The Zoom Room- Huntington Beach, CA

The Zoom Room is Sim's new favorite place to go! I first brought him here for some puppy training and when I paid for four training classes we got a free private gym session too.

What is private dog gym? I was wondering the same thing. Turns out, it is exactly what is sounds like. The lucky pup gets the whole gym to himself for a half hour and its set up with all the equipment used in agility training. The equipment included ramps, a tunnel, a "table" to climb up on, a hoop to jump through and bars to jump over.

It sounds like a little boot camp to me but Sim went crazy for it. He loved racing loudly up the ramps and dropping a rubber ball to roll down the other side. He also enjoyed bouncing through the obstacles for a treat. It was a fun and different way to work out all of his crazy puppy energy. And I cannot over-exaggerate how much of this crazy energy Sim has.

Schabarum Regional Park- Rowland Heights, CA

This Sunday, Sim and I joined a couple of friends to hike at the 575 acre Schabarum Regional Park. It is located on the border between Orange and L.A. Counties.

It cost $6 to enter the park on a Sunday. Sure its nice when there is no charge, but I don't mind spending a few bucks on parking. Just think of it as a small donation that goes into maintaining these precious open land resources. $6 isn't such a steep price for a few fun hours of hiking, a good workout, and an escape into a little bit of nature. It costs less than a movie ticket.

We did a four mile hike today. We followed the trail up a decent incline two miles to the summit. From there, we enjoyed this amazing view. Don't you think it would be gorgeous lit up at night?

Then we made the two mile decent. Stopping here and there to enjoy a particularly nice view or rest in the shade. Thank goodness for shade. I wish I was more of a morning person, then I might get out on the trail before the heat sets in!

By the end of it, Sim and I were worn out. Sim is still a baby, so we've just been exploring the easiest trails up until now, mostly to get a good walk in and enjoy some time outside together. But today's hike was a good challenge. And Sim loved it! I am glad that I packed extra water and some little treats for him.

Yorba Regional Park- Yorba Linda, CA

A few days ago, I found myself in Yorba Linda, CA. Its a little city thats probably best known for being the birthplace of the U.S.'s 37th president, Richard Nixon.

The Yorba Regional Park is 140 acres of grass, lakes, trees, and trails. There are 6 playgrounds, 4 little lakes to fish in, bike and paddleboat rentals, 200 bbq stands and 400 picnic tables. There are also places to play volleyball, soccer, baseball, and horseshoes. It seems a popular place for families to gather in the the summer! They have free parking in one lot which is an added bonus. It is on the western-most end and its called the Anaheim Play Fields entrance. There is a dirt lot and a paved lot here that you can park in without charge.

The park runs along part of the Santa Ana River. If you follow the Santa Ana River Trail it will take you all the way back to Huntington Beach! Its a great route for a bike ride.

Sim and I decided to take a walk through the park on one of those rare Friday mornings that I have off from work. Its a nice place for a pup to explore. The trails are short and flat and great for a jog or a really easy, casual walk. Like one after a delicious, gigantic breakfast.

Its a very pretty area, especially around the lakes and creeks. There are wooden bridges over the streams that connect the larger bodies of water and even lily pads floating in the still water. It would be a nice place to sit down with a coffee and a good book.

Founder's Day- The Little Red Dog, Inc.

A few months before I graduated college, I fell in love with a picture of baby Sim I found on adoptapet.com. He was the cutest little rollie pollie with a huge head and round, little eyes that were really far apart. In the picture it looked like he was falling asleep. Who wouldn't fall in love with this handsome, little man? He had one sister and four brothers in his litter and they all needed homes.

Long story short, I drove out to a PetSmart parking lot in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA the morning after Valentine's Day and brought home my little bundle of furry joy.

I got him from a wonderful rescue based in Lake Forest, CA called The Little Red Dog, Inc. It was founded in memory of a red-colored pit bull that was beaten to death when she refused to participate in the dog fighting ring. The Little Red Dog is working to change the unfounded, bad reputation of the American Pit Bull Terrier and put an end breed discrimination. They find safe, loving homes for dogs of all breeds. You can learn more about the organization here: http://thelittlereddog.com/welcome

TLRD had their first annual Founder's Day event in Pittsford Park, Lake Forest last weekend. There
were booths with vendors offering free treats for humans and canines, a raffle, a photo booth, little swimming pools set up for the dogs, and food trucks. Many of the people who have adopted dogs through TLRD came with their pups. Sim and I had a great time. My greedy little guy went home with a free tennis ball, frisbee, kibble scoop, poop bag holder, reusable grocery bags, and a belly full of treats. But the best part was seeing all of these happy people with their happy dogs. I had a good time getting to know some of them.
                   

I couldn't help myself and bought him a new Batman collar too.

I also finally got around to getting a first aid kit. I'd been meaning to put together some basic supplies to have with me on our road trips and hikes, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. There was a booth set up selling all sorts of emergency kits that can be used on people or animals. I'm no Doomsday Prepper by any means, but I still want to be prepared for an accident with the basics like gauze, vet wrap, tweezers, antibiotic cream, an icepack, styptic powder etc.

If you are looking for a furry best friend of your own, adopt before you shop. There are so many dogs that deserve and need good homes.

Oso Creek Trail- Mission Viejo, CA

"I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. 

Its so fuckin' heroic." George Carlin

Sim practicing for our big camping
trip by carrying his empty pack

Sim and his Best Friend

Nestled in Mission Viejo is the Oso Creek Trail, boasting 5.5 miles of paths. It was created around a naturally occurring creek that meets with the Trabuco Creek to flow out into the Pacific. More than 15,000 volunteers have devoted time to create and maintain what so many enjoy today. It is a beautiful park that melds the beauty of nature and man-made arts into a single, lovely place.

