Santa Margarita River: Sandia Creek Park
March 22, 2006
After a long, rainy work week, both Nicole and I thought it would be nice to get out and go for a short hike. We decided to take a drive through the hills around Camp Pendelton and Fallbrook, and then stop for a short hike along the Santa Margarita River near De Luz. The river was pretty murky due to runoff from recent storms, however the hillsides were starting to show some green and the air was clean and fresh. We first stopped to climb a hill on the border of Oceanside and Camp Pendelton. We soaked in the view and then headed down the road toward Fallbrook and De Luz. After a nice drive through the countryside, we made out final stop at Sandia Creek Park (the same place I visited a year earlier to take pictures of a flooded Santa Margarita River roaring over the road). The river is pretty wide here for Southern California standards, and if not for the poor water quality, would make a great swimming hole. That being said, there were some really nice shade trees along the banks, one of which was perfectly shaped for napping in. We called it the Hammock Tree. From here. the river went into a series of cascades before splitting in two around a large, rocky island. The banks of the river were made of a fine sand, and there were rocks in the river large enough to lounge on if one so desired. Up the hill, the "Three-Headed Tree" decided to show off by defying gravity. The trunk of one tree grew straight out parallel to the ground for many yards, all the while sending up another large tree straight off the middle of the original trunk. Hmm, mutant trees... you might not want to drink the water :)
This large shade tree was able to take root on a rocky island in the Santa Margarita River. The river was flowing too fast and deep at the time to make it over to the island... Plus, it was a litlte cold to be getting wet. The view from the bank was good enough.
Close up of some leaves that were growing from the "Hammock Tree."
"Three-headed Tree" on the banks of the Santa Margarita River.
Nicole looking beautiful as usual.
(Left) Nicole relaxes on the "Hammock Tree." (Right) Suddenly I find myself on the otherside of the lense!
Ahhhhh, The Hammock Tree.
Nicole and the Hammock Tree.
(Left) The Three-Headed Mutant Tree. (Right) Nicole tries to dodge the camera by hiding behind another tree.