Sunday, January 11, 2009

First ride of the New Year

First ride of the year. A really nice day out - everyone bundled up thinking it was going to be cold but it was 87F! Quite warm - especially with thick leather jackets on. Rode down Pacific Coast Highway all the way down to San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point from Long Beach. Again quite different with stop and go traffic - stop lights all the way down PCH. But all the same it was nice riding with a group of friends. 
We also stopped on the way back to a place in Aliso Wood Canyon Wilderness Park. Nice curvy roads and hills. Once on the top, called "Top of the World" we took a break to enjoy the view of Catalina and San Clemente Islands in the distance. These islands are part of the Channel Islands and back in the day, the Channel Islands were controlled by the US Navy. Now most of the islands - 5 out of the 8 - are the Channel Islands National Park where it is preserved and protected by the Channel Island Marine Sanctuary and run by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

Temple Hill, Top of the World
Carolyn Wood Knoll, Top of the World

  

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