January 22, 2017
Empire Mine Road, Antioch, CA
Total distance walked: 4.32 miles.
February, the month of love. Besides God, my family and our country, I love hiking. Put them together and life becomes blissful.
I fell in love with hiking when my husband took our two oldest sons and me on a bushwhacking, boulder climbing trek to the top of a waterfall. Once there, we scooted on our bottoms to the brink of the fall then plunged into the cold pool of water below.
Fast forward one score and seven years, hiking has become my favorite pastime. Whether a gentle walk through a meadow to see wildflowers; or a steep, heart-pounding climb up a mountain; or a quiet stroll in the rain, I love it all.
Each January Joseph and I do a first hike of the year. With all the rain we received this winter, we chose a mud-free walk along Empire Mine Road in Antioch. It is a paved road that is no longer accessible to vehicle traffic.
Andrew joined us as did Monster and Bruce (the dogs).
We followed the double-yellow lines away from a neighborhood that is nestled between rolling foothills and the Antioch bridge.
Bruce, who spends lots of time cooped up in an apartment, was happy to prance in the rain.
Monster paraded about for a moment but preferred to be held.
The five of us moseyed along the wet road jumping puddles until we reached the abandoned slaughterhouse. According to urban folklore, the slaughterhouse is haunted by the ghost of an old man.
Chains, leftover from the meat processing days, creaked as they swayed in the wind adding an air of mystery to the place.
On that wet day in January, we saw fat cattle—safe from the defunct butchery, a humongous bull, an abandoned truck, but no sign of the legendary slaughterhouse ghost.
God. Family. Country….and hiking, even in the rain. What do you love?
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 
I always love reading your blogs and viewing your photography, which has become increasingly better since you bought your new camera. What makes so many of your blogs even more special is seeing your family sharing your hikes.
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Thanks, Dad. We’ve done a lot of family hikes for sure.
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Looks like a great day! Like you, my top priorities are Family, Friends & Nature. Throw in come good books and a little chocolate and things are great for me! Happy Valentine’s Day.
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A good book, I agree. 🙂 Thanks, Patti
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I love following your hikes and the photography that comes along. The photos help tell the story. I am with you on what is important, faith, friends, family, finding joy in each day, a great book, with a cup of tea. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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All good things to love. Thanks, Terri. 🙂
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Now you’re getting high tech… tweeting your blog link. I like that. 🏃🏻♀️
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I forgot about that. I have had it linked for a long time.
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I was happy to see the dogs included, as they should be when you talk about things we love.
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They are part of our family.
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Happy Valentine’s Day Janet. …to you and ALL of your hiking buddies.
My “love list” starts the same as yours, but I must add indoor plumbing, coffee, imagination, and a baby’s laughter. … I could go on but I think all this could be rounded up in the word … LIFE!
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Good answers, Ellen. I love (must have) coffee in the morning. 🙂
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Hikes through areas with abandoned buildings and machinery can be so interesting in a slightly sad, nostalgic way.
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