Ditching ADT for Ring Security

After many years with ADT, I switched to Ring Security System with an indoor camera. On November 18, 2020, I called ADT to disconnect my service. I was tired of paying $24.95 per month for an obsolete system.

The straw that broke the camel's back was the following ADT incident. After remodeling my house, the upstairs window sensor started malfunctioning. I called ADT to ask for help repairing the window sensor (which prevented me from arming the ADT System), but the company offered to send someone for a $160 fee. 

I was floored by the high quoted cost and the ADT's unwillingness to cover the repair cost for a system I've been using for so many years! As a result, I decided to call local, independent ADT dealers to see if I could get a lower repair estimate. Unfortunately, the result was even worse. Though I contacted 3 separate ADT dealers, they failed to call me back! I decided this unprofessional attitude was unacceptable and switched to another security system.

After reading many positive reviews of the Ring Security System (and the Amazon Black Friday sale), I decided to try it, as it was inexpensive and had a reasonable $10/month monitoring fee. Before installing the Ring Security System, I followed a YouTube video to power down my ADT Security System. I was even able to remove the DSC Front Panel, but discovered a large hole behind it (so I decided to keep it for now).

Installing the Ring system was relatively easy, but learning to use the Ring App on the iPhone took longer.

After plugging the Ring base into a power outlet, the iPhone Ring App enabled the remaining devices and sensors. It was easy! The indoor camera was also relatively easy to install and configure.

I am also enjoying the new Amazon Echo Show 5 video speaker (offered for free on Amazon). It's nice to have a display in the kitchen.

I did have to figure out what type and brand of video doorbell to purchase next. I was deciding between the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, Ring Video Doorbell Pro, and Nest Hello Video Doorbell. After further reviews, I noticed that Amazon had a Black Friday promotion for the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. Instead of $159.99, it was now $129.99 (if ordered using Alexa). I decided to call it!

Now that I have received the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, I've connected it to the Ring Security system, but I'm not sure where to install it. I suggest mounting it in the location currently occupied by the NuTone IS-70 speaker. Kyle Switch Plates (in Livermore) sold various cover plates for NuTone speakers and ordered one.

I plan to install the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus on the new cover and try it out. The battery can last the 6 months that Ring is promising.

I also installed a Schlage Smart Connect Smart Lock BE469, which works with the Ring Security System and can be locked or unlocked with the phone. It replaced my Schlage lock, which was damaged by me (when I tried to replace the 9V internal battery).

I like verifying whether my Schlage lock is locked using the Ring Security system.

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Switching to Google Fi

On November 19, 2020, I decided to switch from AT&T cellphone plans to Google Fi to save on my cellular bill (usually about $160/month for 4 lines). With COVID-19 still raging, our cellular usage has declined significantly, and we no longer need to pay for 10 GB of data per month.

I selected the $50 per 3-line build with $10/GB of data use. I don't expect to use more than 5 GB/month, which should save me money.

AT&T Wireless yearly cost = $160/month x 12 months = $1920.00/year (for 10 GB of shared data)

Google Fi yearly cost = $100/month x 12 months = $1200.00 /year (for 5 GB of data)

I started the phone porting process (moving my cell number from AT&T to Google Fi) on 11/19/2020 and ordered the SIM cards for Inna's and Alex's iPhone 8+.

Initially, my telephone porting process failed. It took me a day to contact Google Fi and then AT&T. I figured out that I provided the wrong PIN to Google Fi. Once I reset my AT&T PIN, the porting process worked well (within 30 minutes). 

I am now running on Google Fi. So far, it's working acceptably well. I have not noticed any issues yet, but it's too early to tell.

I also moved Alex's and Inna's iPhone 8 Plus to Google Fi without issues. Likewise, I had to unlock each AT&T phone before inserting the Google Fi SIM cards, but it was quick and painless.

I ordered a Motorola G Power phone for Vladimir for $150 (as Google Fi was offering a $100 discount and a $150 service credit). It's an impressive Android phone for $150 with a beautiful screen, fast performance, and a lightweight design. The fingerprint sensor didn't work as well as I expected, but it's a minor issue.

Inna spent some time teaching Vladimir how to unlock the Motorola G Power and make calls on it.

 

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Returning to Hollister Hills SVRA

After almost a year of being unable to dirt bike, I finally got to ride my Yamaha WR250F at Hollister Hills SVRA on Saturday, November 21, 2020.

