Lafayette and Mount Diablo State Park

Sunday 20th October

We were up early this morning to go out for a run before breakfast - something which is not likely to happen in Dorset.  As time was of the essence we drove to Hellyer Park, did a loop of the lake and an out and back on the Coyote Creek Trail.  Hopefully we will have time to explore further later in the holiday but today we had a deadline to meet and so it was a 5.5 mile run on familiar territory only.

After breakfasting on Whole Foods Almond Croissants (pauses to savour the memory) we solved the conundrum of how to fit two bikes, two suitcases, assorted running shoes and boxes of food into the back of the hire car.  This process involved some choice epithets and a lot of variations before we were finally successful.

Today we were leaving the delightful hospitality of San Jose and heading a little further north and east to Lafayette where an old school friend of Martin's lives.  We have enjoyed visits to Nigel and Kimmen's beautiful house on the hills above the town on previous visits and were looking forward to returning.  The house is set into the hillside with a sloping garden, a large area of decking, an inviting hammock, hot tub and any number of pleasant spots to sit in shade or sunshine and admire the view across the valley.

We arrived in time for Kimmen to give us a guided tour of the garden, about which she is both passionate and knowledgeable, before a delicious al fresco lunch.  They had managed to select many of our favourite things, really good bread with excellent olive oil and balsamic for dipping, cheeses, teryaki salmon and tomatoes all washed down with a delicious Malbec.

After lunch Nigel took us for a hike in Mount Diablo State Park where we did a fairly short but strenuous hike, only about 4 miles but with a ridiculous amount of climbing, affording some superb views. By the time we returned to the house the sun had already set and after a short pause we headed out on the pleasant 30 minute walk to downtown Lafayette where we enjoyed yet another delicious meal at a great restaurant, Chow.

All in all a perfect day but one further delight awaited us......the hot tub.  Nigel and Kimmen retired to a discreet distance so that Martin and I could fully enjoy soaking in the lovely hot water beneath the stars with the moonlight filtering through the trees - bliss!