Volunteers planted indigenous and drought-resistant plants near the creek bed and over the years the plant community demographics have shifted to reach a more natural state. Its sustained with minimal supplementary water. Native animal species have begun returning to the area to join the flora, which seems a sign that the volunteers' efforts to create a strong plant community were successful. It is nice to see such a pretty place full of native plants. Its living proof that there is beauty in the ordinary, that it is not just reserved for the exotic and rare.

It is not a hike really, more of a wandering walk. If you follow one of the looping trails you'll come across the art features. (Although there are plenty of signs and maps, so you do not need to wander blindly if you know where you want to go.)

The Peace Obelisk

The first feature Sim and I came upon was the 14' tall Peace Obelisk, a local monument to peace and unity. It was created to celebrate the Tierra Nativa Earth Day and in honor to the victims of 9/11 and all those affected by that tragedy. The word "peace" itself was carved into the base 16 times, each time in a different language. There are 400 copper plates that went into making the obelisk, each one a different representation of a volunteer's personal idea of peace.

Next, we found the hedge maze. Even though it is so small and cute and not threatening in any way whatsoever, I couldn't help but be reminded of The Shining by Stephen King. If you haven't read the book or seen the film adaptation,  there is an enormous hedge maze and large hedge animals in the story. You know, bushes cut into the shape of animals? And every time you look away from them, they move a little bit. They creep closer until you turn your back and run. Then they attack with their bushy, twiggy mouths. Its a good book by the way; I highly recommend it.

Sim and Me in the Hedge Maze

The Oak Grove

Back to the park. There is also a little grove of oak trees, a Butterfly Garden, and walls, columns, and paths of mosaics. Maybe you should visit it for yourself sometime and see what you stumble upon. 

I really enjoyed my time here. It is a nice place to walk or jog and clear your head.

Redwood Grove, Carbon Canyon Regional Park- Brea, CA

Who knew there were redwood trees in southern California?

The northern coast is known for its groves of gigantic redwoods. Its home to the iconic trees that tower over 300 ft high and 20 ft around. Until I get the chance to see them in person, I've found a little piece of that nestled right here in Brea.

This grove was planted in the park in 1975, so the trees are relatively young and small, around 100 ft tall. The dry heat of the climate doesn't provide them the ideal environment to grow, but the grove is still beautiful nonetheless. Its cool and shady beneath the redwood canopy and the ground is carpeted with a soft layer of fallen needles and mulch. Ferns spring up through the carpet and circle the tree trunks. It looks quite different here from the native plants beyond the grove.

The leisurely trail is about 2.5 miles round trip. It takes you through a riparian area dotted with California walnut trees that thrive along the perennial creek bed, as they're much better suited to the southern environment. And along the way, helpful signs point the way to the 10-acre grove of coastal redwoods, the largest south of Monterey County.

There's something very peaceful about being in a place like this. It has made me want to see the real deal much more. Maybe I should plan a trip with my Sim to see them this year.

I highly recommend visiting this park if you like the outdoors. Of course you aren't going to be lost in a vast wilderness here; its Brea. But I think Sim and I will return soon, this time to have a barbecue at one of the grills with friends out by the pond in the park.

Peters Canyon Regional Park- Orange, CA.

In the beginning of the summer, Sim and I visited Peters Canyon. We took the Lakeview Loop, a couple miles of wide, dusty trails. Its a great place for a jog with your furry best friend, as long as you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Its gets pretty hot without any shade.

Remember, if the ground feels hot to your bare feet, its hot for your dog's paws. And pups are affected by heat stroke faster than humans. So be sure to always bring plenty of fresh water for the both of you!

I think Sim enjoyed getting a little dirty. By the end of it, I was covered in dust up to my knees and Sim was coated up to his armpits! Oh yeah, this is why I leave an old beach towel and a box of wet wipes in my car...

With the drought and the time of year, the Lakeview Loop lacked a lake. The brush was brown and brittle on either side of the path. You could also see the tops of the nearby neighborhoods. But its still a nice place if you want a change of scenery from your usual walks at home. I'm sure its beautiful in the spring, especially when we finally get some rain and the lake comes back.

The Serenity Swing- San Luis Obispo, CA.

This Spring, Sim and I got to visit some old friends that live on the central coast. On one morning, we all woke up early and went for a little hike to a hilltop called the Serenity Swing. 

(It really looks like this!)

Its located right on the California Polytechnic State University campus. The hike starts off as more of a nice walk down a long, dirt road that runs along a creek in between the hills. 

The road ends at the Architecture Graveyard, which is a wonderful place to visit in itself. Throughout the years, architecture students have built some pretty remarkable structures here as senior projects. Its quite a place to explore. There is a little house shaped after a conch shell, a metal ship built out of a hillside, an enormous jungle gym, and a whole bunch of other creations (like the one below!).

  

If you walk past the Graveyard, you will find another dirt path that leads further out into the rangeland. Sometimes, Cal Poly lets their horses out to roam and graze here. I've found it doesn't hurt to have an apple in your pack to share with one of them.

Most of the hike is easy over the gentle hills. But the end does get very steep! Honestly, it helps to have an excited puppy to pull you up.

The trail ends at the summit of this hill. And from it you can see some of the beauty of California's central coast! Especially in the spring while everything is green. And from the name of the spot, you've probably guessed that there are two sturdy, old swings hanging from the tree.