I moved from South Louisiana to Northern California in 2005, and have jumped around the greater San Francisco Bay Area ever since: Davis & Sacramento, the northernmost part of the East Bay (along the Carquinez Strait), in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the small town of La Honda, Palo Alto, and Livermore. Part of claiming this new home for myself has entailed hiking and photographing the many wonderful public parks near me. I call myself the "lonely" hiker not because I am lonely but because I tend to hike alone. Although you will see plenty of photos of friends and family members, I still think that the best way to appreciate the beauty of this wonderful place is on a solitary hike!