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11 recommendations |
Santiago Truck TrailYesterday was a dreary Sunday, typical of early summer here in our slice of paradise. June Gloom makes for moderate temperatures, though; an opportunity to explore some SoCal beauty. Santiago Truck Trail has long been a favorite mountain bike ride for several reasons. The closest semi-legal parking leaves you a mile uphill walk to get to the trail head, making it less crowded than nearby Whiting. Much of the trail is pretty steep with some washouts adjacent to sharp drops. Your average couch potato/ bike path bike denizen isn't going to have a fun day. The face of the climb provides a great view of Orange County all the way to the ocean, although once you switchback a few times you are presented a pristine view of seemingly endless ridges and mountains. There's an oasis near the "end" (for me) of the trail called Old Camp where a rushing stream flows even at the height of the dry season. This trail was closed for a very long time following the big fire a couple of years ago to give the area time to recover. Sunday, I traded a 24lb. bike for a 30lb. pack of camera gear and headed out. It was my first time there since it reopened and even though it's past the peak season for them, I was treated to a sea of wildflowers. Some were completely new to me. Pour a cup of coffee and hike along with me, won't you? Mustard, with South OC beyond
One of thousands of yellow daisies
Some purple blossoms
Caterpillar or flower?
Lots of purple, including this flowering shrub
This one's a bit unique
Purple ground hugger
This beauty was plentiful, on plants as tall as I am
Please keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times
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actions · 2011-Jun-13 11:40 am · (locked) |
AsiaboundEx-Pat Premium Member join:2002-12-21 Mabinay |
Nice pictures. I really like the first and last ones. |
actions · 2011-Jun-14 8:15 pm · (locked) |
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Thanks. I'll work harder on the middle ones next time. |
actions · 2011-Jun-14 8:46 pm · (locked) |
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said by No_Strings:Thanks. I'll work harder on the middle ones next time. Apparently you're more in touch with the feminine side than CB is. Great pics and looked like a great day for a hike. |
actions · 2011-Jun-19 8:08 pm · (locked) |
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Thank you. I was wishing I had my camera this weekend for some bird shots. A bunch of folks from work goaded me into a bike ride along the Santa Ana river from Anaheim to Corona and back. Egrets, herons, cormorants, swallows, ducks, mergansers (I think). |
actions · 2011-Jun-19 8:20 pm · (locked) |
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Is it a paved ride along the entire river stream. I can't get myself to call that a river |
actions · 2011-Jun-19 8:25 pm · (locked) |
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Yes, it's a paved bike trail and follows the Santa Ana from the ocean to the mountains. » www.santaanarivertrail.o ··· map.htmlPart of the year, it's more of a creek, and it's horribly constrained by concrete but on Saturday it was a river. |
actions · 2011-Jun-19 8:34 pm · (locked) |
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I know it can become a river but in my opinion a river should have rushing water year round . It would seem to make the ride much nicer with lots of water. |
actions · 2011-Jun-19 9:10 pm · (locked) |
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to No_Strings
Great shots! Keep them coming! |
actions · 2011-Jun-20 10:30 am · (locked) |