Photo journal of today's bike ride to the ocean....

[Mikey]

Several days ago I retired our bicycles which we had not ridden in perhaps 20 or more years and I bought a couple of new bikes for the fetching Mrs. Mikey and me.  Today I decided to give my bike a test ride down the San Gabriel river bike trail to the ocean in Seal Beach while the Fetching One was up in Oregon visiting with our kids/grandkids.  SoCal is often called an asphalt jungle…..and as you can see we even pave our river beds to increase water flow during heavy seasonal rains.  It’s roughly 8 miles from my house to the ocean using these bike trails. 

At this point I have been on the bike trail for about 5 minutes.  This is looking north, away from the Pacific Ocean, toward the San Gabriel mountains.


And this is looking south toward the Pacific Ocean.  The beaches in Long Beach and Seal Beach are south facing. 


The first signs of life in the San Gabriel River.








This is obviously where the paved river bottom ends.  The water in this area is brackish.




Waterfall.


Signage along where the 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) and the 405 (San Diego Freeway) join.






Our friend standing in the shade of a bridge.  By now I can smell the ocean.


Steam plants for generating electricity are located on both sides of the San Gabriel River.


The steam plants pull in cold water from the ocean and release the heated water in several locations along the San Gabriel.  The water from the San Gabriel is noticeably warmer where it meets with the Pacific in Seal Beach and is so much warmer that it attracts sea turtles into the river.  The sea turtles venture this far north from warmer Mexican waters and one species has now become a year-round resident in this river.  I looked for them but I didn’t see any today.


Must be getting close to the Pacific….  I’m standing on the Orange County side and looking across the river is Long Beach which is in Los Angeles County.




Finally, the Pacific Ocean at Seal Beach.  And what are those mountains in the distance?  Hint: “26 miles across the sea……”






Paddle boarder on the river in the surf zone


The sail rigging on the other side of those rocks gives a clue that this is the Alamitos Bay entrance into the eastern most marina in Long Beach and that is downtown Long Beach in the distance……the city where I worked for 29 years, 8 months and 3 days…




Seal Beach pier


Oil rig off of Seal Beach.  Great fishing spot.


And now for the long ride home…..  looking north again toward the San Gabriels.  It was a very unseasonably warm day.  Perhaps in the mid 80s down by the ocean but when I got home it was a very unpleasant 93.  My butt is telling me I should have gone for a much shorter ride…

[Jerry]

Great trip and photos.  18 miles is a bit ambitious if you have not been biking.

The Sea Turtles are a phenomena.  I have never seen them either.
One of the good features of a recumbent is you feel like you are in an easy chair, no sore butts!
The bike trail there is well known.  Did you see  many bikers on your journey?

[SueSTx]

Beautiful pictures.

I bought myself a recumbent exercise bike last spring...it is still in the box.  I just don't know where I can make room for it.  I think it will have to go out in the shed.

[Jerry]

Sue, exercise bikes are often recumbent.  I use one at the gym.  My bike is 3 wheeler  like this . same model.
As you can see no sore butt.
I do get tired. Age is catching up.  Really.

[Mikey]

18 miles is a bit ambitious if you have not been biking.  The Sea Turtles are a phenomena.  I have never seen them either.  Did you see  many bikers on your journey?

You are correct Jerry.  I bit off more than I could chew for my initial ride.  I would have been okay if the weather was in the low to mid 70s.  I ran out of water on about the 3/4 mark and that didn't help either...  I should sleep well tonight....  I actually saw a sea turtle some 35 years ago or so on the Alamitos jetty side in the Long Beach side.  It startled me when it came up for air about 20' off the jetty.  It was a large sea turtle and I don't think is was the type that has taken up residence in the river because I understand they are smaller.  I saw 15-20 other bike riders of all ages and gender.

Gotta break that bike out of the box Sue 

[Kittyzee]

Great pics and tutorial Mikey!  Very interesting for me as a mid-westerner.  And yes, that would be a bit long for a first ride...I always try to remember that the trip 'to' somewhere is only half way there:  I have to get myself 'back' to where I started from!    

[SueSTx]

Nice bike Jerry...and it would be easier on the back and butt!

[Indiana Karen]

Beautiful pictures Mikey..............thanks for taking us along on your ride.

You would be awfully bored on the bike trails around here.....just trees.

Karen

[Jerry]

a better pic of mine  I will take a few pics today. None will be as good as mikey's.

I can get it in my Prius, but have to leave the hatch open.
Mike I hope I am not hi jacking your thread!
Check out this 10 yr old girl. I'd never catch her.

[Mikey]

Not a problem Jerry.  I in fact like it when threads take different turns.  How is the suspension on  your bike.....or should be called a trike? 

