End Pavement

I’m finally getting around to posting photos from the February 3rd cycling excursion that ended up rather badly. You can read about that in the February 2007 archive. If you’d like to know more about the beautiful San Timoteo Canyon and its history, check out Images of America: San Timoteo Canyon Road from Arcadia Publishing. The canyon runs mostly between Redlands and Moreno Valley in Southern California.

Part of the flood control section of the river, with a multi-use trail on the side, looking east.

The trail next to the river, with the Sunset Drive hills to the left/north.

Buffalo Meadows Ranch’s cool sign.

At the intersection of San Timoteo and Redlands Boulevard, which actually goes to Moreno Valley.

Also at that intersection, with the arrows pointing to my starting point and current target.

Just in case you need a domesticated pack animal of the camel family found in the Andes, valued for its soft woolly fleece. Of course, every time I see a llama, a voice in my head yells, “¡Cuidado! ¡Las Llamas!”

Typical view in the rural parts of the canyon — it was a gorgeous afternoon, with very little traffic once I got past the Redlands Blvd turnoff.

Some scouts created a display on a wall they built (IIRC), including some historical tidbits about the area. The one above describes the “Old Salt Road” that ran through the canyon in the 1800s.

The historical, one-room San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse, at 31985 San Timoteo Canyon Road.

Not just a portrait of the cyclist as a young man — also a harbinger, thanks to lengthening shadows.

You’re cycling along, minding your own business in a rural landscape, when all of a sudden a featureless wall and radio tower appear out of nowhere. Spooky. Never did figure out what was going on here. A religious cult was my first guess. ;D

They were working on widening the road near its eastern end, probably due to all the development, so I went off-road for a spell and enjoyed several trains for company.

Waving to the engineers always solicits a return wave. Sometimes I think trainspotting would be a fun diversion.

Ah yes, the wild golfer in its natural environment. I don’t think golfcartspotting would be nearly as interesting.

The road ends finally at the 10 Freeway. I’ll be taking a left on the frontage road to head back to Redlands. Note longer cyclist shadow.

This little guy and the darkening sky behind provided a last moment of beauty.

Finally! A convenience store meal. Heavy on the carbs and fluids. It was sunset by this time.

The setting sun and its dramatic exit as I hurried towards home.

The next photo on my camera was almost exactly 4 hours later, sitting in the emergency room with my arm in a sling.