The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
Universal Exercise

make you little breathless at first, bu
you will get your second wind'' after a
bit. and the muscular fatigue is less than
in strolling along.
have spoken of August as the month
for visiting canyons. There are a num-
Der of interesting ones close about the
bay that are not too much frequented to
be pleasant. Sequoia Canyon, near Mil
! Valley, is one OF these. 1t is peculiarly
interesting for it's sylvan growth, as it
presents several distinct "belts" of timber,
each representing separate period.
Redwoods, sycamores, alders and ma
dronas are here, TO be studied, and the
place is well worth visit. The redwood
growth is particularly interesting, and
every Californian ought to be familiar
with the characteristics of this noble tree.
Yet was asked rece ntly by an almost
lifelong resident of the State if the red
wood is q confer.
One of the pleasantest and most profit
able tramps | know in this vicinity is over
the old Jack Hays Canyon road" be-
yond Blair's Park, across the bay. 1t is well
to make an early start for this, which is a
trip quite within the powers of a compara-
tive novice in tramping. Take the electric
car at Washington and Broadway, in Oak
land, for Piedmont. Leave the car at the
park entrance, and take the first road to
the right thereof, keeping the park at your
left. You will find yourself at once trav-
ersing very pretty country, now skirting
tempting angles of laurel and buckeye
alder and oak, the tops of the tall trees
almost in reach of your hand, so deep is
fla IL
mile or so beyond your starting point, and
just at this season can .spick'' your way
through a blackberry tangle where the
ripe fruit hangs thick and tempting, lunch
at the bottom. where tiny stream flows
through, and climb up the ether side, COM
ing out through eucalyptus wood lots near
the old silk culture station.
There is always something rather as
tonishing about the places you find your
self coming out at in that neighberhood.
A slight bend of the ravine, or round of
the hills, brings you to a point of view so
new you think you have come to terra in
cognita, when another turn brings you
close to some familiar landmark. If you
are good walker and wish to go far
atield. you can leave the road by the first
turn to the left, beyond the little school
house, and tramp over the divide
into Contra Costa County, and on
to Walnut Creek, but you will re-
turn by train, as it isl a
stiff trip. In fact, this road is full of pos
sibilities. You candeep along it, and find !
plenty TO interest you, until you have
skirted the foothills and find yourself back |
in Oakland, at Thirteenth avenue, ere you |
know. it. But take advice, and strike into
the road to the left, just before you reach /
the quarry. and follow it, keeping always
TO the left, to where it winds through fields !
of stubble, past cattle-ranch or two, on
to where, growing apparently out Of solid
rock, a solitary redwood tree stands like
sentinel, sole occupant of great field.
The lone sentinel looks out over very
wonderful sight, by the way, and you will
do well to sit down in its shade for
luncheon.
On the one hand, before you, the hills
tumble away, playing leap-frog over each
other's shoulders to where DiabIo towers.
his great head just outlined above them
all, miles away. You will not see much in
5he other direction, but hidden by the
haze lies the Golden Gate, and between
you and it are Oakland, the bay and San