Lexington, et al

Lexington Reservoir 

Santa Clara County, CA

In 1943, because of the rapid expansion of orchards in the county, the Santa Clara Valley Water District determined that the well water in the Santa Clara Valley was being diminished rapidly and a dam was needed on Los Gatos Creek, with one goal being to percolate the water into the ground and ultimately increase the amount of well water available. After rerouting State Route 17 near Windy Point, which is a mile south of Los Gatos, the District began dam construction in the spring of 1952, completing it that fall.

My family moved to Santa Clara County in 1963.  Growing up as a teenager, driving past Lexington meant you were on your way to Santa Cruz Beach/Boardwalk!  And we've always made a note to view just how full it is whenever we passed this way.  With the several-year drought in SCCo, it's been at some of it's lowest points in history. But this winter's "Pineapple Express" (a local phrase for the series of storms blowing in from the direction of Hawaii) brought more rain than ever, and the lakes are full again, including Lexington.

While on vacation, my sister wanted to drive up and see it first hand, so off we trekked.  We didn't hike far as it was downhill and very muddy.  Which means uphill on the return, and slippery.  Couldn't chance her (or any of us ol' ladies!) to fall down and hurt ourselves so the hike was a little shorter than planned. But it was so nice to be out among the eucalyptus trees - they smell so good after a rain!   We stopped at Steamer's in Los Gatos on our way back for some delish seafood!

My daughter and her family went with on this trip, they did lots of touristy things in SF and then hit Marriott's Great America for a day of roller coaster rides! Great America's Drop Tower falls at a top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h) and is 227 feet (69 m) tall.  My granddaughter had never been on any that were this big before -- she came home tired, but smiling :)

Always good to see my Mom.  One of the main reasons I go is to get a feel first hand on how things are **really** going.  Mom's version isn't always so ... exact.  Sis is doing OK with her chemo sessions, and she's pretty upbeat, all things considered.  Mom thinks she should be resting more, and from what I see, sis isn't going to just sit around and wait for things to "get better".  She watched Dad, they never got better.  That's just how it is with stage iv cancer.  So bravo, kudos to her, for doing the things she still enjoys, for getting out and enjoying friends, family and nature, no matter the circumstances she's having to endure.