On Friday, before my planned ride, I loaded my off-road gear into my Sienna minivan and attached the bike carrier. On Saturday morning, I strapped my Yamaha to my van and prepared a couple of sandwiches to eat after a hard day's riding.

The drive to Hollister Hills SVRA was uneventful, but I was worried that due to COVID-19 restrictions, I might be too late (and have to return home without riding). Fortunately, I arrived around 8:50am, and there were no restrictions. 

I was, however, surprised by the business of the Vintage Track parking (where I usually park). I found a spot for my dirt bike, but I prefer to park my minivan near a picnic table. I unloaded my Yamaha WR250F and started it up to warm the engine. It's been a long time since I last rode it, so getting dressed and assembling all the riding gear took a bit longer.

At first, to warm up, I decided to ride a few loops around the TT track. I was out of practice, and it took a few loops to start getting the hang of riding. My shifting wasn't smooth, but I began to feel the rear brake bite more than before. The ground wasn't parched (due to the recent rains), but it was not muddy either - almost perfect, and I felt excellent traction.

For my first ride, I decided to try a leisurely lap on Harmony Road. It was an easy trail, but today, it had a lot of deep bumps. I felt like riding over a never-ending sequence of mini-craters! I have never seen so many. It was unsettling for my first easy ride. After riding a bit, I returned to my van for some refreshments. I felt a bit hungry and immediately devoured one of the two apples.

I decided to try the exciting ride following the Four Corners Trail for my second ride. It was just as expected, and I did very well. Nothing was unexpected on this trail ride, and I started to feel my bike a bit more. I returned for more refreshments. Looking closely at the Hollister Hills SVRA map, I decided to try the Lake Trail. I have always wanted to try it but felt apprehensive about it - what if I couldn't handle it? What if I got lost?

I had plenty of gas in my Yamaha and felt physically OK. Let's go for it. How hard could it be? It's only a blue-rated trail. So, I started riding the Lake Trail. It was definitely more challenging than Four Corners, with steep ascents and a lot of loose sand. However, I handled it fine, though not as fast as I would have liked.

Halfway through the trail, I stopped at an intersection. Having no map, I wasn't sure which way to go. I decided to follow North Canyon Road. I didn't know then, but this was the most extended possible way back! I followed the trail for a while and started to get a bit worried. Did I get lost? I stopped at one of the main intersections and waited for another bike. I asked the rider, who told me to follow the North Canyon Road. 

Eventually, North Canyon Road merged with Harmony Road, so I returned without problems. After I returned, I finished lunch and decided to ride one more trail - the Middle Field Trail.

The ride on the Middle Field Trail was easy, and I followed it up with a ride on Tank Trail, followed by Adobe. It was a nice, easy ending to a fabulous day of riding. And I was so excited that my bike was still relatively clean (so the one hour of clean up would not be necessary)!

Here is my GoPro Hero7 video of my ride on Lake Trail:

On November 29, I returned to Hollister Hills SVRA for another day of off-road motorcycle riding. This time, I rode the Lake Trail correctly.

Here is the GoPro Hero7 Black video of my ride on the Rancho Road:

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Replacing Dead Car Battery

For the past year, Alex has not been driving his 2008 Lexus RX-350 AWD very often, and the relatively new Interstate Battery has not been getting charged. When Covid-19 hit us in March 2020, Alex stopped driving his Lexus to Bellarmine High School altogether, as all his classes moved online.

After 3 months of not driving, the battery died ultimately. However, I could recharge it on a battery tray, which worked fine for a while.

Yesterday, November 8, 2020, when Alex tried to drive his Lexus to pick up some school items at Michael's, it wouldn't start. I took the battery out of the car and hooked it up to my battery tender, but this time it didn't work. The battery tender reported an error (blinking red and green lights).

I decided to take the Interstate MT-24F battery to the local Interstate Service Center, located at:

211 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA

The salesman I talked to tested my battery and said it needed to be charged before any warranty claim could be made. The battery has a 2-year Free Replacement Warranty.

After waiting a day for the battery to charge, the service center tested it, and it passed. Argh!

I decided to purchase a new car battery from Costco and return the old battery (the core is worth $15.00).

Two weeks later, on November 21, Alex tried to start his Lexus RX350 with his new Interstate battery, and the car was completely dead. There was not even enough power for a door light! I exchanged the dead Interstate 24F battery at Costco, but I now believe that a short circuit in the Lexus' security system is causing the battery to discharge when the car is turned off.

