The ants go marching...

Weekend recap:
Spent my first Saturday in a while outside, hiking thru Portola Valley. I asked Moward to hitch a ride since the directions to the hike location were literally, "Drive down this long and torturous windy road..." Um...wow, that's a really good way to get people NOT to go hiking here. So after 1/2 an hour of driving, we finally reached the parking lot destination where 30+ Asians waited for us. I'd like to say that I was kidding, but I'm so not.

Hiking was uneventful, other than a small footbridge being inaccessible for the season, so about 75% of our party actually took off their shoes and crossed the creek at the shallow point. The more adventurous, and possibly sillier, of us (which means me) found a large tree that had fallen across the creek to cross. Because there were so many of us, the only wildlife we saw were assorted banana slugs and salamanders. But it was a good chance to catch up with old friends, meet new people, and generally conquer the great outdoors.
Toccata Forte got a scrape on his leg from also trying to scale the giant tree and at the end of the hike, guys were busting out EMT level first aid kits from their cars and packs. I had to laugh, they were offering TF-gauze, alcohol swipes, tourniquets (ok, just kidding on that last one)-but seriously? At one point, I started laughing and teasing TF: "Uh guys, it's just a SCRAPE." it's not like open heart surgery.

Brung and ToccataForte have wood...uh trees.

(Don't they look like saint niches?)

Afterwards we hit up the BUSIEST ASIAN SHOPPING CENTER EVER! ie. Cupertino Village on E. Homestead. for lunch at HC Dumpling House. And um...I just spent about 15 minutes writing up my review on Yelp. So you can read it here: Pen Reviews HC Dumpling House

Hu Chiang Dumpling House

Cupertino Village Shopping Center

10877 North Wolfe Road (off of E. Homestead)

Cupertino, CA 95015

(408) 873-4813