The Prose of Kahn Ranch

By mid-May it was too hot in the Gavilans, so we took ourselves to Carmel Valley. First we fueled up indulgently at Jeffrey’s, next to Safeway in Carmel Valley. Hello, pancakes and eggs! Our theory is that it’s easier to carry all those calories on the inside than bring them along in our packs. Then we followed Hitchcock Canyon Road through a settlement of former summer homes and hippie outposts to arrive at our remote trailhead. If you follow in our footsteps, be sure to reserve your space with Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks and print out your permit for your windshield. The locals could be armed and hostile. We hiked a satisfying loop: up to the ridge line, then a winding descent on a faint overgrown trail through pine forest, chaparral, and oak woodland, and finally along a full and scenic creek rimmed by limestone.

 On the way up, a turkey hen jumped directly in front of me on the trail, tailfeathers spread, madly gurgling and running around in a circle. I stopped, puzzled. In a circle? If something was chasing her, she wasn’t going to get away that way. Then I heard a faint peep from a buckeye tree next to the trail. There was at least one turkey chick perched up in that buckeye. Mother turkey was trying to distract me away from her babies. I thought Mother turkey was sending a “Hush, child!” thought bubble to the little chickie, who sent her own thought bubble back, “Mom, why am I in a tree instead of with you?” So I just watched the hen circle and bawkety bawk. Nothing was stronger in my life than protecting my young, too.  Eventually, she returned to the buckeye. Then I gave them some privacy for their happy reunion. 

While we descended, a turkey vulture swooped down to just above us. I wanted a photo of the magnificent creature, but it and we kept moving. Alert readers may remember that vultures are one of my spirit animals. Spirit animals are the ones we feel an affinity for, who visit us in dreams, and whose characteristics align with ours. So far, my spirit animals form a rowdy tribe: vultures, elephants, whales, black bears, Australian shepherd dogs.  Commenters: feel free to add yours!

We took a side trip to visit this very pretty waterfall. While we’d seen no one at all on the trail before, the path to the waterfall had several hikers and even a cute doggie. This must be the popular destination. But a stroll up the creek on a warm day would also be agreeable.