Biking in Ahmanson Ranch - April 2005

Last year I hiked around Ahmanson Ranch in Calabasas. It's a new area set aside by the State of California. The trails were fresh and so was the wildlife.

Deer at Ahmanson.

A horse & rider.

I recalled that after a few hills it leveled off into wide flat fire roads that would be great for biking. In fact I saw a family doing just that. So this year we planned to do the same.

What I didn't count on was the amount of growth and change that took place as a result of the heavy rains we had this year.

The grass had gone from dry patches to overgrown bushes. The ground had split into large sinkholes in several parts of the trail. Some parts were under water (even now, a couple months after the rainy seasons has subsided).


The dry grassy hills-- before the rains turned them into lush green hills.

And the uphill sections were cratered with horse footprints, making biking a very bumpy experience. We went in one direction until there was just too much water to cross, then we turned around and took another fork. With the overgrowth and rough ground, it was pretty challenging.

But we didn't give up and kept pushing onward, hoping to find a flat area we could actually enjoy riding on. Ultimately we did decide to leave, but instead of turning back, we took another offshoot that lead to surface roads (Vanowen and Valley Circle) and took Valley Circle back towards Calabasas. The entire trip lasted 3 grueling hours, so we relaxed and had a nice leisurely brunch at Marmalade Cafe.

We did pass some other bikers, which was reassuring that we weren't trying something too crazy. But I would have preferred to explore this area on foot. It was and still is a great place for hiking.

Bicycling Playa Del Rey to Santa Monica - April 2005

Sunday the weather was perfect for a bike ride, so we piled our bikes into the back of a truck and drove down to Playa Del Rey, which is between Marina Del Rey and LAX. We joined the many other bikers, rollerbladers and skateboarders on the trail which follows the beach up as far north as Malibu. Some people were even chatting on their mobile phones-- how LA!

On the way we went by Venice Beach where you can always spot some interesting people. The original "Muscle Beach" is on the path as well.

We rewarded our efforts with a great brunch at Jinky's Cafe. See the Buzz Coffee blog for more details. This is their Santa Monica location- the original is in Sherman Oaks. A new one is coming soon in the West Hollywood area.

Runyon Canyon - April 2005

An old favorite of ours, Runyon Canyon offers some really steep climbs (or descent) and great views of the Hollywood Sign, downtown LA, Century City and Griffith Park Observatory.

The trails converge at the top on Mullholland Drive and the bottom in West Hollywood. There are always lots of people and pets. This is not a hike to "get away from it all."


Downtown LA off in the distance.

A view of the trail winding around the hillside.

It's HOLLYWOOD!

San Diego Area - April 2005

The SoCal weather finally returned its usual Sunny disposition, allowing us to return to the great outdoors.

We drove down to San Diego and stayed at a hotel in Solana Beach. From there we, drove to and hiked around Torrey Pines State Reserve. This is a great place with lots of trails and beautiful views of the ocean and the cliffs that border it. (Tip: Park on the street to save the cost of the parking lot)


Trail to the beach.

Us on a lookout.

The coastline.

Flowers.

While in the San Diego area, we stopped at a local REI. There are two to choose from- Encinitas and Kearny Mesa.

That evening we enjoyed a great dinner at Roppongi, a restaurant in La Jolla. After a stroll down Prospect St. we got a hot cup of coffee at The Living Room, a coffee house with a cozy yet lively atmosphere.

Sunday we drove to Anza Borrego State Park. People go there just to see the wildflowers. With all the rain this season, they were were in rare form. But this late in the year, the colors had begun to fade. A good website to watch for updates on the best times to see the wild flowers is Desert USA. We'll definitely have to come back again.


Color patches.

Catus flowers.

Sunlit cactuses.

Flowers.

Two flowers close up.

Hills in the distance.

On the way to Anza, we happened to pass by Julian Pies and couldn't resist stopping. Inside smells soooo good. The pies looked great. We had some "Apple Memories" -- cookies made from extra pie crust. Yum!