After I contacted the Foreign Affair auto shop, I scheduled a repair visit for Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at 7:30am. After dropping off the Lexus RX350, we eagerly awaited the call from Foreign Affair explaining what the mechanic had found.

The electrical issue was relatively straightforward. The map light switch was in the "ON" position and drained the battery when the ignition was off. The mechanic tested all other systems and noticed that the current was over 30 mA when the switch was ON. Hopefully, all will be well now.

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Repairing Kitchen Aid Dishwasher

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, the upper rack of my KitchenAid Dishwasher KUDS35FXSS2 broke. The wheels on the upper rack fell off. After I removed the rack, I noticed that the tabs that hold the wheels in place had broken off.

Using Repair Clinic, I was able to find replacement (S-Union) parts on Amazon for $23.99

4. W10253546 (W10712394) - Adjuster
5. W10195839 (WPW10195839) - Adjuster

6. W10195840 (WPW10195840)- Positioner

I also inquired locally about the cost to replace parts by a service technician (Kyle from ASE Appliance Tech in Los Gatos), who quoted me $180.00

On Saturday, November 6, I received the parts from Amazon and proceeded to install them. It took me about 30 minutes, and I watched the video below to help me understand the whole process.

After some fiddling, I was able to remove (5) and (6) by watching the following YouTube video:

It took some trial and error to replace all the parts.

The basic instructions to remove the broken Adjuster (4):

1. Remove (5) Adjuster by pushing it in
2. Remove (6) the adjuster by sliding it
3. Push the clip inside (4) using a flat screwdriver
4. Pop the cover (9) from (2) using a flat screwdriver

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Applying to Colleges

After Alex completed his EdX class - MIT Introduction to Computer Programming using Python - he experienced a eureka moment. He decided that Computer Science is the area he'd like to study in college.

Looking at various Computer Science programs at multiple universities in the United States and Canada, he settled on the following programs:

1. Stanford - Rejected on 4/9/21
2. Columbia - Rejected on 4/6/21
3. Cornell - Rejected on 4/6/21
4. Duke - Rejected on 4/5/21
5. Carnegie Mellon - Waitlisted on 3/27/21
6. UCLA -Rejected on 3/19/21
   
7. USC - Rejected on 3/30/21
   
8. UC Berkeley - Rejected on 3/25/21
   
9. Rice - Rejected on 3/30/21
   
10. UC San Diego - Waitlisted on 3/19/21
    
11. UT Austin  - Rejected on 2/1/21
12. UC Santa Barbara - Rejected on 3/16/21
13. UC Irvine - Waitlisted on 3/12/21
    
14. Northeastern University (early action) - Admitted on 1/27/21 - Enrolled on 4/15/21
    
15. Santa Clara University (early action) - Admitted on 12/15/20
    
16. University of Washington - Admitted on 3/11/21 (for prescience)
17. Cal Poly University - Waitlisted on 3/4/2021
18. UC Davis - Waitlisted on 3/18/21
    
19. UC Santa Cruz - Admitted on 2/22/21
    
20. UC Riverside - Waitlisted on 3/25/21
    
21. San Jose State - Admitted on 2/22/21
    
22. San Diego State - Admitted on 12/18/20

For his main essay in the Common App (used by the majority of universities), he wrote the following about his surfing experience in Santa Cruz:

Flashing Water 

As the enormous lip of the wave crashed over my head, I was pushed under the surface of the water. I struggled to come up for air, but as the wave continued to push me deeper, its rotational force trapped me. After almost two minutes, the air within my lungs was seeping out and I was losing hope. Like a piece of rag caught in the washing machine, I feared I would drown. Surfing at Steamers’ Lane had always been a dream of mine. But as I surfed in the Lane that day, I found myself hesitating for fear of the gargantuan waves. It is this hesitation that ultimately caused my accident. My hesitation threw off my timing and I found myself caught under the wave instead of riding its crest.

Hesitation wasn’t only a problem for me in the water. I had trouble getting involved in volunteering because I always had second thoughts about choosing a particular site. I couldn’t speak in public because every time I tried, I constantly questioned whether or not I had memorized all the information. I sometimes did poorly on math exams because I would become anxious every time I encountered a new problem. In so many situations, my anxiety led me to second-guess my every move.

My near-death experience helped me realize how disastrous hesitation can be. Hesitation prevents me from being in my “flow state”: a state of tranquility in which I feel like the world is my oyster and that I can do anything without question. But in the midst of hesitation, my mind becomes consumed by anxious thoughts that lead me to question my every action. As a result, I seize up.

