Dear Hiker,

Our shorter hikes are apparently a hit – 73 people hiked with us yesterday!  We purposely design three of our monthly hikes (February, March, and August) to be relatively short and easy.  While most enjoy the longer hikes, we like to offer some hikes that are less strenuous in order to accommodate other hikers.  Our newer and less experienced hikers tend to appreciate these shorter hikes, and we hope to see many of them again next month.

Please meet “Dave & Bill Hikes” Saturday, March 13, for a moderate hike at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park in Windsor.  Please arrive at the park entrance by 9:45 AM for a prompt 10 AM departure.  This 6.5 mile hike will last approximately four hours and have an elevation gain of about 1000 feet.  Our hike will consist of two loops, both starting and ending at the parking lot.  We will cover the first loop in four miles, enjoy lunch at the parking lot picnic area, and then gear up for our second loop of 2.5 miles.  Immediately after lunch we will have a half hour of elevation gain, but the big reward is a fantastic view where we can relax for awhile before continuing the rest of the loop.  Plan to wear layered clothing, and bring a lunch and ample liquids.  We hike rain or shine, and don’t forget there is a vehicle charge to enter the park.

Directions to Shiloh Ranch Regional Park: From Santa Rosa, take US 101 north to the Shiloh Road exit.  Head east (right) on Shiloh for approximately 1 mile to Faught Road.  Turn south (right) on Faught and the Park is ahead on the left side.

We encourage you to carpool if possible.  As our group continues to grow, parking can be a problem on occasion.  Anyone wishing to carpool can meet at the St. Francis (Safeway) shopping center in Santa Rosa for a prompt 9 AM departure.  The meeting place is in the corner of the parking lot nearest the Calistoga Road and Highway 12 intersection.  This is a “leaderless” carpool meeting place i.e. it’s up to those who are there to organize the carpool.

As always, we'll bring a cooler filled with potables to facilitate "tailgate socializing" in the parking lot after the hike.

You, or someone you know, might make a great Valley of the Moon State Parks Volunteer.  The 2010 training will be held on March 20 and 27, April 10, 17 and 24, and May 1.  Dave and I went through the training in 2000 and had a great time (our 10^th year anniversary hike is this May 15).  Please contact Susan St. Marie, our Volunteer Coordinator, at 707-938-4827 for further information.

Karen Clark and Jerry Bowerman, who have hiked with us occasionally, are soon starting out on a hike across the country from Delaware to California.  They will be following the American Discovery Trail and expect to take approximately 9 months to complete their trek.  You can follow their adventure by checking out their journal at www.trailjournals.com/karenandjerry.

Please call Dave at 539-8847 or me for further information, or you can access the "Dave & Bill Hikes" web page directly (add it to your “Favorites” list for fast and accurate information about our hikes - including our remaining 2010 schedule) at;

     www.sonic.net/~fmi/daveandbill.html   

"Dave & Bill Hikes" (excluding the Yosemite Road Trip) are sponsored by Sonoma County Regional Parks, California State Parks, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association.

We are adding a San Francisco Road Trip this year.  Like the annual Yosemite Road Trip, it is NOT sponsored by Sonoma County Regional Parks, California State Parks, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association.  The San Francisco Road Trip is scheduled for April 24 and we plan to finalize and publish details after our checkout hike next Saturday.

Dave and I are pleased to announce that Dave & Bill’s 10^th Anniversary Hike will be held on May 15.  We will duplicate the route that we followed on our inaugural hike in May 2000.  We are planning for a BIG turn-out at Sugarloaf and hope that you will join us.

I am also leading “Hike & Taste in the Vineyards” for Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards in Kenwood.  Please visit http://www.kunde.com for details and a complete schedule.

Bill Myers

Kenwood

833-6288

HAI SINGLES EVENT - AN ALTERNATIVE TO DATING AS USUSAL

WHO:
This event is intended for those folks who are both single and unattached. Singles of all ages are welcome, so come see what wonderful connections are possible in just a few hours.
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WHEN:
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Registration opens at 6:30
Event 7:00-10:00 pm
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WHERE:
The Center
735 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA
[on the corner of Montgomery and Jackson Streets in the Financial District]
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COST:
$25.00 at the door [cash & checks only]
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Parking:
1) Free street parking after 6 pm (metered before then), or there is 2) a lot at Jackson and Sansome [one block East of Jackson], and, 3) a lot at Columbus immediately north of Jackson Street (heading towards Broadway) [entrance on the right just shy of 112 Columbus], and 4) a garage at the nearby Hilton Hotel is $3 per hour on Sat night or $12 for 4 hours [enter on Washington Street between Jackson & Montgomery].
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Or Take BART to Montgomery Street Station and walk up Montgomery to Jackson.
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Are you ready to meet more single people who are serious about intimacy and relationship in a way that happens nowhere else? Then come join us at our next singles evening at "The Center" in San Francisco at the corner of Montgomery and Jackson Streets.
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Our event offers a safe and comfortable way to meet other single and unattached people, whether you are actively looking for a partner, just wanting new friends, or just trying to figure out what comes next.
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The event is low-key, well facilitated and usually pretty well balanced between men and women, with about 75 - 100 people normally attending. There are both structured activities and free time, with some exercises to break the ice and get to know people on a deeper level including sharing in a partnered exercise, or experiential exercises which can, if you wish, include hugging or respectfully touching another person's face or hands. You chose your level of participation in the exercises; it's always left up to you to do whatever feels comfortable in the moment. Many find the level of openness and communication to be a very special experience, whether you meet the love of your life or not.
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The evening is hosted by the Human Awareness Institute (HAI). For over 40 years the Human Awareness Institute has helped thousands of people create more love, honesty, dignity, kindness and compassion in their lives. A professional workshop leader will guide you in a variety of playful exercises designed to help you mingle and connect with others in a way that is fun and at the same time provides a real depth of connection.
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Light Refreshments will be served
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For Map & directions go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=The%20Center%20735%20Montgomery%20street%20san%20francisco,%20calif&um=1&sa
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Questions? Send an e-mail to Singlesevent@hai.org or call (510) 217-4242.
For more information about Human Awareness Institute please go to http://www.hai.org