Redwood Canopy Ziplining Tour

Ziplining in the Redwoods is an amazing experience. It was on my to-do list for a long time so when Anne mentioned she is interested in trying it out, I jumped at the opportunity right away. We picked a weekend and booked the tour. Did not regret it at all.

This activity is arranged by Mt Hermon Adventures in Santa Cruz. They have 3 different activities The one we chose was called Redwood canopy tour in which we zipline through 6 lines and cross two aerial bridges. Its a 2 hour activity and can accommodate up to 8 people at a time. They have several slots available so it should be fairly easy to get a booking. It costs $89-$99 per head depending on the time of the year. It is pricey and there are no discounts available as far as I searched. I would say it is totally worth the price as the activity is conducted in a very organized manner with detailed instructions from experienced and friendly guides.

Anne, Nush and I in our gear

At our allocated time, Anne, Nush and I arrived and were introduced to the two guides for the day. They helped with with the harness, gloves and helmet. All of them were super smelly so you will need to go home and shower! We practiced ziplining on a mini line just to get a feel of it and also to go over the basic safety protocols. Nothing too complicated.

Our awesome guide Mitch

The first one was very daunting. Walking across the aerial bridge onto the platform built on the tree was scary enough but from the platform when I looked down below it made me very nervous. At that point we were only 35 ft above the ground! I took a deep breath and without looking down, crossed my first line. When I reached the other end, I realized it was so simple and not at all scary. All the following ones felt easy and I actually looked around the trees and at the creek below. It was as if I was flying. A very exhilarating experience!

Walking across the aerial bridge

The highest one was 150 ft above the ground. The guides talked a little about the redwoods and the forest. They even kept throwing a challenge at each level like standing at the edge of the platform and leaning back which I was too chicken to try. They were nice enough to capture pictures for us as well. The last course does have a camera that automatically clicks pictures which you can purchase at the end of the tour.

It was time well spent and an activity that I enjoyed. They do have another tour which is like an obstacle course which looks very challenging as well as fun. That one's for another day!

What: Ziplining
Where: Mt Hermon Adventures, 17 Conference Dr, Felton CA 95018
When: Throughout the year
Cost: $89-$99

Gokarting

I'm back after a while. Work is keeping me busy and I know that isn't a very good excuse. Anyways one of the fun things I have done in a while is gokarting. I did try it once in India and that was an outdoor one. 

I planned a gokarting event at K1 Speed with my colleagues. Everyone was interested to begin with but as usual people started dropping out as we were nearing the actual day. In the end it was Vishnu and I along with my colleagues Ronnie, Sulekha and her husband. 

K1 Speed does not accept reservations for groups smaller than 8. This meant we had to show up there and wait for our turn. It being Friday evening, the wait was quite long. I think we waited almost an hour before we could gokart. 

Each race consists of 14 laps and the price for each race is $20. If you buy more than 1, it gets cheaper. We decided to go for the 3 race package which costed us $45 plus a $6 license fee. We were given helmets and assigned specific carts. The actual race was a lot of fun. The track has lots of twists and turns which adds a lot of thrill to the race. There are employees with flags to tell us to slow down or give way to other carts depending on the situation. 

The race track

The wait between each race was a little annoying and I wish they happened one after the other. To add to it I had not eaten before so by the time we were done, I was starving. On the other hand, eating right before the race would also not be a good idea given all the sharps turns and curves you have to maneuver. 

Despite that I enjoyed the actual experience of the race. I wasn't racing to win. My goal was to just have fun and I did pretty well. Vishnu managed to win one of the races which is pretty impressive. It was a nice friday night activity with friends.

The winner!

What: Gokarting

Where: K1 Speed, Santa Clara

Cost: $20-$45

Escape From The Time Travel Lab

Ever since I played the last Escape Room game, I have been waiting for a new one.  When I read about the latest Time Travel Lab room, I knew I had to try it. This time, I had a much bigger group comprising mostly of my colleagues. Everyone except Vishnu and I were first timers but super excited about the game. Luckily for us, no outsiders joined our team.

Happy face

As we were familiar with the set up of the game and learned from our mistakes from the past, we met up for dinner before the game to strategize. I explained the rules and split us into two groups: searchers and solvers. The former looking for clues and the latter unraveling the mystery. This really helped us become organized and we did not waste much time.