I realized that at the root of my hesitation or tentativeness is fear of failing. It took many times to go back and facing the 12-footers to overcome my fear of failing. I realized that greater than my fear of failing is my desire to improve and master everything that matters to me. And more than the judgment of others, I care more to not disappoint myself. Taking a few more tumbles during my surfing ventures taught me that failure is not the end of the world. A true failure comes when I fail to analyze what I did wrong so I can improve next time.

Luckily, I’m catching more waves than ever. Just yesterday, I caught a terrifying 8-foot wave! As I was riding it, I felt I was on top of the world. Hesitation, I learned, ensues from self-doubt and fear of failing. It tempts your mind to become consumed by negative thinking and forces you to hold back your potential. In my world, hesitation forced me to back down from waves. However, I’m slowly making my way out of this dark tunnel of self-doubt into a world of endless possibilities.

 

Now, it's time to wait for responses from multiple colleges. Some interviews may also be required for the Ivy League colleges.

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Biking John Nicholas Trail

The last time I mountain biked on the John Nicholas Trail was May 3, 2020. I had a fantastic time; this is one of my favorite bike trails in Los Gatos.

I really enjoy biking on the John Nicholas Trail in the fall. The leaves are turning yellow, red, and all the shades of the rainbow. The temperature is cool - in the high 60s - not too hot or cold. In addition, the steep ascent to the top is compensated by a thrilling downhill ride to the bottom. 

 

 

The single track here is exciting: there are bridges, steep ascents and descents, narrow trails, and sharp 360-degree turns. The scenery is stunning, with beautiful trees, steep ravines, bridges, and rocks. 

I recorded the ride's downhill (the more thrilling portion) using my GoPro Hero7 mounted on my helmet (as the bike mount offers a less compelling point of view). 

Here is a high-definition video:

Here are my Strava stats from my November 3, 2020, ride. My overall time has improved from 1:24 to 1:18 (a 6-minute decrease)

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Back to The Hook

After surfing for many days in the Laguna Beach area (at Rockpile Beach, Trestles, San Clemente Pier), it was time to return to surfing near my home. Since Surfline.com predicted 4-5 foot swells on Tuesday, November 3, and I had a company day off, I decided to try surfing in the early morning when the wind and wave forecast was most favorable.

The drive to Capitola was uneventful, and there was plenty of parking in the usually busy parking lot with the Hook Public Restrooms. When I looked over the cliff, the tide was high, and a few surfers were out, but swells were rare. 

I decided to give it a shot anyway, so I put on my new Promotion 4/3mm wetsuit and booties and took my Wavestorm 8'. The waves didn't look large enough for my Firewire Spitfire 6'6" FST shortboard. I paddled out, and the water felt nice. It was not as chilly as I expected. Perhaps the icy water hasn't come yet. 

I paddled to the line-up and waited for a few sets. Luckily, a few nice swells did arrive eventually, and I managed to catch and ride 4 charming waves. I had some nice rides, turning my board and riding the waves to the beach. At about 11:30am, the swell frequency diminished, and I decided to call it a day and returned to my minivan.

I managed to practice proper paddling technique, and it helped.

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Trick-or-Treating during Covid Halloween

 Covid-19 Halloween 2020!

With so many people working from home (due to COVID-19), this year's Halloween decorations were more elaborate and perhaps a bit more macabre than in previous years. In addition to beautifully carved pumpkins. We saw many skeletons, graves, witches, zombies, and other ghastly creatures.

Walking around our regular workout route, we marveled at people's effort to set up such elaborate Halloween displays.

We encountered a few trick-or-treaters - but fewer than in past years. All of them were wearing face masks (in addition to their typical costumes).

Many decorations had light and sound effects that would trigger a closer approach.

There were a few Halloween parties in our neighborhood. Candy was usually spread out on carpets to avoid contamination.

One of the houses even had 3 bands playing, starting at 7:30pm. We stopped by to listen to one of the bands. It was a group of really young kids playing hard rock - but not any songs I knew.

We put our candy outside our house, but not too many trick-or-treaters stopped by. Alex ended up eating some of it.

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Enjoying Santa Cruz

We returned to our usual routine after returning from our long staycation at Laguna Beach. 

When I heard (from Trey) that Alex's Firewire Tuomo v4 surfboard repairs were complete, I drove to Santa Cruz's Midtown Surf Shop to pick it up.

