Hiking with Rachel the Day Before Labor

On March 31, the day before the baby's due date (and when I began labor), I went hiking at Sycamore Canyon. I've been wanting to check out this place for a long time and grabbed
this opportunity while the weather was sunny and breezy, cool enough for
hiking in the open. Luckily, it was Cesar Chavez holiday so all friends
were off from work at CSDR, so Rachel Smith was available and willing to
join me for company and precaution in case I fall helpless or start
labor in the middle of the trail.




We found the trails a lot more challenging than anticipated, especially
for me when fully 9-months pregnant! We climbed up a few steep trails,
shuffled down others trying not to fall, and tightroped down a very
narrow trail on a slope only to reach a dead end at a dried out creek
covered deep with dead branches and twigs, and having to return back
where we came. Thank God we found another short-cut trail that led us
back to our cars!It took a full hour for us to hike
around and back.

I felt exhilarated being out in the open, exercising and taking in the refreshing air and expansive view of the Riverside trees, golf courses, hills and vales, especially after many months of preferring to sit indoors, tired from the symptoms of pregnancy. A nice change! Now that I look back, that was clearly a part of my "nesting" urges with such outbursts of energy and desire. Next mission: Mount Rubidoux with the family!