Part 2, SF Peninsula,

[cellboy]

I forgot to mention that south of the town of Woodside, next to the town of Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto is Stanford University. They own over 10,000 acres. Almost adjacent to Crystal Springs lands, this makes it a pastoral heaven. And of course causes real estate prices in the area to soar. The lands, mostly open space, is leased to the local livestock owners (yes they still exist there, surrounded by cities). And Stanford gladly allows the public to hike, horseback ride throughout most of the property. Some of the very narrow back roads behind the property are incredible. Rising up though the Redwoods, with gully's 100's of feet below. This is truly a marvelous area. NOTE: Most of the redwoods along this coast range were felled during the gold rush, to build San Francisco. So these are 2nd and 3rd growth stands. However on the West side of the range, in the canyons, there are wonderful original groves which San Mateo County and Santa Clara County have preserved as parks for hiking, camping, picnicking, and swimming (creeks).


Stanford U