California: south

On July 5th, 2006 I biked (OK, mostly pushed) up the city of San Diego's highest point, Cowles Mountain (1591'). The peak is located near SDSU, and about 6 miles northeast of downtown. Directions are here... (read more)

For the past six years the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition has been sponsoring a ride along the L.A. River. The latter is no longer a real river but is in fact mostly a large, all concrete drainage ditch used to keep the former watercourse from flooding the L.A. Basin. Back in the day the river would change course and even caused a massive flood or two... (read more)

Believe it or not, there is rock climbing of a sort in Griffith Park. We aren't talking 4th or 5th class, but there are two tiny stretches where you could enjoy 3rd class moves, and one longer stretch of high 2nd to mid-3rd class. That latter is on the way to Bee Rock, an outcrop on the east side of the park... (read more)

Earlier today I mountain biked in Cheeseboro Canyon, which is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It's off the 101 freeway in Agoura, which is generally between Thousand Oaks and the western edge of the San Fernando Valley. I drove a lot of miles to get there, and going back isn't high on my list of priorities... (read more)