Team Meeting Places

Curt Weil's Cool Spot

by Curt Weil

On a soft summer night, we Joysticks like to go to two special places in Palo Alto, even though neither allows us a fire.

The first is in front of, and slightly Northerly of the Palo Alto Airport control tower — there is a small bench for three or four, and it is a front-row seat for watching planes land and take off.

The second requires that you park on the other side of the airport, near the little terminal building and walk into the Baylands Park, about 1/2 mile to the Nature Interpretive Center building; walk around behind it and there is a long wooden walkway/causeway that leads out over the tidal flats to a neat observation point, complete with a large bench--cool spot, quiet place.

GnP's Cool Spots

by John Lasersohn

The Grunt 'n' Pokers usually meet indoors, but when we go outdoors we have enjoyed these places:

• Climbing the Windy Hill trail from the Alpine Road trailhead, far above the intersection with Portola Road, in Portola Valley. The trailhead is on the right about 3 miles above Alpine Inn (Rosotti's). This has a commanding vista of the entire bay area, including the city on a clear day, and even the Marin headlands if really clear.
  
  
• The Rhus Ridge trailhead of Rancho San Antonio, off Moody Road in Los Altos Hills. This steep mountain access trail brings you up in a fast 30 minute hike or a leisurely 45 minutes, to a spot where the views of the Santa Cruz mountains, and its critters, is amazing. Bobcat, owl, hawk, deer, turkey and oak grasslands, with trails connecting you to the conifer canyons of Black Mountain. My friend Richard was turned onto this trailhead recently, and now hikes the summit trail regularly.
  
  
• Finally, a beach you can stay at til 10 PM! Drive to Santa Cruz and head south; take the Rio Del Mar exit and head down to the beach next to the general store and restaurant. Fires are allowed in pits, though you may not have much privacy, it's a very nice spot.