Patriot Trail
Today’s hike, was one of my favorite local hikes, is to head to the flagpole on Patriot Trail in San Juan Capistrano, CA. This trail is popular with hiker, mountain bikers, dog walkers, even equestrians. I recommend checking it out, next time you venture to South Orange County
California in June
Just as I finished my hike today, the sun finally decided to show its face, after what seemed like an eternity of “gloom.” June gloom is a factor of living close to the coast in California. It’s a funny phenomenon we call the marine layer.
June Gloom
Sometime around May or as late as July it tends to roll on in, and blanket the area in a thick blanket of tiny suspended water droplets. The clouds that hovers along the coastline here, sometimes extending inland for many miles. It’s all a result of the change in sea temperatures, interacting with the air temperature, creating a healthy marine layer.
Just as Kansas is perfectly primed to have twisters, we have just the right combinations of factors, to produce a marine layer, just like clockwork every June when the conditions are right. Its a weather phenomenon almost no one looks forward to, since those in sunny California, tend to like the sunshine.
Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder
If you are a person with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression, or simply run on sunshine, you are going to feel this marine layer emotionally. I am affected by it in many ways. I notice my energy, and mind start to slow down. The endless energy I might have on a sunny day, is more muted.
Fleeing the Marine Layer
The only remedy to the marine layer, that I know of is driving inland to where there is more sun, or to hike away the blues. Exercise seems to cure just about every ailment, having to do with the brain. It gets your endorphins going, and the feel good chemicals start flowing.
Head for the Hills
Today the hills had a parched look, as they do in late summer, when everything is all dried up. The marine layer was not helping things be any more cheerful.
The hills were like a blank canvas, with just a brown and grey background color. It was none too inviting, and yet another familiar face. Even living in sunny coastal California comes with its grey days.
A Very Dry Year
We have very wet years, and dry years here. Sometimes the high snow levels in the Sierras, and Angeles Forest, stick around into August. Then there are years like this, when it’s very dry. This is a blessing to hikers at higher altitude. Up in places like Big Bear right now, and Mount Baldy, there are many colorful blooms along the trail. Not so much here in coastal Orange County.
We are barely into July now and the only colors still dotting the landscape, seem to be the purple thistles, yellow coastal sunflowers, and wild fennel, the most drought tolerant of the native plants.
The mustard plants of early spring are brown and brittle, fading quickly into dust. I hear them rustling softly in the breeze, as the wind blows.
Little birds dart about in this dry brush. Spotting small creatures, is much simpler now, since there are few places to hide.
A Baby Rattlesnake
I saw my first baby rattlesnake today. He was moving ever so slowly, through the heaps of dry, decaying brush. He was maybe a foot and a half long, and less than an inch wide. He ever so slowly and silently crossed the trail, before meandering around in the brush at bit, and slithering off.
Snake Venom
Baby rattlesnakes, are nothing to scoff at. Their venom is actually much more lethal, that an adult rattlesnake. Their immature jaws cannot control the release of it yet, and tend to unload all of it, when they bite.
Time to Get Motivated
It’s times like these, when I feel somewhat unmotivated, that I need to push myself even more. So I hope if you’re sitting around not knowing what to do with all this gloom, why not just go get outside? If you’re like me, you will glad you did, and the June gloom will be no more.
The flagpole was my goal for the day, and making it there, is a small victory. If your’e battling seasonal affective disorder, just know your’e not alone. Hope you will head for the sunshine, or at least head for the hills, next time June gloom strikes.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2021 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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