir, where Max
marveled at every hole and crack, wondering who might live below, and giggled
incessantly when I'd launch him into the air to keep him moving along (he could
have inspected those holes for hours). At the water's edge, we were delighted
to find hundreds of nickel-sized frogs. I was taken back to summers at Waldo
Lake in Oregon, when my sister, brother, and I would canoe out to a tiny little
island covered with hundreds of the same little frogs – it was great fun to
scoop them up for close inspection and listen to their songs if we were still
enough to convince them that our adolescent threat had gone. At the last
Toddler Trek, we visited the reservoir at Stevens Creek Dam, and the kids
marveled at the lightness of voluminous beached logs that became stacked high
into a tower, the near perfect roundness of capless acorns, the ripples as rocks
were tossed into the water, and the stream of bubbles coming from beneath the
water – could it be freshwater mollusks, shrimp, or larvae? We'll never know
(digging was not fruitful), but the excitement of discovery made the trip
entirely worthwhile. We hope you made your own discoveries last week, and this
week presents you with new ones as well.

Thank you to everyone who used the Yahoo Stroller Hikes Group poll to indicate
interest in attending our events last week – it is helpful for our planning
purposes! Related to planning, you'll notice that Toddler Treks may be moving -
see the note for Thursday below.

This week's events:

Monday, June 8th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L. and
little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers, along the greenbelt. Meet at
the pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is
just NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location
(http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/).
For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).

Tuesday, June 9th at 8:30 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a mellow stroller
jog around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by
the big playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot
near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed!
Jogging strollers are best, but this is an entirely paved trail, so
smaller-wheeled strollers are also OK. Walkers always welcome! For more
information about the area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Webpage (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If
you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Tuesday, June 9th at 2 pm Amy B. and her wee ones will lead a hike at Sunnyvale
Baylands Park. This trail is entirely paved, so any stroller will work! Meet
next to the recycled water test garden (take a left after entering the park).
For more information or directions, see the Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html). The park
charges a fee for parking this time of year; for free parking, park at the
baseball park next door, then walk a short distance along the sidewalk to enter
the park. If you're running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Wednesday, June 10th at 9:45 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in
Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat path going to
the farm, and possibly go past it. The road is perfect for trikes or bikes, if
toddlers or young children want to ride. Any baby transport will work. Meet at
the main lower parking lot at the water fountain in front of the bathrooms (just
past the entrance, turn right, then follow the road until it ends). For more
information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. Lisa and little
Samuel will lead this hike. If you're running late, call Lisa at 650-892-8678.

Thursday, June 11th at 10 am, Jennifer and little Kayla will lead a short hike
and bird watching at Palo Alto Baylands. Meet by Lucy Evans Interpretive Center.
There are wide flat trails here that are paved or dirt, so most strollers should
work fine. Walking children also welcome! For directions or more information
about the area, see The Palo Alto Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/PABaylands/PABaylands.html). If you're
running late, call Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, June 11th at 4:30 pm no Toddler Trek is scheduled. Debbie's got
several summer jobs, so needs to see how they fill the week, before she resumes
Toddler Treks. If you would like to share your opinion about some locations or
times for Toddler Treks, please do so by replying to this e-mail (replies go
only to Debbie). They will not occur on Mondays or Wednesdays, but other days
are open for consideration.

Friday, June 12th at 8 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike at Almaden
Quicksilver County Park. Backpacks, baby carriers, or jogging strollers will
work on this dirt trail. Meet at the Hicks/Wood Road Park Entrance parking lot,
over a mile past Almaden Reservoir off Hicks Road. To get there, exit onto South
Almaden Expressway from Highway 85. Travel seven miles on Almaden Expressway,
then turn right onto Almaden Road. Turn onto Alamitos Road, passing Almaden
Reservoir. Turn right onto Hicks Road, then turn right at the intersection of
Hicks, Wood, and Umuinhum Road into the parking lot. Loren will lead a hike down
Wood Road Trail. We'll turn back to return the way we came, after seeing the
Rotary Furnace near the intersection with Hidalgo Cemetery Trail and Yellow Kid
Trail. If you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737. This is a Santa Clara
County Healthy Trails (http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/) outing.

Keep discovering!

- Debbie and little Max