Lakeside Linkage Preserve

This is a 3.8-mile loop to, through, and from the Lakeside Linkage Preserve, a hilly open space in Lakeside with some good views. The high point of the hike is an odd structure (a heap of stone and concrete) that is alleged to be the remains of some kind of castle near the Whitaker House. Our return trip is down Castle Court Drive, which, according to a local informant, is named for an old house with castle-like architecture on Castle Court Drive, not the whatsit up on the hill.

The change in elevation is 310 feet.

For those who need more exercise, there will be an encore, an easy 1.35-mile stroll around Lindo Lake.

This hike, like last week's hike, will be on Friday to avoid the predicted rain on Thursday. It's also a little later to avoid possible lingering showers on Friday morning. Keep your fingers crossed!

We'll meet at 10:00 AM in Lindo Lake Park at the corner of Woodside Ave & Chestnut St (N 32 51.461 W 116 55.183) next to a skateboard course (called SkatePark Lakeside on Google Maps). The nearest building with a street address is a house at 9776 Chestnut St, Lakeside CA 92040. There are park rest rooms nearby. At 10:15 AM we'll start hiking.

SUGGESTED ROUTE FROM SAN DIEGO: Go east on I-8, north on Highway 67, and exit at Winter Gardens Blvd. Then go east on Woodside Ave. to the place where it turns right and becomes Chestnut St.

Hiking shoes are recommended for some steep parts of the trail through Lakeside Linkage Preserve. Dress appropriately, but go easy on the sunscreen; this is December, the gloomiest month of the year.

Contact: Philip Erdelsky, cell 619-866-8512, E-mail pje@efgh.com.

Leashed dogs are allowed.

We hiked Lakeside Linkage Preserve on May 12, 2016, but we started at a different location with no rest rooms. See https://www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/231002748/