I made it a fun day by walking with Inna on West Cliff Drive, from the Lighthouse to Natural Bridges.

We enjoyed the overcast skies, the perfect temperature (65F), and the calm ocean on this windless fall day. We saw lots of cute dogs on the walk and many people exercising. Due to the lack of waves, there were few surfers in Steamer Lane.

After the walk, we ate lunch at Laili in downtown Santa Cruz, CA.

After waiting for about 20 minutes to sit down, we were finally seated on the beautiful patio. We started lunch with Cardamom Honey Iced Coffees and freshly baked Naan bread.

Being a bit hungry after the long walk, I decided to order a 1/2 portion of Greek Salad and a Grilled Chicken Flatbread (Parmesan, apricot chutney, dates, pomegranate, mint). 

The flatbread was marvelous, and both Inna and I delighted in its flavors.

Inna selected the Pomegranate Chicken Kabob and enjoyed the delicious chicken and saffron rice.

We had a wonderful lunch at Laili and would be happy to return again.

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Improving Surf Paddling

After surfing for many weeks at famous surfing spots in Laguna Beach: Thalia Street, Rockpile Beach, Newport Beach, San Clemente, and Trestles, I realized that my surf paddling could use improvement. 

I discovered Rob, a local surf trainer, teaches proper surf paddling techniques. He runs a website called surfpaddling.com. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and offers online and private lessons.

I contacted Rob and discussed various training options, selecting the Level-1 Paddling Technique 4-session bundle.

4 sessions (~3 hrs each): Pool, Ocean 1, Pool/Lagoon, Ocean 2

Included:

• Level 1 Paddling Technique Lessons and Coaching
• Before/After Paddling Analysis
• LIFETIME Access to the Surfing Paddling Academy Level 1 Online Course. Begins a ter the last session.
• Guided Drill and Practice
• Breathing for Paddling
• Commentary and Practice Assignments for Continued Practice
• Two Ocean Application Sessions
• One additional Level 1 Technique Coaching Session

I purchased it on October 21, 2020. I look forward to improving my training in the upcoming sessions.
My first surf paddling session has been scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2020, from 1:30pm to 5:00pm in Novato, CA.

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Assignments:

• Watch the beginning 3 videos in Module 1 in the Online Course to get an overview (Discover the Fundamentals, The MAP REVEALED!, Muscle Memory Method Overview).
• Module 1 –
• Watch Step 1: Get Horizontal
• Visual Cue:  Keep the nose of the board at the surface of the water on average to cut the frontal drag. 
• Once positioned in the sweet spot range of the board, practice using the other techniques to modify horizontal balance while you paddle (head, feet/legs, chest press). This is supercritical. If the nose rises more than an inch above the surface, use these techniques to drive it back down. Use these techniques to bring the nose back up if it is below the water's surface more than an inch. The goal will be to keep it at the water's surface to an inch above average. 
• Practice -  Step 1 Drill 1: Horizontal Balance Drill Dryland out of the water on an exercise ball.
• Practice - Step 1 Drill 3: Horiz. Balance Advanced Dryland
• Practice – attached thoracic spine exercises to 1. Increase mobility in your thoracic range. 2. Increase endurance 
• Feel free to contact Jim Cegelnik, DPT, with any questions about these exercises. Just mention you are taking the Level 1 course from me, and he can provide some assistance. 
• Watch Step 2: Keep It Together
• Practice – feet together, using the lower back and glutes to control lateral balance control.
• Module 2 –
• Watch Step 3: It's All About The Entry
• Good hand entry form. Continue to slice the water, and make sure the fingers enter first. 
• Practice Entry Point – 8-12 inches in front of your face. Mindful practice for now. Use tape or a sticker at that location to remind your brain subconsciously. 
• Practice Entry Angle - 10-15 degrees for shortboards using the efficiency stroke. This angle is the water's surface to your elbow (with no broken wrist). Elevate the elbow and drive it forward underwater to break frontal drag. Slice through the water!
• Watch Step 4: Making Magic Happen
• Practice Drill: Catch-Up - Enter and extend. Be streamlined. 
• Progress from a 2-second pause between strokes to a 1-second pause to simply replace the hand in front with the other.
• Work on moving between the various "gears" (1-3 for efficiency stroke) like on a car. 
• Module 3 –
• Watch Step 5: The Clock We Need To Be Able to Understand – we will cover this more in the next session. 
• WATCH Dryland Underwater Armstroke Drill SPECIAL. We will cover this in the next session.
• Watch Breathing For Paddling Mini Course (it is one of the Bonuses in the Online course):
• Exhaling slows the heart rate
• The belly breathes from the diaphragm. 
• Meter your exhale, like blowing out through a straw, controlled. 
• Practice 2 counts inhale, 6 counts exhale on land.
• Practice land activities such as walking, jogging, rowing, etc., and maintain 2 in, 6 out. Progress to 2 in 4  t when under more exertion and 2 into 2 out at max exertion. 
• Practice land activity – medium to high exertion, go to the ground on the stomach, and practice slowing the heart rate down while in the paddling position. 
• Practice while paddling the above rhythm in sync with paddling strokes
• Try to exhale when applying force and inhale in between.
• Relaxation pattern (when waiting for waves, at home, not moving):
• 2:00 total (or longer if you like)
• 2 sec inhale
• 2-sec hold
• 10 sec (or longer) exhale
• Relax into this

