暖冬cool夏
這裏一年四季溫暖如春，沒有酷暑沒有嚴寒......
正文
我們的隊伍大家基本上是一個年齡檔的，孩子大都大了，離家了，空巢了。開始時，隊伍裏還有一兩對台灣夫婦，走著走著，最後剩下的全是清一色的大陸背景。我們來自祖國的五湖四海，經曆相似，年齡相仿，為了共同的目標--強身健體-走到了一起。
最初，我們不厭其煩周複一周地走著根據地裏的一條老路。像大多數南加的山，一年四季除了春天綠上一個月左右，其他十一個月基本上是荒山。荒涼的山中並沒有什麽標致性的東西。不過我們還是發現了走了四miles左右後，高處有一個像測量儀器一樣的東西，頂端好像有個的紅色蓋子，遠遠望去，燈塔似的，隱約可見，我們稱之為"紅房子"，我們的軟終點也就設在那裏。通常到了紅房子，大家就會心照不宣地覺得今天的任務完成了，可以返程了。這樣一個來回大概八個miles左右。興致高漲時，會在紅房子下停一停，等大夥都齊了，再決定要不要再往前走一點。記得有過好幾次超越此界的，體力好的打頭陣的快遞哥們還曾經沿著這條道一直走，走到了海邊。
漸漸地，隨著人員的加入，隊伍的變化，大家開始蠢蠢欲動地探索起新路徑來，遂就有了走新路和走老路的討論。每周，大家會在微信群裏互相交流通氣周末的匯集點。熱情高漲時，周二就有人再問，這周六爬哪兒？原本純粹鍛煉身體的活動慢慢地溶入了更多的趣味性，觀賞性和娛樂性。
隊伍裏有一對夫妻, 先生叫C, 太太叫J，住在附近城市，每周六早上要多開一點路程趕來與我們一起爬山。兩夫妻都是複旦高材生，早年留學德國的物理博士，後移居美國做IT。C身材高瘦，脾氣溫和，為人憨厚，是大家眼中的好好先生。他的包包裏常常背著為太太準備的多餘的瓶裝水和小點心。
2015年7月18號的周六，隊伍和往常一樣，走在根據地的老路上。 走著走著，我們這六個(四女兩男)落在後麵的"新路派"，看到了一支新的分叉口，一經提議，大家便心領神會走了進去。 踏進新路的那一瞬間，C興奮地說，"現在腳下走的每一步路都是新的"。 無疑，探索新路帶給人的全新感受給了我們一些人更多的期待和活力。 在我的記憶裏，C的形象是和他的這句金句緊緊相連的。
新路比較幽靜，先是一個緩緩長長的下坡路，穀底長著高高的橡樹，可能因為穀底有點水的原因，相對山坡上的植被，這個山穀比較的蔥鬱。路的兩旁聳立著一些高大被風化了的岩石，神態各異。走完長長的低穀後是一段比較陡峭的山路。在說笑聲中，大家好像也不費力地爬了上去，隨後還勇敢地爬上了高高矗立在那裏的岩石。大大的岩石時而嶙峋，時而平坦，隊員們你前我後互相幫助地攀了上去。記不清太多的細節了，也不記得是哪位美女要從一塊石頭跳到另一塊，需要帥哥拉一把，那時C正巧在附近的石頭上，就順勢拉了一把。 估計大家可能就開玩笑地說了一句類似帥哥拉美女的話， 隻見C，停頓半秒種，看著剛才拉過的手掌，不慌不忙地說了一句，"那今天回家，這手就不洗了"，末了，又好像加了一句，"你懂得"。頓時間，大家被C的幽默笑得前仰後合，空蕩的山穀回蕩著我們開心的笑聲。誰敢說我們國男木訥，不懂風情，不懂幽默的?