I won't reveal much about the game and spoil anyone's fun. I will say that it was a lot of hard work and suspense. The time travel element of the game was superb. We almost managed to get to the very end of the game and then ran out of time. Everyone had a blast running around rummaging for clues, puzzles and finally the key to escape. An evening of detective work, laughter and race against time. Can't wait to do more escape rooms!

Sad face

What: The Real Escape Game

Where: http://realescapegame.com/

Cost: $39

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sonoma

As mentioned in my post on our recent trip to Sonoma, we checked off one more item on our bucket list-Hot Air Balloon Ride. I was super excited about the ride and the thought of flying and floating in the air with views of the wine country made me jump with joy. 

When ever I can, I look for deals so I don't have to pay full price. Luckily, I found a good one for Sonoma Valley Balloon on Groupon. On the day of our flight, we were asked to meet at a Starbucks parking lot on Airport Boulevard at 6.30am. Yes, that early! The reason is that the hot air balloons can only fly when the winds are calm and cool which happens only during the mornings. Depending on the wind direction and other conditions for flight, the pilot will choose the launch site. From the parking lot, a shuttle took us to the launch site for the day. 

It was interesting to watch the crew attach the balloon to the basket (also known as the gondola) and inflate it. The baskets vary in size and can hold anywhere from 4-20 passengers. Our basket was one of the larger ones and could hold around 16 people. The crew lay the basket on its side, spread out the balloon and attached it. A fan was turned on that inflated the balloon. Once there was enough air inside the balloon, the crew blasted a burner flame inside it. This heated the air, building pressure until the balloon inflated completely and started to lift. The basket was attached to the ground vehicle, at the same time crew members held the basket down until the pilot was ready to fly. 

When it was time to fly, the pilot released a steady stream of hot flame which heated up the balloon and lifted it off the ground. It was beautiful to watch the entire process. 

Depending on the wind direction and current, the balloon floats in the air and moves while the ground crew follow the balloon in their vehicle to assist with the landing. The experience of flying was incredible. It wasn't a scary one at all. In fact, I did not feel the wind or any movement at all as we were moving at the speed of the currents. The lush green valley was a beautiful sight to look at. The only trouble was the hot sun. So make sure you have your hat and sunscreen to protect you. The flight lasted for an hour and then the pilot found a good place to land. 

Post the landing, we were taken to a restaurant for a champagne toast and socializing. The whole experience was a lot of fun. I must admit that since there was no adrenaline rush but a rather passive activity, I would not do this again. Nevertheless, I recommend everyone have this experience at least once in their life.

Camping Trip at Big Basin Redwoods State Park

I'm not one to give up on basic comforts while traveling, like a nice cosy bed to sleep on or a private bathroom. Naturally, camping did not occur on my list of activities to try. However, when a friend asked me if I wanted to join her family on a camping trip, something made me say yes. Perhaps a sense of adventure or maybe because I haven't taken a trip in a few months and I was desperate. Nevertheless, we ended up going on our first ever camping trip in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.

Camping trip-Big Basin Redwoods State Park

This park is an hour's drive from Sunnyvale and is close to Saratoga. It is the oldest State park in California and is home to giant redwood trees. The drive up to the park is through super windy roads and people with motion sickness need to ensure they are well prepared before the journey. The campsites can be booked online.

Since we had never camped before, gear like tents, sleeping bags and stove were rented. Some of the basic stuff like camping chairs and lanterns were bought. I came to understand that a camping trip for two people for just one night meant carrying a car full of luggage, right from tents, firewood, food, snacks, water, warm clothes, lanterns, chairs to odds and ends. A lot of preparation for an overnight stay!

Me clearing our path while hiking :)

Wild Mushrooms

We didn't get a chance to hike much and spent most of the evening pitching the tents and trying to get the campfire started. The logs were slightly damp and had to be broken into smaller pieces before they could catch fire. Quite a time-consuming process.

Vishnu pitching the tent

Our tent

Me trying to start the campfire

Campfire

We had nachos for snacks. Burgers were grilled and marshmallows were roasted for an authentic camping experience :)

Yummy Nachos

It was quite a cold evening and we were freezing. While warming ourselves around the fire, we saw a huge raccoon stake out our campground for food. It was a very scary experience as I had never seen a raccoon before let alone one that big!

