Return
to
Grapevine
Canyon,
now
in
the
aftermath of fire,
up
to
Tejon,
and
over
the
on
a
secondary-road exit detour,
then down through
Gorman /
Peace /
Hungry Valleys,
past the
Black
Mountains,
Pyramid
Lake,
Liebre
Gulch,
Piru
Gorge,
Paradise
Valley,
Canton
and
Violin
Canyons,
down
into
Santa
Clarita.
From
here,
up
and over Gavin Canyon, past Cliffs
and
Douglas firs,
through
San
Fernando,
the
roller
coaster
of
the
Verdugos,
in view of the San Rafaels
and
San Gabriels,
Mt.
Baldy
and Ontario
and
Cucamonga Peaks looming.
Across the San Bernardino border,
the
way
is
made,
after a supply
stop in
Highland,
beyond
Yucaipa
Grade and
Canyon, to the beckoning
San
Jacintos,
up
the
Banning-
Idyllwild
Grade's
rocky,
precipitous
slopes --
with prospects of San Gorgonio Ridge and Pass --
towards
McMullen Flat,
proceeding to
Road 3S09,
closed by the recent flames.
At
this
point,
take an angellic, piney and viewful walk, aiming for the next closed passage -- 3S08 --
and
the
Vista
Grande
Fire
Station.
Following
a
tour
of
inspection,
make
return
tracks
down
the
grade,
with
more
views
of
San Gorgonio,
Barker,
Cabazon / Morongo, and
San Jacinto Ridges,
checking off three
eucalyptus groves to the
Sunset,
down to Smith Creek,
diverting around
back
roads,
beelining
west on
10 in sight of the
San Antonios,
back
to
John and Elena Browning's safe haven.
Out briefly with Dr. Browning to San Bernardino Black Angus (Angels?!), listening to and looking at Interrupted Interludes and John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes...
High at home, 88 on the 129th day of summer, 86 in Yucaipa (beyond which, all picture files above should be designated as hailing from Riverside County)...
