A Hidden Gem

Chabot Regional Park

Ickey: Oh no, we’re lost again, aren’t we?

Beanpole: Hey, getting lost is pretty fun!

I am admittedly not the best driver, and constantly find myself getting lost. I found out today that it is indeed possible to get lost while being armed with both printed directions and a navigation system.

While intending to take Ickey on a relaxing evening hike at the Redwoods Regional Park, I somehow took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up on one of those dreaded stretches of winding road that go on and on without any opportunity to make a U-turn. I felt myself getting more anxious the farther I drove along this road that led to who knew where. Finally, I spot a small outlet on the side of the road that I pull into. It turns out that it is a parking space to a lesser known entrance to the Chabot Regional Park.

Ickey and I jump out of the car, and go off exploring. To our delight, we discover lovely wild flowers and abundant greenery shaded among a canopy of tall, tall trees. The place feels even more special because we have it all to ourselves. We can hear a small stream running along the path, and feel patches of sunshine through the thicket of trees. After a stressful week, it feels like a breath of paradise.

If we hadn’t gotten lost (noticed how I wrote “we” as if Ickey was driving too), we’d never have found this special place.

Sometimes it takes getting lost to uncover unexpected treasures.