Despite wearing several layers and covering myself in blankets, the cold did not let me sleep well. I woke up stiff and with a body ache. I must say sleeping in sleeping bags is not comfortable at all.

After freshening up, we tried restarting the campfire but in vain. The cold was unbearable. We quickly had some bagels with cream cheese for breakfast, started packing and headed home. It was a very time consuming and tiring. Still a fun and learning experience. This trip reinforced the fact that I'm not the camping-type. I prefer a comfortable cabin with heating and a warm bed.

Ajay making coffee for breakfast

Real Escape Game

My latest activity was a super fun game called the Real Escape game. Ten people are locked inside a room and the aim of the game is to kind a key to get out of the room. There are lots of puzzles and clues hidden inside and solving all of them ultimately leads to the key.

I have never done something like this before and was absolutely thrilled when I heard a friend mention this. Since it is more fun doing this activity with people you know rather than with strangers, I managed to convince a few friends to join me. And I'm so glad we played the game. 

The concept of the game originated in Japan and is now popular all over the world. In the Bay Area, it is located in San Francisco and San Jose. We went to the one in San Jose. You have to reserve tickets online in advance. The duration of the game is one hour with an extra half an hour for introductions,  explaining the rules and questions.

The room in which we were locked looked very ordinary but was full of puzzles, crosswords, clues and mystery. As a team, we had to figure things out. I can't really say anything more about the game without the spoilers so I'll stop. We did not manage to find the key in time and escape but I'd say we did pretty well for ourselves and everyone was pleased. There was a lot of collaboration, creativity, time management and brain work involved and it was thoroughly enjoyable. 

Sad face: Real Escape Game

They have a few different themes for the rooms to choose from. The one we went for was called 'Escape from the Mysterious Room.' It is a very good activity as a corporate team building event as well as a day out with friends. Even if you don't have a group of ten, you can always book your tickets and you will be clubbed with others who reserve that slot. I'm excited about trying some of the other rooms and puzzles.

Happy face: Real Escape Game

What: The Real Escape Game

Where: http://realescapegame.com/

Cost: $39

An Evening At Shoreline Park

My first post in the new year! I have been to Shoreline Park a number of times since I moved here. I was introduced to this wonderful place by my friend Anne. The park is located in Mountain View quite close to the downtown. It is a vast expanse of land with a lake, hiking and biking trails, golf course and a beautiful picnic area. It has something for everyone.

The trails are mostly flat and unshaded. The open space with many different types of birds and the green grass make for a very pleasant walk. I usually go there when I want to be outdoors but don't feel up to a strenuous hike. Of course, you can bring a nice little picnic basket and soak in the sun or play frisbee or board games. They also have bicycles for rent too. One of these days, I intend to rent one to learn how to ride a bike!

Shoreline Lake with birds

My favorite part is of course the small man-made lake which has lots of birds. You can rent kayaks, row boats, peddle-boats or bring your own to enjoy a few hours on the water. We recently went kayaking on the lake. It was a fun experience. We rented a two-person kayak for an hour. Strapping on the life vests and armed with paddles, we entered the lake and started paddling around the lake. The sight of the setting sun, the birds flying all around us and the gorgeous pink of the earth shadow on the sky made the evening simply perfect. The lake is quite small so you can easily kayak around the entire lake in an hour without rushing. I even stopped mid way to click some pictures!

If you want to enjoy being on the water without having to leave the city, Shoreline is the best place for you. They also have two cafes-Michael's and Lakeside cafe where you can grab a quick snack after your activity. The website mentions you can order a picnic lunch from the cafe to carry on the boat but I personally don't think it is such a good idea.

There is no entry fee for the park which makes it even more appealing. Right outside the park, there is a dog-park and an area to fly kites and remote controlled aeroplanes although I have not been to that side.
There are tons of things you can do here: run, jog, stroll, wind surf, row, canoe, sail, picnic, relax, admire nature, click pictures and have a superb time!

What: Shoreline Park
Where: 3070 North Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View CA 94043
When: Sunrise to Sunset all year round
Fee: Free 

Lake Tahoe Winter Trip

Squaw Valley Resort

I recently took a day trip to Tahoe on Christmas Day along with family. Since it snows in Tahoe, we were not too keen on driving so instead we took a bus tour that picked us up at 4am from Sunnyvale and brought us back the same day at 9pm.

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the US and is located along the border  between California and Nevada. During summer, it is a popular tourist spot for people interested in water sports. Skiing and snowboarding are significant activities in winter. 

