We abruptly change our early morning hiking plans, and decide to revisit Deal Canyon. Charlie meets and greets a new acquaintance in a civil manner. Then we continue on our way, revisiting what is probably the most difficult — i.e., relentless elevation gain — constant uphill grind except for a patch of a few yards, then a knee-pounder on the way down — of our usual hikes. After a couple of hours, it was a relief to walk through the neighborhood (spotting an old Saab, the Guards Red 944, and some other miscellany) on the home stretch.