7月25日，時隔一周，我們這幫人新鮮勁還沒有過，帶著隊伍，一共九人，又走了一趟這條新發現的路徑，結果卻出了一件事。我們大家興高采烈地走著，迎麵碰到了一小隊人馬，告訴我們這是一條封閉的路(隻有每月的第三個星期六開放，上個星期小分隊行走時，碰巧是第三個星期六)，如果要走，要事先預約，得到許可，領到像他們胸前掛的證一樣，才可以行走。當時大夥停了下來，因為不了解事情的嚴重性，大夥又走了那麽遠，如果折回，路太遠。加上還有一個媽媽那天要回去給女兒開生日party，所以大夥就繼續前行。估計那一幫人看我們不聽勸，打電話報告了，所以巡警開車攔在了出口處。九個人除了那位急著回家的媽媽趕在警察到來之前走出去，其他八人全部落網。那天，我爬陡坡時，心髒又不給力，遠遠落在隊伍後麵。當前方從微信裏叮咚傳來消息，我和某人躲在山中，想躲開巡警的視線，結果盡職的巡警，親自來迎接我們。好在後來發現我們是一夥的，就沒有另外開罰單 (這裏有以前寫過的一篇博文《爬山拿罰單》)。一兩個月後，罰單如期而至，一共$280，八人平分，大家痛快地掏了錢。那位漏網的媽媽事後一定也要一起分擔，在大夥一致否決的情況下，到年底還買了糕點，每人一盒，加起來價值早已超過$35。這就是我們團結可愛的隊伍!
July 18, 2015 was a day when we found a new trail in the old base valley. Six or seven of us parted with two or three advanced team members after about 3 miles trek, and chose a new trail instead of following them. At the entrance of the new trail, there is a low poster, with some small codes written on, which none of us paid much attention to.
Entering the depth of the trail, we found it a bit lusher and more secluded, some tall oak trees canopying. Old huge stones, eroded and shaped by the sand and wind, stand on the side. Then this long flat trail is connected by an uphill, steep and strenuous. When we triumphantly ascended to the top, we climbed to the big rocks overlooking the valley, relishing at the new view and the find. Guys lent hands to ladies hopping on and off the rocks, and jokes were played along, our laughter echoing in the empty valley. It was through such an intimate time that I got to know more about Mr. C. and Ms J, a couple who later moved to Northern CA, and completed Rim to Rim hike with their new team.
The new trail is a loop that leads us back to an exit that meets the old road, with only about a mile left for us to complete. It was a blissful hike, leaving us sweating but contented. But when we hiked again the following week on July 25, 2015, something unexpected happened that held us back from setting upon the trail again.
July 25, 2015 was just another usual sunny day. The lingering excitement from last week made us set on the newfound trail again with a group of 9 people. Once we were into the lower valley for about a mile, we were greeted by some hikers coming from the opposite direction. They stopped us and showed us the badges on their chests, pointing out that we did not have those, and thus were not authorized to hike the trail. I was baffled when the message was carried over to us by our team members. We did not take it seriously, plus we were more than halfway to reach the destination, turning back would mean more time. One mom was in a hurry to go back for her daughter’s birthday party. So we continued on in spite of the warning.
It happened that day that strenuous ascent put me on short breath and dizziness again. Sitting on the grass for rest, my husband and I was left behind from the team. About forty minutes later, my cell phone dinged with a wechat message from a team friend, telling me not to proceed, as a patrolling ranger stopped them at the exit, and issued a ticket to the team for the violation of hiking on a closed trail without authorization. Those people we met at the valley must have reported it. My husband and I looked around. There was no way out, no alternative way in sight unless we turned around and headed back.
The noon sun was on the high sky, beaming down relentlessly. We found a shady spot next to a bush and sat agitatedly. Wechat messages kept piling in, updating us the situation. Time ticked by. More than half an hour later, when the messages in the group finally died down, the ranger emerged from the end of the trail, walking towards us. We ducked our heads in our hats as low as it could be, wishing not to be seen. But as his steps came closer, we knew that we were like trapped rabbits. We raised up to greet him. Conversations were ensued, and my husband’s driver license information was copied down on his pad. A further identification of us with the team saved us an additional ticket. We were told that a notice of penalty would be issued in the following weeks.
In about a month or so, a fine of $280 for the violation duly mailed to Mr. J, who gave the police his information. Eight of us shared and paid for $35 each (one person hiked so fast that day for her daughter’s birthday party that she exited before the ranger arrived.) Later we know that some trails, like this one, are only open to the public once a week, i.e., every 3rd Saturday of the month, being closed the rest of the weeks. It will only be available to those who apply online and get authorized, with a guide to lead the way.
It is a lesson we've learnt to always follow the rules, big or small.
暖冬，國慶節快樂
暖冬新的一周快樂！
Thanks for "canopy"; it is a useful word.
這樣的活動大家在一起真的好開心，又鍛煉了身體，身心愉悅，非常喜歡這樣的團隊。
最後借用暖冬的話“孩子大了，聚少離多，舍不得也得舍得了。過好我們自己的日子吧，我總是這麽告訴自己“很是觸動，共勉！
問好暖冬並祝夏安！
你們的團隊真好！