[Journal entry for December 23, 2014; Skyline Drive, near Los Altos, California]. Today is my last day in California; I am flying back to New York tonight. After checking out of the Motel 6 in Belmont where I stayed the night, I took Route 92 over to Interstate 280 and headed south.

I stopped briefly at an overlook near Edgewood Road, by the southern end of Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir, a long and narrow lake on the San Andreas Fault. The view of the hills of the coast range is very nice, but the reservoir is mostly obscured by low hills in the foreground. The rounded oak trees scattered around on this arid land are pretty. Long beards of lichen hang from their boughs.

I took Route 84 up into the hills, joining Skyline Drive (Route 35) at the ridge crest and taking it south. As its name implies, it follows the ridge, past parkland, wineries and tree farms. This road brings back memories: for several years back in the 1980’s, I helped my friend and colleague Tom Hanks (the seismologist, not the actor) and his kids select the perfect Christmas tree at one of these tree farms, and then decorate it back at his house.

I stopped at several overlooks that afforded views both east and west. The most memorable was the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. The view of San Francisco Bay and the hills to its east is remarkable. The view of the hills of the rest of the Coast Range to the west is also very nice. I had the impression that I could see the Pacific Ocean, way in the west, though I was not completely sure that I was seeing water and not ground-hugging haze.

I continued on the drive, past the Route 9 intersection, as far as the main entrance of Castle Hill State Park. After spending the day visiting that park, I drove to the airport, taking Route 9 down out of the hills.