Ramal Rd. to Duhig Rd. - July 25, 2010

Walking Distance: 6.3 miles (5.3 + 1.0 mi. - 2 segments combined)
Walking Time:
1.) 1 hr., 53 min. (9:53 - 11:46 p.m.)
2.) 35 min. (12:11 - 12:46 p.m.)
Start and End Point:
1.) Side of road, unpaved area, Ramal Road, near Skaggs Island Road, Sonoma/Napa, CA
2.) Later - along Las Amigas Road, Napa, CA

I walked east on Ramal Road, then north on Duhig Road, then east on Las Amigas Road. I turned around just East of 2600 Las Amigas (mailbox) near row of big eucalyptus trees, taking a break before finishing Las Amigas Road later in the afternoon.

There were several bicyclists out on a ride along the same route I was walking today. It was fun to have some cyclist company along the trail.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 horses; 94 little brown jobs (LBJs) + 15 possible blackbirds; 2 turkey vultures; 1 gopher snake (shown); 1 red-tailed hawk; 1 goat (shown); 10 cows; 2 doves; 10 Canada geese; 8 white butterflies (5 white; 2 small ones with blue/purple; 1 small-medium orange and brown); 225 red-winged blackbirds (mixed flock); 2 bumblebees; 2 swallows; 1 hummingbird; and 3 dragonflies.

Ramal Road, cont. - July 19, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.8 miles
Walking Time: 38 min. (7:36 - 8:14 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Unpaved side of Ramal Road (near Buena Vista, gated driveway -- 27000 & 26360 Ramal Road mailboxes), Sonoma, CA

As the sun was setting, I finished this evening's walk by finishing the portion of Ramal Road that was west of Skaggs Island Road, the section shown in the lower right portion of the Bay Trail map excerpt (shown at right).

Note: I forgot my camera today. The photo of the sun setting was courtesy of my cell phone camera.

Wildlife Sightings:
78 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 red-tailed hawks; 2 blurs in bushes; 7 doves; 3 killdeer; and 1 (dead) snake.

Ramal Rd. - July 19, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.4 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 16 min. (3:25 - 4:41 p.m.)
Start and Stop Point: Parked on unpaved shoulder of Ramal Rd., just south of pond/reservoir, Sonoma, CA

Walked northwest (to the curve where I'd stopped walking before) first, and then walked back the other way, past pond/reservoir (not shown on map) and car; I passed Donum estate/vineyards along the way.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera today, and was only able to capture a few images with my cell phone -- one being the shot (at right) of grapes on the vines a few feet from the road/trail. I've been watching them ripening while I've been walking through Sonoma and Napa the past month or so. 

Wildlife Sightings:
1 dove; 3 lizards; 6 butterflies; 10 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 mockingbird; 5 dragonflies; 2 swallows; 1 turkey vulture

Fremont Diner and Ramal Rd. - July 16, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.0 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 3:16 - 4:46 (1 hr., 30 min.)
Start and End Point: Unpaved shoulder, Ramal Rd., Sonoma/Napa, CA

The first stop today was the Fremont Diner (on Fremont Drive in Sonoma, and shown at right), where I had lunch. This diner is located on the Bay Trail, and made a great meal stop. The only possible hitch, for afternoon walkers is that the Diner closes at 3:00 p.m. most of the time. But, if you arrive earlier for breakfast or lunch, you're in for some great roadhouse food and a fun, casual atmosphere.

After I ate fish, salad, homemade potato chips and potato salad (shown at right), and bought a vanilla creme soda to go, I drove south, down Ramal Road, toward Skaggs Island Road. I walked South and West along Ramal Rd., near Buena Vista vineyards. It was hot, and I appreciated the shade offered from occasional groups of large eucalyptus trees. A pair of red-tailed hawks in one of these trees did not appreciate me walking so closely to their perch, and I was treated to the red-tailed hawk cry/screech -- the same one we've all heard in so many movies and television shows (that is used for off-screen eagles and hawks, and to represent wide open spaces).


Wildlife Sightings:
1 horse; 33 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 lizard; 7 butterflies; 4 hawks; 3 mockingbirds; 2 swallows; 4 killdeer; 2 flies; 5 ladybugs on white flowers and 2 wasps on white flowers;  and 1 screw.