Thanksgiving Hike

Morgan Trailhead is on South Main Divide road, 2.8 miles up off the 74 Ortega Hwy, just past the fire station at El Cariso Village. We started our hike at about 55 degrees with a brisk breeze, so we were very glad to have dressed warmly! Leah, friend David, Spain and myself headed out on the trail at about 8:45am Thanksgiving morning. The trail was just gorgeous, quiet, lush with overhanging oak and sycamore trees. The views along the single track were so very clear. I kept saying "I think that's Catalina!(island)." We just couldn't decide if that was water we were seeing or not. Well, I sure think it was! It was certainly clear enough to have that kind of visibility.

We hiked in towards the falls but never made it. It would have been an extra couple of hours. We decided a round trip ticket of 3 hours was enough for turkey day. We all really had a wonderful time hiking together. Hope to do more together soon!

As Spain and I were heading back down South Main Divide, we spotted this hang glider getting ready for take off. We got out of the car and hiked up to where he and his wife were setting him up to push off. It was so cool to see him sailing high above Lake Elsinore. It was cold! We found out his name is Bill Soderquist from his wife Marilyn. She told us he was Hang Glider Nat'l Champion in 2009. Nice Bill! (But no thanks!! Way too scary for me~~)

A Day at the Races!

The inaugural trail races at Coyote Springs, one hour north of Las Vegas were put together by http://www.desertskyadventures.com/ this past week-end. Spain and I walked/ran and finished! the 10k! The morning started out cold and windy and ended up.....cold and windy! Of course, running warms you up even if it is only 48 degrees at 7am..But as you see, we were prepared with gloves, ear warmers and layers upon layers. 60+ runners took part in the 50k, Half-Marathon and the 10k. Of the 34 who ran the 10k, we finished the fastest of the slowest. Let's put it this way...we ran our butts off the last 3 miles off to pass 6 other slower runners and walkers. But hey, for Spain's first 10k at 63 I could not keep up with the man. He waited for me 3-4 times. I encouraged him to go ahead, but he insisted the fun was in being together, and he was right! So TOGETHER we ran to pass 6 slower runners! The views, the canyon, the singletrack was so gorgeous. We felt powerful energy surrounding us as we ran close to the beautiful cliffs. I could feel it rise up from my feet and out through the top of my head; or was that sheer joy and pure bliss? No matter, the event was filled with wonderful, fun fellow adventurers, food galore before and after the run. DSA put on a fantastic race, in a place no other mere mortals have seen as it is private land. So the excitement of being the "first" had all the participants especially excited. Molly Sheridan and Jimmy Gabany, owners of DSA did an OUTSTANDING job caring for everyone from start to finish. Molly was jumping up and down and cheering each and every runner into the finish line. Even staying out 'till way past dark waiting for one last runner for the 50k,hobbled by a bad knee, to finish. Everyone else had gone home many hours early, but Molly and friend and fellow runner Bill drove out to find George and escort him in the last 10 miles by head lights.........now that's what I call adventure. Thank you DSA for making my third 10k the best one yet! When's the next one?????

HAPPY and DISAPPOINTED

Sometimes a ride is so beautiful, the conditions so perfect, the cumulus overhead is so non-step happening....the trail is so nice and tacky, the air is cool and clear and well....sometimes a ride just takes my breath away and pictures just aren't adequate at capturing how it looked and how much I enjoyed it. In fact trying to capture it becomes a hapless attempt at capturing happiness or holding joy in the palms of your hands...it can't be done. You hold it in your heart, memorize it in your head and simply ride......and so it was this past Sunday on the fire trail called Belle View between Coto de Caza and Dove Canyon. So one picture of me happy is all I could share. The other pix just didn't pass the test. Except the disappointed picture. As you see someone has enough money and power to take a hill and cut half of it off so they could put a ridiculously huge home and more all over that one hill. What a shame. It looked so ugly; shocking really. I realize it's nothing new in these parts, but I would not call it progress. Little by little lovely spots are hacked up, and bulldozed so someone can house 20 cars and say they are king of the hill.

I treasure these nature trails that are preserved for us to enjoy. I try not to look on the other side where trees disappear for the sake of a bigger garage. I always try to see the beauty on the trail just ahead....but sometimes my eyes can't get past the shock of it.

These big property owners have huge dogs they allow to run free on the trail as well. (My second complaint~~)Three very large dogs approached us three riders in an aggresive manner. I yelled to them to put there dogs on their leash. The biker up ahead had to place his bike between himself and the approaching fangs. Very nonchalantly the owner got to the dogs and held them as we passed....my co-rider had his hand on his blade and was ready if necessary...glad it wasn't necessary but the fight or flight panic took the longest time to wear off!!!! I hate that!!!

Trails should remain safe access for all......