Day 9: The Lafayette Reservoir

After tumbling we were on our way to the Orinda Community park via the scenic route when we drove right alongside the Lafayette Reservoir! Lucky for us we had hoards of quarters (there is metered parking there), a good snack, and a few hours before lunch was required. Also lucky for me the girls have only been there once before, (with my friend Maggie and her triplet boys and (then) baby girl for a grueling loop walk in the Pouring Rain - silly us) so they didn't remember which way to the playground. I enticed them to the boat docks and on the way we saw some chickadees along the side of the path (note the brown speck in the leaves below). At the boat docks we saw (and heard) lots of ducks and other water fowl. Did you know they rent paddle boats and row boats every single day of the year?? That is so cool! Of course we are tapped for cash but still -- good to know!

Josie, pier-running again

We did FINALLY make it to the playground but we didn't get to spend too much time there because on our way across the parking lot / dam we had to stop for a long time to figure out what the fellow in the white truck was unloading into the water... it's trout! He was stocking the pond! All those little circle in the water are jumping fish! The birds had a feast...hopefully more than a couple of the little fish got away to spawn in the big pond.

 

Post script: After tumbling and running around the piers and seeing all that nature stuff, the girls were totally amazing in the afternoon after quiet time (where no one napped). Here they are quietly "reading" books. They amused themselves, unbelievably without fighting for about twenty minutes straight while I made myself scarce and made a coffee...