A casual comment on a blog post on Saturday afternoon quickly morphed into a gathering of blogging friends, meeting for the first time face-to-face, on Monday morning. It was a whirlwind of invitations, e-mails, and phone calls. Many people had to decline (What, people have to work?), but Ken @ Nature of a Man and Randy @ Way Points joined Cindy @ Dipper Ranch and me for 7 hours of hiking, chatting, enjoying nature, picture-taking, and snacking. The weather cooperated beautifully with the ending of several days of heavy rain, just in time for our excursion.
One of the themes that stayed with me is the ramifications of nature blogging. How much should we share online about rare or unusual sightings when there are nefarious people who would steal, poach, or profit from our wonder and innocent enthusiasm? In the next couple of weeks a scientific paper is getting distributed, one that's been 4 years in the making. Plus, Cindy has asked for first blogging dibs, and she definitely deserves that right. Until then, my new favorite ID will have to wait, but hopefully I'll have enough other stuff to dazzle regular followers. And, maybe you'll be able to join us next time?
So, Stevens Creek is a new site for Nature ID. While it's technically in Santa Clara County, like Mt. Madonna County Park, it felt more like Memorial Park and Butano State Park in neighboring San Mateo County, exchanging the redwoods there for Douglas-firs here. I love the Santa Cruz Mountains, but as I drove home via Pescadero to avoid the evil commuter Hwy 17 traffic, I breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the afternoon sun on the ocean. I can no longer imagine living anywhere where I can't see open water everyday. In the mean time, I need to figure out the best times to avoid heavy traffic up that way...
3 comments:
A flock of nature bloggers? Neat!
And I'm beginning to understand about open water.
We've been wanting to meet for a while and had hoped to do something more organized later this spring. I'm amazed at how many people I've met through this blog. It's been a fun experience. I have a feeling one of us will cross the pond to visit the other's habitat at some point in the future, Graeme.
I so wish I could have joined you! Looking at all your posts from Monday, it looks like you had a fabulous time!
I agree about having to think about what is shared online in regards to rare or unusual sightings. I think it's always our responsibility to consider potential consequences of information sharing these days. That's why I generally stick to flora and fauna observations we make here on the farm. It's private property, and I'm very unfriendly toward trespassers ;) On public land I think it's a different situation entirely. Sounds like your trip was a success though!
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