My last bike had fenders and this one does not.  I'm somewhat surprised at how much grit get tossed up into the air.  I wore sandals a few times and they were getting road grit in them.  I was looking at the chain/dérailleurs this morning and they are coated with grit.  I guess I need to do some cleaning.....  Here is my bike and the Fetching One's bike is in the background.  I got a little tote/saddle bag that fits on the rack and it came in pretty handy for storing the camera.

[karen J]

Thanks for posting photographic tour. When I saw the first picture, I thought "Grease"!
I really like those cute little birds with the long legs, and was that other one a Green Heron?
Thanks!

[Esther]

Thanks Mikey for taking us along.

[Jerry]

I did a trip around the lake today. Lots of people enjoying it.  Young and old alike.

I asked a lady to take my picture.  She didn't notice the sutter was partly closed.  Anyway, that's me.
I checked the manual Mike, under suspension it said NONE!

[Sean]

Is that Catalina in the background?

[Mikey]

You are correct Sean.

"Twenty-six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance
Romance, romance, romance"

[Kittyzee]

Wow, great pics everyone!  It's so freakin' cold here today with a stiff wind blowing, the wind chill was around 30 degrees!      Oh, but it's great for walking these fields that have just been cleared of grain, and I love it.

Love the pics of your bikes.  I have an on/off road bike with nubby tires like yours Mikey.  A few years ago when I just started riding again, I, like you went too far.  It KILLED my back and I spent a week recovering.  I have since gotten myself in better shape, bought a new seat that doesn't make that large nerve go to sleep in the 'saddle' area,    and lifted the seat also.  I am tall and I had my seat way too low--now I don't have to work so hard climbing hills. 

[Jerry]

One of the items in the advertising for recumbents is NO trips to the Urologist!
There are many better seats available

[emm]

Thanks for taking the time to post these pictures and descriptions Mikey.  I have never seen a paved river bed before!  One of the things I really enjoy here is learning about other places.   

emm

[Brian]

Karen,
I thought of Grease too when I saw that paved river bed.

Jerry,
It is nice to see some Indianapolis Colts fans out in L.A.!!!  Maybe they were just tourists?

[Mikey]

Yes, I forgot that some of Grease was filmed in the Los Angeles River which is also paved.  The LA River is located about 7 miles west of where I took those photos.  During slow evenings we would occasionally practice our pursuit driving on the sandy concrete bottom......      The LA River empties into the ocean on the west side of Long Beach.  I recall once in the late 90s when it was just a few feet from cresting during one very heavy winter storm.  Both rivers are deadly during heavy rains.

[karen J]

During slow evenings we would occasionally practice our pursuit driving on the sandy concrete bottom......     

That was a very interesting post about both rivers... but that little bit about the persuit driving? Now I'm jealous. 

[Mikey]

but that little bit about the persuit driving?

Ahhhh, some of the stories I could tell.... 

[karen J]

Mikey,
I'd love to hear some of those stories. However, the truth is that I have the greatest respect and admiration for people like you, who put their literal life on the line to protect all of us. Sounds corny I know, but the things ($h!t) I've seen on TV and in real life amazes me to no end. It's amazing to see cops chase those creeps to the point where the cops could actually be killed, yet they do it.

There was one time that I was in L.A., we had an overnight delay between plane flights. My mom and I found a cute little cafe where we had a nice dinner. About midway through our meal, a guy came over to our table, sat himself down right next to me (I was 14) and said "yeah, I got no place to stay tonight and you gals look pretty darned good. Can I stay with you?"

A nice police officer came in and immediately noticed that the picture wasn't right and politely escorted the 'gentleman' out of the establishment.  That was probably an easy task for the cop that night, but my mom and I were grateful. 
I think I'd be good at chasing criminals at high speeds.  Alas, I think I'm too old for that.

[miguynmkoi]

That is a very adventurous bike ride you and "Fetching" biked!  Beautiful photos of the trail.  It seems of lately I've been in the Long Beach area a lot and enjoy some of the views you shared.  Good to see Catalina is back 

[Mikey]

The Fetching One was actually up in Oregon baby sitting for our kids 10th wedding anniversary, thus this was a solo ride.  The grandkids gave her their colds so right now she is feeling a bit under the weather.  I've suggested that once she is back up to snuff we ride down the bike trail and enjoy a nice breakfast or lunch at the River's End Café.  This little restaurant is located right on the beach adjacent to the bike trail where the San Gabriel empties into the ocean in Seal Beach.  We may have to plan the trip on a day when our son is home so she can call him up and say, "Come pick me up in Seal Beach at the River's End Cafe......"   

http://riversendcafe.com/

[-Greg-]

Nice pictures of your adventure!!