Dairy Glen Camp Out

Over the years and during many of our  bike rides out to Coyote Hills,  We\’d sometimes see  scout troops or church groups camped out at Dairy Glen,  the lone camping spot in the park.  When ever we would ride by  (usually early saturday morning),  we would see tents dotting the glen and early morning activity in the camp ground. The smell of camp out breakfast filled the air. Dairy Glen is also where \”heart attack hill\” starts.  The short and hard climb up to the highest point in Coyote Hills Regional park. So we\’d spend a lot of time climbing up and and zooming down right into Dairy Glen. We talked and talked and talked about reserving this great little spot,  nestled into the hills and looking out over the glen and the marshiness of the areas on the eastern side of Coyote Hills. On the western side of Coyote Hills is nothing but San Francisco Bay.     The only civilization that you can see from the  campground is the small stretch of distant road where cars are just  getting onto the Dumbarton Bridge.  We\’d always say that we had to camp here one of these days.    Saturday was the day.

Saturday at 2pm the truck was packed (so much stuff for one night of camping)  and I followed Steve over to the park to begin the setup.  Three miles and ten minutes later I was unpacking the truck and setting up camp.  The great thing about being so close was that Barb could hang back at the house and come later when all the work was done, I mean all the fun was starting.  It wasn\’t that hard setting up camp.  Armando lent me his 4 man tent that was up in about 5 minutes. Blew up the air mattress, unloaded the ice chest and I was all set. Steve on the other hand had to set up his 12oo squre foot 3 bedroom family tent. Maybe it was just a two room but either way it was big. Within no time Downing, Vandenbusch and Flahertys were all set up and settling in for some camping fun. We ordered dinner from nearby Dino\’s grill and had a nice dinner by the camp fire. 

As night fell we began realize just how cool and different a trip this was. The park closed at 6pm. Gate locked (we had the combo)  and  the park ranger goes home.  We are alone.  Very alone!  If you look at a map of the park and the camp site, you can see that we were isolated out there yet still smack dab in the middle of the 7 million people that make up the bay area.  We had plenty of fire wood and kept a nice warm fire going all night.  The boys took a little ride out the levy road to the \”bus stop\” where we take our breaks on Saturday morning bike rides. Riding out there in the twilight was awesome!  The sun had just set and the redness of the western sky and the darkening blue of the evening made for a beautiful reflection on the bay.  Fantastic!   Later in the evening we all took a short night hike up and around the trail that circles Dairy Glen. Headlamps and flashlights in hand we ventured up and out of the camp ground . It was really REALLY dark when we turned off all our lights and it was REALLY cold when we got away from the warmth of our campfire.  What made this interesting for me was that I had been on that trail hundreds of times over the years, but never when it was so dark and cold and quiet.  We made the hike a short one and headed back to camp. Smores and small talk filled the rest of the evening.

Up early enough to watch the sun rise over mission peak. Bacon and eggs for breakfast then a five mile bike ride (boys) and hike (girls and Steve)  up  heart attack hill AND out to the bus stop. Back to camp to tear down and pack up.  Said goodbye and made the long 3 mile trip back home. Five minute later we were pulling into the driveway. Unpacked the truck and still had 30 minutes for the 49ers started.