The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge for the week of August 16, 2017.

Diversions, distractions, and delightful detours… What is guaranteed to distract you? What is your “Ooh, shiny!”?

It might be a sign with an arrow — or even better, a few arrows, all pointing in different directions. It might be a fork in the path, forcing me to make a decision; or it might simply be one trail that disappears enticingly around a curve.

I believe my love of hiking goes all the way back to when my dad used to carry me on his shoulders through Patrick’s Point State Park, with its coastal fog and redwood forest. These days I don’t get away to the mountains or the coast on a regular basis, but I’m lucky to live near a couple of state parks and trails that include the Western States/Pioneer Express Trail as well as plenty of unnamed trails.

No matter how often I hike this area of Sacramento County, I can still find trails that are new to me, just waiting to be explored. A pair of comfortable, sturdy boots is a must — along with some sunscreen, a hat, a bottle of water and some snacks. I never know quite how far I’ll be going.