Hello all-

I am not at all a pessimist, but recent news has me grumbling…

Articles in the news last week urged consumers to forego bottled water, and head
straight for filtered tap water, a surprising piece of advice to many. Many of
us reach for a bottle and break the plastic seal atop it, assuming it to be
pristine and fresh, just as its labeling indicates, but the reality is that the
bottled water industry is not overseen nearly at the same level as public water
supplies. Bottles litter the landfills just as their plastics (and other
unmonitored contents) can litter a human digestive tract.

Similarly, many of us look to our parks and open space organizations to frugally
maintain these gems, with the law and the public interest in mind. As was
reported in the Mercury News late last month
(http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12674997?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mer\
curynews.com) thousands of rebate checks may be mailed to reimburse home owners
in Santa Clara County for a tax that was illegally imposed in 2001, benefiting
the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority. I do not question the value of our
local rangers, parks and recreation departments, and open space agencies.
However, the money trail over this mess litters the metaphorical landscape with
millions of dollars to Seattle and bureaucracy, and I am certain millions will
stay with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority when tax payers cannot
make sense of the 10-page letter about the lawsuit and see that they are
required to request their checks to receive them.

This recent news compels me to suggest that we should look no farther than our
own backyards for resources to harvest and drink, non-profits to support, and
outdoor educational opportunities to share with our children. Let's toot our
own horns as we celebrate the water and food that come from our yards and
neighborhoods, local organizations we align with whose money and resource trails
are short and stay within our community, and great opportunities we have to
explore our own backyards through organized events and plenty of online
information from your Stroller Hikes friends.

If you'd like to donate to Stroller Hikes, please click through the orange
button at the top of StrollerHikes.com and submit through PayPal or send checks
to Stroller Hikes at 517 Fern Ridge Ct., Sunnyvale, CA 94087. All donations are
tax deductable and no amount is too small.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, July 13th at 10 am there is no scheduled hike. This hike will resume
next week.

Tuesday, July 14th 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, July 14th at 2 pm join Amy B. and little James and Sadie for a hike at
Byxbee Park in Palo Alto. Meet at the Byxbee parking area. We'll hike up and
down the lovely crushed oyster shell paths around the artistic installments to
Byxbee Park, then hike over to the Palo Alto Baylands Park, stopping to check
out the birds around the duck pond as well as windsurfers and artists taking
advantage of the good weather and interesting landscape. The trail works fine
for all types of strollers. Dogs allowed! For more information about the parks
and directions to Byxbee's main parking lot, see Byxbee Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Byxbee/Byxbee.html) and Palo Alto Baylands
Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/PABaylands/PABaylands.html). If you're
running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Wednesday, July 15th 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, July 16th at 4 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek at
Alviso Marina and Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge in Alviso. Come enjoy the range of
birds, the Bay breezes (which kick up in the afternoon), and see the train! The
boardwalks here are great for toddlers. Meet at the Marina Parking lot. Bring a
carrier or a jogging stroller for wee ones. Sorry, no dogs allowed. For
directions or more information about the area, see The Alviso / Don Edwards Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Alviso/Alviso.html). Call Debbie at
650-776-1082 if you're running late. This is a Santa Clara County Healthy Trails
(http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/) outing.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

- Debbie and little Max