“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things"—Robert Breault
Cecile and I decided to escape the heat by going to Shoreline Lake in Mountain View, a 20-minute drive from our home. On the way, we heard a roar of eight motorcycle policemen as they sidled up alongside us as seen in the photo. We hadn’t been to Shoreline in quite some time. We were rewarded with a cool, breezy, sunny day. Most people don’t know that this large shimmering lake was once a landfill. Beyond the perimeter of the lake is the South Bay (photo). We had shared an Eggplant & Formaggio (Herb focaccia with sun-dried tomatoes puree, artichoke hearts, roasted red bell peppers & mozzarella cheese) at the American Bistro that sits strategically and cozily near the edge of the water. Plexiglass barriers surround the outdoor patio to protect against the wind and colorful umbrellas protect you against the sun.
This time of year, kids, accompanied by their parents and teen counselors engage in various water activities including kayaking, windsurfing and paddle boating which is also available to the general public. The Bistro also draws companies like Google, Samsung who treat their employees to luncheons on the waterfront lawn and patio and offer team building activities. After lunch, we walked around the lake and enjoyed watching the seagulls gliding on the thermals and a few small private planes heading to and from Palo Alto airport just ten miles away.
Beyond the activities mentioned above, this place is a source of great inspiration for the inner poet, the Plein-air artist who needs a scene to paint, couples looking for a romantic interlude, families who want to picnic and anyone craving a little bit of nature and wildlife. I discovered this wonderful refuge many years ago with my watercolor group called the Saratoga Community of Painters that has since disbanded but has left me with a lifetime of wonderful memories.
Here’s a little bit of LAKE Wisdom:
Soak up the Sun
Cast Away Your Troubles
Keep Things Clear
Make Positive Ripples
Take Time to Reflect
Shore up Friendships
Be Full of Life & Grateful for the Day
