Rachell and I left our apartment just a little before nine in the morning, Sunday prior to the storm. In our haste, we forgot the coins that made up the fifteenth dollar set aside for parking at El Moro Canyon Ranger Station. I tried to haggle with fourteen dollars in my fist, but was declined and sent forth with no parking pass. But as we were heading out, a little yellow bird sang us a song about the top of Moro Canyon Trail…where parking was cheap, to say the least.
So we parked, and hiked down to the trail head which began a journey through Crystal Cove & El Moro Canyon State Park. Three miles of beach front with 3,000 acres leading deep into the San Joaquin Hills, the Moro Canyon Trail gave way to plenty of views, long declines and steep (steep) inclines (if you chose the proper trails).
We didn’t see too much wildlife, save for a several crows, but we did see plenty of flowers in bloom. It was overall a pleasant hike; the cloud cover presented, by the passing storm, was much more appreciated than heat from a clear day (especially due to the predominately treeless park).
My favorite place in the park was on the Moro Canyon Trail which led up and through a creek bed that had plenty of foliage. Large oaks and a variety of other trees, gave way to a beautiful canopy that hid wonderful little alcoves tucked between rocks and boulders (we saw a couple breaking in a hollowed out area in the side of a cliff).
I also enjoyed the park where we initially arrived. The sweeping views from the peak, gave way to the Orange County Great Park, the Tustin Airfields, South Coast Plaza and Greater Orange County. You really don’t know the beauty of Orange County until you experience the flatness of the Midwest.
Thanks for reading and feel free to send me suggestions.
Best,
DSWilfert
Orange County Trails:
Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
To continue on our weekend hiking excursions, Rachell and I tackled 
The prior Friday, Rachell and I carpooled to work so by day’s end we could jet over to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. We were able to bypass a lot of the traffic by taking Red Hill Avenue to the 5 Interstate; I had to stop in Tustin to pull in some trash cans, a favor for a client.
Do you live in Orange County?
It was an early morning and Rachell and I were headed out of county for a mountain weekend when we decided to stop at French’s Pastry Bakery. I was skeptical, especially because I was in the mood to make a stop at Adams Avenue Donuts, but had no options because the Donuts Derelicts crew was in full force on the Saturday morning. Regardless, Rachell lead the way with the suggestion with the family owned/operated bakery.
The other Saturday Dave and I took a mini field trip down to San Juan Capistrano, in Orange County California. We went to the “pumpkin patch” hosted by the farm that we receive our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) packages from, South Coast Farms. It is pretty amazing that just a few streets from downtown San Juan there is this farm.
Hungry? In San Juan Capistrano at an expedition of the beautiful Mission San Juan? Take a load off and enjoy a meal at Taqueria El Campeon.
I took Rachell, for her first time and mine, to Mission San Juan. We didn’t pack a lunch for the endeavor so when our stomachs told us the hour, I remembered El Campeon was just down the street. It was about noon when we entered and fortunately the line wasn’t long. Rachell ordered the taquitos dorades and I had the torta la tijera (carnitas). I am a BIG fan of carnitas, huge fan. And I’ve frequented the eatery enough to know that the marinade used with the pork was fantastic. We each, also, had a beverage or agua de fruta; Rach had watermelon and I the banana. GREAT drinks, one might even stop just for a refreshment. The meal, outstanding.
opportunity to get outside the normal. Take a chance, Rach and I will!
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