Today I had every intention of writing about a hike or some such exploration. I sure have enough things to talk about! I thought about the time we went hiking and I wanted to rediscover my barefooted Hawaiian roots - and almost walked on a rattlesnake. Or the time we took our friends up to Mill Peak in winter - and ended up trudging through two feet of snow, returning with soaked boots. Although that taught me to carry plastic grocery bags on all hikes. I mean, who would have guessed they make great moisture barriers.

Instead, I am going to write about today's adventure.

It's been about a year since I've driven. Strange, I know. Silly technicality with Social Security and subsequent loss of license with DMV. But I digress. I did eventually get my license back. It just took a while.

I thought I had better get some driving in after all this time and figured going off road would be just as good practice as anything. We loaded up the dogs, packed a picnic lunch and hit the road. 3N34, here we come!

It's unbelievable the weather we are having this year. Dry and warm. Lots of folks enjoying the nice weather. We found Off Highway Vehicle volunteers doing trail maintenance - fence repairs in particular as we passed them.

There were a few others taking advantage of the nice day. Some driving motorcycles, some on ATV's and a few others in 4 wheel vehicles like ourselves. We got to see a lady riding her horse with her two dogs in tow. (How cool is that!) One person was Geocaching. Another had gone out to collect firewood. All of us out there, enjoying the forest in his or her own way.

We explored the forest from the road. Drove 3N34 from the Pinnacles Staging Area toward Hook Creek. Left the forest road via Torrey (Pines?) Road. We reentered the forest from the vicinty of Yosemite area. Our dogs had a nice ride. The newfy just loves to ride. The collie would prefer to herd quail. Or lizards. He doesn't care which. He got to do neither. All in all - just being out and about in the forest is a blessing.

Maybe next week we'll actually hike.