The historic Arroyo Seco Parkway is wonderfully scenic, taking drivers from wooded suburbs of South Pasadena to the rolling hills around Chavez Ravine to the bright lights of Downtown Los Angeles. There are also many points of interest- from sports venues to museums and cultural centers- along the way.
The Van Tassel Trail is a perfect trek for hikers training for more challenging hikes, as well as trail runners, cyclists, and folks who just want a strenuous hike for some good cardio. The trail follows the Van Tassel Motorway, a fire and maintenance road that climbs over 1700 feet in the first 2.7 miles of the trail.
As the Covid19 pandemic wears on, birthday and graduation celebrations have looked significantly different from before. While there were some disappointments and tears, there have also been unexpected blessings- like pets being able to participate in graduation parades.
Starting from Vincent Gap off California Highway 2, up forty unforgiving switchbacks, Sami and I made it to the peak of Mt. Baden-Powell in the Angeles National Forest-with the help of a Subway sandwich and Cheetos bribe.
It has been nearly four weeks since we closed our schools, began a stay at home order, and slowly backed away from life as we knew it. While the apocalyptic feeling of four weeks ago has not subsided, we try to balance the despair with moments of joy.
The Cranky Camper 