California Dreamin': Monument Peak Trail, Milpitas CA

Saturday 7/25/09, Kevin and I went for a hike in a county park tucked in the hills behind our town. Due to the absence of rain until the fall, the landscape is mostly brown. However, the rolling hills are a beautiful contrast to the bright blue sky. We walked about four miles round trip on Monument Peak Trail. The hot sun and uphill trails made it physically challenging at times with only a few shady areas along the way.

As we were heading back, a flock of about 20 female turkeys were quickly moving through the brush for no obvious reason to us. After we walked a few minutes further down the trail, we knew why. Two tom turkeys were duking it out on the hillside. They obviously were fighting for the rights to the female flock. The females didn't seem too impressed or they would have stayed to watch who won! See the video clip below and turn up the volume:

Many areas along the trail were sectioned by gates. They could be opened by hikers, but were meant to keep the grazing animals from escaping. Twenty feet in front of the next gate blocking our path were two very large bulls who didn't seem too friendly. They weren't budging. We had to walk around them uphill in the brush so we wouldn't spook them and get behind them to get past the gate. They watched us closely, but were either too hot or too bored to move. Nice cow paddy!