NEXT SESSION: Sunday, November 15, 2020. Meet at 8:00am.  Lo tion: The Hook, anta Cruz. Based on conditions, it will be somewhere in between us. I'll tell you a few days before or even the night before via text and email. In this session, we will focus on applying the above techniques to the ocean, on energy conservation, and introducing concepts for the next Pool/Lagoon Session. 

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Great day today. Surfing with you was a lot of fun. Here's a summary of  what we discussed, as well as assignments for next time:

• Horizontal balance is coming along. What was really great to see was that your horizontal balance looked better at the end than at the beginning, which means you made unconscious adjustments. Remember, we want to nose between an inch below and above the water for that board, averaging at the water. Today was lumpy, so you would have liked it closer to an inch above the water, and in the second half of our session, I saw that more often.  
• Practice 20 minutes with your shortboard every session and catch waves on your longboard for the rest. Continue this every session to get hose repetitions on the shortboard, paddling around and paddling for waves. Then, after about 20-30 minutes, switch onto your longboard and practice the longboard technique of catching waves. Consistency will be critical.  
• Focus on the four techniques we've worked on so far:
• Horizontal Balance
• Lateral Balance
• Entry
• Lengthening the Vessel
• In this order. Balance is the foundation for everything.  
• You can practice transitioning to the power paddle stroke (sprint) between waves during a lull. Or, in between waves, you can practice any of the above techniques.

New Paddling Links

• Surf Pro Techniques - Chapin Kreuter 
• BONUS - Helpful Tips From My Surf Coach Friends 
• Salty PT - Jim Cegelnik DPT 
• Surf Body Connection - Shane Carpenter DPT 
• Surf Simply - Costa Rica

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Hiking Dipsea Trail

Having last hiked the Dipsea Trail in September 2016, I was eager to experience the raw beauty of untouched wilderness again. I was especially keen to revisit the rainforest, with its lush vegetation and moss-covered trees.

Although the Dipsea Trail has multiple entrances, I decided to start the hike from the intersection of Highway 1 and Arenal Avenue in Stinson Beach. The trail meanders through the beautiful Mt. Tamalpais State Park on the way to Muir Woods.

When we arrived around 10:30am from Sausalito, parking was already full, but we managed to find a spot for my Sienna minivan at the Panoramic Highway/Shoreline intersection. I put on my hiking shoes, grabbed my water, camera, and hiking poles, and we embarked on our journey.

Since I did not pre-download Google Maps for the trail, I couldn't access Google Maps on my iPhone, so I had to follow the trail directions.

Instead of taking the Steep Ravine Trail to the Steep Ravine ladder (one of the highlights from the previous hike), we followed the Dipsea Trail, first walking over open spaces with low grass, eventually reaching a treeline.

We continued our walk toward the Veteran's Bench, reaching a much-needed water fountain to replenish our water bottles.

Here is the Strava recording of my hike:

The hike was very long, with many steep ascents and descents. Ultimately, we were thoroughly exhausted, and Inna's knee started to hurt.

Dipsea Trail Hiking Report

Highlights

• Beautiful trail with lots of ferns, redwoods, mosses, and tall trees
• Water refilling station (refilled our two water bottles twice!)
  
• Parts of the trail are heavily shaded
  

Lowlights

• Lots of long uphills  
• It can be a bit crowded, with lots of people hiking 
• No cellphone service; could not use Google Maps for trail navigation
  

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