Three for one hike around Sonoma

Coppertone and I wanted an easy stroll around town today since the air had finally cleared of smoke from the wildfires in Sonoma and Napa counties.  We made a circular route from Sonoma Overlook to Montini Preserve to the Sonoma Bike Path.  Since most of the distance was spent in Montini that's where I'll log this effort.

We parked at the Sonoma Overlook parking area and started uphill.  Because we wanted to take it easy today we did not go all of the way to the top of the overlook.  Instead, we turned on the Cutoff Trail that crosses Norbom Road and into the Montini Open Space Preserve.  We used Rattlesnake Trail, Spotted Fawn Trail and Holstein Trail to traverse the preserve.

Of course, we stopped by the old quarry along the way and stacked up some more loose rocks into cairns to join the many others already erected by others.  The views over Sonoma from the Holstein Trail were not crystal clear but they must have been MUCH better than what would have awaited us just a couple of days earlier due to smoke.

When we go to the entrance of Montini at 4th Street West we elected not to dump out on the road but walk along the well trodden path that parallels it before intersecting with the Sonoma Bike Path.  We walked along this paved hike and bike trail, stopping at the Vallejo Home State Historical site to check out the measures being taken to try and protect the small vineyard planted there.  Fencing, streamers, scarecrows and a hawk kite were all being used.  In the past some harvests were completely lost to ground squirrels as well and we could still see evidence of them around.  We could see grapes on the vines though, so perhaps there's hope.

We hoped off of the bike path at First Street West and walked north to get back to the Sonoma Overlook parking area.  We stopped briefly at the Sonoma Veterans' Cemetery to visit the fresh grave of friend Jim Hill who passed away just weeks ago.

It was the first time hiking in way too long.  Scheduling and things like fires keep getting in the way.  We need to work on what we can to remove those impediments.