Rolling Hills is horse country. Bridle paths are everywhere. They cut through residential neighborhoods, and wind around, adjacent to properties, up & down the hills, like ribbons on a map. I often wonder how many back yards border riding trails.....it must be a lot.
I figure you gotta like horses to even live in this area, because the odor of horse poop is common if not prevalent.
I decided to explore Rockbluff Park the other day because I drive past it constantly. The parking lot off PV Dr N is unpaved, and the dust I stirred up while pulling in was not a good thing for my car that just left Highridge carwash, oh well. Any sacrifice for a park review.....haha....
But the dust on my clean car was not the only sacrifice I made in the course of my exploration of this small area. I did not realize that it, too, borders a bridle path. So ya got the poop smell in the park. P U!
The grass was so thick it was like walking on a giant sponge as I climbed the hill to the kids' play area. That's some very healthy grass, I wonder what sets it apart from most parks. Maybe the manure from the riding trail somehow permeates the soil in the park, hmmmm.....
So, at the top of the hill there's a fine view looking toward Torrance. I was admiring the shady bench in the thick grass facing the great view when I noticed a huge paw print in the sand under the playground equipment (see photo).
Well.
It scared me, haha.
Was it left by a giant dog or a really big cat, the kind of cat that has people for lunch......
I immediately pictured a mountain lion using that sand for a litterbox. And then I got the hell out of there.
I sure hope it's simply my active imagination at work here, but between the horsey poop nearby & that impression in the sand....this space gave me the heebie jeebies and it's not even Halloweenies yet.....
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