Where to start? Well, it started with my divorce. As my husband had been a sports car enthusiast that was our life. But literally the day we were divorced there was a notice in the paper that read "Hayward to form hiking club."
Well, that was what I had always wanted to do. Hike! So I went. We met in a barn it seemed and I haven't the foggiest idea where. But there was the rep from the Hayward Area Recreation Department and a designated leader Bob. So he set the first hike for the next Saturday and we met and car pooled to the East Bay regional park in the hills. We only went about two miles and I was truly exhausted. We agreed to meet again next week but my girl friend said she couldn't go because the exercise ruined her hair.
But I did and the Hayward Hiking club was formed and it became my life for many, many years. We soon picked up new members and we were off. I don't remember the order they joined but we were all very faithful. To name a few, Elliot Cory, Dorothy Maige, Eleanor and Pete Peterson, Bill Felker, Sue and Bill Hoppes, & Ione Smyth. Sadly five of the names mentioned have passed away.
We met at the Adobe for years but were booted out of that place when Prop. 13 came in. We met at various banks and finally ended up where we are now.
We had a hard core group that went backpacking nearly every other weekend all summer long for quite a few years and what wonderful memories. Yosemite was my favorite and we pretty much covered that whole park after a few years. Several week trips. We also had a flying group of three airplanes and went to The Tetons, Mt. Whitney, and the Grand Canyon. That was led by Bob Jackson and it was a sad day when he moved back east.
But we made life long friends and still get together, Monica and Ann Vargas and me. I think there was one marriage in the group that I know of.
I went on to hike all the Alps of Europe with the Sierra Club and then a private group with Wilderness travel of Berkeley to Mt. Everest. Truly a high point of my life.
One day a few years ago I decided I was tired of hiking and that was that; but I am so happy that this club is going on, I think it's wonderful. So raise your glasses!