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I'd like to tackle a big hike this summer—I've already summitted Mt. Baldy, btu i might do that one again or maybe somewhere even farther north. I'm not sure where yet, but first I need to get back in shape. Over the past year, I really let myself go: not exercising much, eating junk food, and drinking daily. I still enjoy good food and drink, but too much of a good thing is, well, bad.
On my way back from Las Vegas I decided to detour south into Arizona and have a look around. I enjoy just pointing at the map and seeing what's there. I finally decide it was time to go home. I selected "Home" on Google maps and the navigation lady told me where to go. After several hours of driving on a freeway the path took my off the freeway and and on to a small road that was apparently Route 66 or near it. I didn't think much of it. You pick up route 66 all over the place in Arizona and California north of Los Angeles.
In August of 2021 I got a wild hair and decided to try hiking up a mountain. It was humbling. Ever since my brother passed away from a heart attack in 2013 I have tried to eat healthy and exercise. Typically jogging although in the last few years I have been riding a mountain bike more than anything. So I am typically in pretty good shape. I have endurance in spades but, this just took it out of me. A little less than a year later I decided to try again. This time I succeeded. It was a very warm spring day and I didn't anticipate that there would be snow on the top of the mountain.
For several years in the early to mid-2000's I was very interested in 3D modelling. I generally used a free program called Anim8or however I did eventually move on to Blender...I still tend to use Anim8or because it's just really simple.
The disappointing thing about these images is that they are all low-resolution. I lost a ton of working files from this era.
These were all done in Flash. I didn't even know what Illustrator was at the time much less knew how to use it. Some of these were professional work for Data Plus Incorporated or contract (Dante's Bar and Fire Grille and Dixie Business park) and others were just for fun.
Surrounding Lake Perris in Southern California near Moreno Valley there are a number of trails that are not exactly fun but, there are a few hills that are challenging and the scenery is rather nice if you enjoy wide open spaces. Often I will ride the various trails until I am nearly exhausted. Then I will ride downhill to the lake. There are restrooms with water fountains. The water is clean and surprisingly cold. Great for refilling your water bottle or camel backpack. After refilling I have on hot summer days taken a dip in the lake.
This is, in my opinion, the best trail in the Temecula Valley Area. It's not my favorite trail but, recently it's the one I ride nearly every day.
Located on the Santa Rosa Plateau near Wildomar this trail is long and spans a wide variety of terrain. It has parts that are challenging and parts that are just fun.
(especially for a beginner)
This is probably my favorite trail I have ridden in California thus far. It's a basic trail for the most part but, it is a very scenic trail. One very nice feature is the upper trail because it hugs the inside of the canyon up about 20 feet above the main trail. This upper trail allows for a rolling ride with a panoramic view of some beautiful orchards, , occasional snow packed peaks, some attractive hillside houses and and a lazy winding train-track. About half-way through the trail there is a lookout spot. It's a bit of a push to get to the top but, it's well worth it.
I don't think I would ever want to live in San Francisco. It was cold...in the summer. I just don't do cold.
I think my favorite part of the trip was driving back down the PCH.