Today's Solo Ride.

[Paxton]

Hello...
It was a nice day in Los Angeles so I took to the Mountains. 
Most roads were closed due to the Forest Service conducting repairs after the largest fire in recent history. 
Also there was a fatal Motorcycle accident. Very common in these roads... 

The pictures show the scenery  over the San Rafael and the San Gabriel Mountains. No action just pictures. 

SUGGESTION: Set the slide show at the highest speed (1 second). 

  https://picasaweb.google.com/103917731019176896112/TodaySSoloRide?authkey=Gv1sRgCObxx8vEjeDzxAE

"The truth is always an insult or a joke, lies are generally tastier. We love them. The nature of lies is to please. Truth has no concern for any ones comfort"

[Tundra]

And yet, another beautiful one of a kind Valkyrie emerges It amazes me how you all find differant ways to customize these bikes, another fine job
  If I was able to ride with that kind of scenery, I'd check my pulse and think I was in Valkyrie heaven
  Looks like a great ride, Thanks for posting.

[Spirited-6]

Very enjoyable.  Thanks.

[Gary]

Very nice, I use to camp out in that general area back in the day.

We'd get someones parents to drop us off and the others would have to pick us up.

Great shots thanks for posting.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

Well done on both ! The ride and the bike 

[hubcapsc]

About 25 years ago I went to a Unix conference in Anaheim.

One day I drove the rental car up into the Sierra Madre mountains, I guess that
where your pictures are from. I was a dirt bike rider then, I remember passing by
lots of dirt bike activity on the way to and from the mountains, but I didn't think much
about the roads, or how much fun it would be to ride a nice street bike on them. Now
when I think about those roads, riding the Valkyrie on them is the first thing I think about  ...
Your pictures make the whole area look even better than I remembered...

-Mike

[97ValkSteve]

Nice ride.  Nice pics too. Jealous..

[alph]

i set the slide show speed to 5 seconds.  i think of it as trying to make it last longer    i love mountain driving, my wife hates 'em, i guess it's 'cause i hug the side of the road and she's usually looking down the ravine!!

[Paxton]

Hubcapsc...

The Los Angeles Forest has various approaches to reach the "crest." I always start on the east side.

It begins just about five miles up the road from my home. From my driveway to the very top of Mount Wilson is just 29 miles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angeles_Crest_Highway

Yes, the Sierra Madres are one of several groups of mountains that cluster around the Los Angeles Forest.
That route approaches the crest from the south. The route is heaven to dirt vehicles of all kinds. 

CA #2 / Angeles Crest Highway (in my photos)  runs for about 65 miles.
It gets more beautiful as you continue east through ever changing landscapes... 

I'd say that significant reductions in air pollution are most helpful to reforestation and beauty.
When I moved to this area back in '74, one could cut the smog w/a knife!  ??? It was awful.

These days one hardly hears warnings about smog levels. Most of what one sees these days is "marine layer,"
which many people mistakes it as smog. 

Los Angeles City and County are a flat desert.
The Los Angeles Forest is the first group of mountains away from the Pacific Ocean ('bout 35 miles)...
All the marine layer and/or smog  backs up against these mountains...
When that happens, you hop on the Valk and leave it all behind. 

Rain around here is a rare commodity... when it does rain for a couple of days the air cleans up
and you can see the Pacific Ocean from Mount Wilson.
NOTE: Three years ago it rained on 4 July for about 1/2 hour... a first in 70 years!

The photo I show of the LA basin, on a clear day would allow one to see several cities with the ocean as a backdrop.

FOR THOSE WANTING TO VACATION IN SoCal.
The following locations are within 500 miles from my home in Glendale, 91206:  ???

1.  Hollywood and all its attractions... (8 miles away);
2.  Universal Studios-Hollywood... (7 miles away);
3.  Burbank Studios... Jay Leno, etc... free tickets (6 miles away);
4.  Downtown Los Angeles... (8 miles away);
5.  Los Angeles Dodgers' Stadium... (5 miles away);
6.  Venice Beach... (22 miles away - West);
7.  Pacific Coast Hwy/Malibu ... (25 miles away - West); 
8.  The Pasadena Rose's Parade ... (6 miles away);
9.  The Rose Bowl... (4.5 miles away - East);
10. Magic Mountain... (20 miles away - North);
11. Disneyland... (35 miles away - South);
12. Griffith Park / Griffith Observatory / L. A. Zoo / Western Heritage Museum... (5 miles away);
13. The L. A. forum (home of the Lakers)... (18 miles away - West);
14. Staples Center... (8 miles away);
15. San Diego Zoo... (150 miles away - South);
16. The Mexican Border... (180 miles away - South);
17. Santa Monica Beach... (25 miles away - West);
18. Santa Barbara... (65 miles away - North-West);
19. The "Sunset Strip..." 10 miles away);
20. San Francisco- coastal route #1... (425 miles away - North).
21. Las Vegas - Desert route (no choice) ... (270 miles - East).

If I was visiting here on a thight budget and did not know anybody, I would motel it out
100 miles away... East; a lot less expensive... and near other attractions.
Excellent freeways and by-ways.

RECOMMENDED PERIOD: To ride on T-Shirt, early April through late October is good...
June is the ugliest month! Always gloomy. August and September are the hottest months... ride shirtless! 

"When you don't know where you are going any road will take you there."

[Bama Red]

Beautiful photography!!

California sure does have some spectacular scenery.

[highcountry]

Great photos and beautiful scenery!  Thx for posting!

[donaldcc]

Nice ride Paxton.  Can't beat the SoCal mtns and scenery.  thanks for sharing.  

[HayHauler]

Man, you have several calendar shots there.  The one with the bike on the left and the water on the right.....awesome..

Thanks for sharing with us flatlanders,

Hay 
Jimmyt

[JOCK3]

Thank you for the photographs,i really enjoyed the scenery,i never saw that part of LA when i was there i now wish that i had.The area reminds me of Southern Spain around the Sierra nevadas.