Ring Mountain Loop

Saturday morning. My usual backyard warmup before taking on the day.... I had hoped to wake up in the big snowy mountains...it was not to be. We did venture out for a local hike with views galore.
Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve.
This piece of Open Space is 367 acres, and home to a very unique geology and microclimate.
Grassy slopes, coastal oaks and rocks thought to once lay at the bottom of the ocean.
We could see far with today's clear skies. Looking toward San Quentin, we meandered to the top of this 602 ft. mountain.

Mt. Tamalpais in the distance, with it's own ever changing weather hovering above.

Rocks, like rasins in a batter are at every footstep and in all sizes. The soil here contains much serpentine, which hosts extensive wildflowers come spring.

Rounding this bend we were now headed east.

Dad lingered.

Passing by views of San Francisco, and closer are the towns of Tiburon & Belvedere Island.

Happy face.

An amazingly clear day!

Ahhhh! Thank you!

Always nice to get a hug from mom :)

We could really see the shape of the Tiburon Peninsula.

The Richmond Bridge appeared in the distance.

Shadows with us.

East Bay in the distance.

We had now made a full circle.

Passing by a favorite local climbing crag, called Split Rock.

Another look back through mustard grass towards the Richmond Bridge.

We finished our hike with smiles.

A bit of a magical local spot. Hope we can return here for the wildflower blooms.

Have a nice rest of the weekend friends!