We took the trip with Bayareaskibus.com. The bus dropped us at the Squaw Valley resort at 9am and we had until 3.30pm to go ski, snow board or just hang out at the resort. Since none of us were keen on skiing, we decided to take the aerial tram up to the High Camp. The tram ride was fun and I could see a jaw dropping aerial view of Squaw valley. At High Camp, there is a restaurant, a bar, the Olympic Museum and an ice skating rink. 

At High Camp, Squaw Valley

The temperature was below zero and too much for us to handle so we spent most of the time at the restaurant which gave us a wonderful view of the snow outside without having to brave the cold. The Olympic Museum would be interesting for sports enthusiasts but I did not spend too much time there. I simply enjoyed watching the snow and hearing the wind roar. After a light snack, we took the tram back down to the resort. 

Olympic Rings at High Camp

View from the aerial tram

I had already bought tickets for snow tubing in the morning. So after the tram, we took the free Squaw valley shuttle to 'SnoVentures' which is an area for snow tubing and skiing for beginners as well as kids. Snow tubing is a fun activity wherein you sit in an inflated tube and are pushed down a gradual slope of ice and the tube slides down. It is a lot of fun and is perfect for those who want to experience the snow without the training or skill required for skiing.  After a few rounds of tubing, we were too tired and cold so we walked around the gift stores before heading back to the bus which promptly started at 4.30pm. 

Posing in the snow

It was an exciting day as it was the first time I saw snowfall. The tiny snowflakes were beautiful. Of course, I wished I was better prepared for the harsh weather. The next time around, I plan to go to another resort, probably Heavenly and try snow mobiling and perhaps skiing if I feel brave enough.

Snow Tubing

Snow Tubing

Bioluminescence Kayaking At Tomales Bay

In continuation to my resolve to try my hand at different adventure sports after my last white water rafting trip, I decided to explore kayaking. I have kayaked once in the past so the activity itself was nothing new. However, this was bioluminescence kayaking. I had never heard about it and would have missed out on this had a friend not told me about it. It was a marvelous experience, one that is hard to describe and leaves you at a loss of words. I was completely awestruck by this amazing natural occurrence. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of this as both my hands were busy paddling.

Scene for the movie 'Life of Pi'

Bioluminescence is the phenomenon of organisms producing chemicals that emit light. In Tomales Bay, single celled organisms called dino-flagellates are present in the water. When we paddle through the water, the disturbance causes them to produce chemicals resulting in the water to glow. The effect is magical and it felt like a scene out of 'Life of Pi.' One can see this only when it is pitch-dark. Moonlight, vehicular light and any other strong lights prevent bioluminescence from being viewed.

 

I booked my trip through Clavey Paddlesports a month in advance as September-October is the peak season for it and tickets get sold out pretty quickly. We kayaked in the Tomales Bay (north of San Francisco) which is about two hours from Sunnyvale. On the way, we stopped at Point Reyes to visit the lighthouse which I'll cover in a separate post. We reached the designated place at 5pm. The guides gave us the gear namely personal floatation devices, a waterproof jacket and a skirt to wear around the waist and the kayak to keep the water from entering inside. A quick demonstration of how to paddle and operate the kayak was given and we were in the water at 6pm.

All the kayaking gear

 Luck was on our side as the weather turned out to be extremely pleasant. No chilly breeze or biting cold to take away from the fun. Fearing a cold and windy night, we had packed multiple layers of clothing but it was not needed. Until the sun set completely, we kayaked around the bay for an hour. We then stopped on an island for a short break. Hot cocoa was served which was very refreshing after the physical activity. The guide took a few minutes to explain what bioluminescence is and what we can expect.

Once we started paddling, there was a glow on the water along the paddles and the kayak. I dipped my hand into the water, and as the water trickled down my palm, it was glowing like silver-white pearls. It was a lovely sight. Occasionally, when big fishes passed by, they emitted a much stronger and bigger light which disappeared in a flash. One hour of this spectacular show was truly enjoyable.

You do not need to know swimming to enjoy this activity. All you need is to be in reasonable good health to paddle for two hour. Make sure you plan ahead and book tickets in advance. Camp sites are available if you wish to stay overnight.

This trip has made my love for water even stronger. I hope to someday enjoy scuba diving to explore more of nature's delights.