The Grotto Trail

It's been a rainy week with sick kids.  Nathaniel was sick from Sunday to Thursday.  Then after being in the house so long he felt well enough for a little walk.  During a break in the clouds we went to a small canyon where they have a Chumash Indian cultural center.

 The whole area was filled with California Live Oak whose branches reached down to the ground making large dome enclosures.

 Seems like something is always blooming around here.

 It was good to get some fresh air after almost a week indoors.

 This is a Chumash reed hut.

 Nathaniel imagined having this to play in with his buddies.

 Saturday, during another break in the torrential rain, we drove way up into the Santa Monica Mountains to Circle X Ranch.  Our hike took us down along a stream, past a couple waterfalls.

 It was called the Grotto Trail.  Very muddy after the rains.

 The water went through giant boulders.  We did a little rock climbing, but with our muddy boots and the wet rocks, we were pretty conservative.

It's very pretty after a rain - bright clear colors.  A lovely place to hike if you can stomach the twisty narrow mountain road to get there.