Though we (Dave and Jan) have lived back in Southern California for eleven years now, there are always new developments popping up around us, and there are always more things to explore that we haven’t seen before. One of the ongoing developments in Brea is a new segment of a lengthening bicycle trail which Dave has enjoyed using several times in recent weeks since its official opening. “The Tracks at Brea” has taken several years to complete, and has cost millions of dollars (because the land had to be cleansed of chemicals used when it was home to railroad tracks) but it has turned out very nicely.

Wildflower displays along the trail have been quite scenic these spring months.

A fellow cyclist recently told Dave about a nice trail ride in the Angeles Forest, so he and Jan headed up the San Gabriel Canyon Road in mid-May to see some things they had never seen before.  Preoccupied with the loading of his bike on the car, Dave forgot to pack the cameras he had intended to take – but Jan captured some of the trip with the camera on her cell phone. San Gabriel Reservoir is one of two man-made lakes in the canyon – providing some of Southern California’s water supply.

Farther up the canyon we ascended out of the “May-gray” cloud cover which is characteristic of the season.

There were some pretty impressive floral displays on the road-cuts as we climbed higher into the canyon.


Near the point where the road has been closed for some time because of landslides there is a nice Forest Service campground – Crystal Lake Campground (no pictures). With a name like Crystal Lake, it seemed worthwhile to walk the trail to the lake, but it was more than underwhelming to say the least. In better times its waters were described as crystal clear – but drought conditions have stolen its claim to fame.

This sign probably wasn’t necessary. We weren’t even slightly tempted!

The road through the canyon made for an interesting drive – and must have been a challenging and expensive undertaking!

Back in the area of the San Gabriel Reservoir the bike trail Dave was told about was actually a very nice private (gated) paved road along the San Gabriel River. Dave enjoyed the 15-mile round trip along a very beautiful river to what was apparently a Forest Service residential development, while Jan exercised Lola (her Shih Tzu), but we have no pictures of the area, so we’ll have to return another time for the rest of the story – because there is always more to discover and enjoy, both far and near – like colorful flowers in our own front yard!