Elfin Forest

The mind does wander while hiking up a steep hill.  Recently, I started thinking about people asking where home is for us. I usually say "Colorado." That is where I grew up and raised my family.  Home for us isn't a building or place but matters more who is across the table from us and how our days are spent when we are "there" where ever that is.  Our cozy trailer is a good place as long as it moves from time to time.  I guess for us "home" is more of a feeling than a place. But not for more than 3 months at a time.

We had been missing our hikes and decided to head to Escondido to Elfin Forest. We were glad to get an early start since it gets pretty warm inland and appreciated the clouds of May Grey during the steep climb up the Way Up Trail. 

The creek as we crossed into the Elfin Forest

I have never seen bells offered for use at a trailhead for mountain bikers.

Olivenhain Reservoir and Dam is a good thinking place. It helps that there was a good breeze to cool us down.

The Elfin Forest is not only great for hiking but also for delving deeper into the mysteries that surround this area and is rumored to be haunted with hundreds of stories and sightings.

The most popular myth is about the white witch. As the story goes, her husband and son were murdered out here a long time ago. Rumor has is she is still looking for her family, or the person who murdered them. There are also stories of the Northern Diegueno Indians haunting these grounds.

We didn't feel any spirits. We just sweated a lot. Maybe the bike bells help scatter the spirits...

This was a fat horned toad that would not move wither than his eyes would blink. Maybe, he thought we didn't see him or the sun just felt good.

Yep, we made it clear to the top. The lake is on the other side.

What makes your home a "Home"? We like to hear your stories.