It’s difficult to believe it isn’t summer. To begin with, I’m at home for an extended period of time – something that has only happened during the summers for the last half a decade (yikes, that’s a scary thought). Also, the amount of fresh fruit and veggies I get these days are just decadent compared to any other part of the world this time of year. And of course, there’s the fact that it’s hovering around 70 degrees F during the day and is gloriously sunny – yep, California is pulling out all the stops while I’m home.

In honor of the fantastic weather, I decided Sunday morning to take a hike, literally, and wound up on the wonderfully-named Coal Mine Ridge trail system in Portola Valley for a brief jaunt through the woods. I took the Toyon trail as far as it would go (a little over six miles round trip). It was a very easy hike but beautiful and quite an enjoyable way to spend the morning.

But by far the most exciting part of my hike was on my trek back to where I had parked when I rounded a corner and saw on the trail in front of me a bobcat.  It was a couple hundred feet in front of me and didn’t seem to mind me being there.  I followed behind it for a while before it disappearred out of sight into the woods.  I hadn’t seen anyone else on the trail for a while and so was a little surprised to see, a few minutes later, another hiker coming the opposite direction.  I was still excited by my bobcat sighting and so warned him to keep his eyes peeled ahead.  In response, he looked absolutely thrilled and asked if I were “familiar with animal spirit energies.”

I smiled politely and told him that, no, I didn’t believe I was.  He recommended I look them up on Google when I get come because it’s so rare to see a bobcat that it must have a special message for me.  I can’t say I entirely understood the message the bobcat supposedly gave me but overall it was an eventful morning and a great chance to enjoy the weather and the California trails.

In the next few weeks I’ll definitely be doing more casual weekend hiking – in this weather it would be criminal not to.  I might look for something a bit more challenging or simply stick to the easy trails.  You never know where my animal spirit energy might guide me.