A couple of weeks ago, I had a “duh” moment. Every Wednesday I attend a 6am yoga class (at San Diego Yoga Studio, which I highly recommend). Afterwards I go to work and eat breakfast. Work is quiet these days, so getting to work by 7:30am is not really necessary. It just occurred to me that I could go from yoga to a hiking destination on the west side of the Gauntlet Of Traffic. So last week, and again this past Wednesday, I hit Torrey Pines.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, just south of Del Mar, is an untouched area of coastline that includes the rare Torrey pine, found only there and on Santa Rosa Island. Parking is not free in the reserve, but there is beach-side parking just outside of it, which is not a problem at 7:30 in the morning. In addition to its wild beauty, Torrey Pines is also infamous for the steep driveway from the beach to the visitor’s center. Starting from the beach parking, it’s about a ten-minute walk uphill to the start of the trail network.

On last week’s visit, I completed the Guy Fleming loop. This made for about a 40-minute walk, including the walk up and down the drive, and time for me to stop and gawk at the stunning view. This week, I proceeded past the Guy Fleming loop, to the Parry Grove trail. This trail was similarly short and sweet, but included some steps down to the namesake grove, as well as a native plant garden (the Whitaker Garden).

And not to beat a dead horse, but again with the flowers! Love it here this year!!