I don't know what flavor of bear it is, but there are several of these things in that valley. They all look different.

That bear sculpture is a rough likeness of the California Bear, as seen on the California flag:




It's supposed to be a grizzly, but California grizzlies were hunted and poisoned to extinction 100 years ago.

Spent the weekend up in Mammoth.

I've been looking to find some good core exercise.

Good news: Shoveling your car out of the snow is good core exercise.
Bad news: Shoveling snow sux.

[MENTION=553936]t2p[/MENTION] Please tell me where this trail is or its name. I want to ride it. Thanks.

I rarely stop just to take a photo, but this sight made me pull over:


Taafe Road, Los Altos Hills, CA

Some supplies arrived today.

West Fork of San Gabriel Canyon.

Amazing what a little snow courtesy of the atmospheric river can do to our local mountains. Mt. Baldy (San Antonio Peak) is just off to the left. Check out the San Gabriel River That is typically dry, but with all the rain, is flowing nicely, and even with a hint of glacier blue.

unfortunately this trail is on the orther side of the country from you

this is the 30 mile Panhandle trail - that stretches eastward from the Weirton West Virginia area to Collier Township just southwest of Pittsburgh ; it occupies the former site of a rail line that at one time served areas from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh

the trail is both crushed limestone and paved - and includes a pass through a stone quarry area, dense / wooded areas, and wide open areas … we often jokingly refer to the open areas as the ‘Ponderosa’ …

neat thing about the Panhandle trail is rides can be combined with nearby rolling and winding rural roads - and the trail also connects to the 60 mile Montour trail (suburban trail near Pittsburgh) …

( the trestle shown in the last picture of my previous post is the McDonald trestle which is part of the Montour trail
and passes over the Panhandle trail )

and the Montour trail can connect to the 150 mile GAP trail (Great Allegheny Passage) between Pittsburgh and Cumberland Maryland …

and the GAP can be combined with the 180 mile C&O Canal towpath trail to travel from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC

pre Super Bowl ride @ Moraine State Park

Thanks [MENTION=553936]t2p[/MENTION]. I appreciate the excellent reply. Although I currently live on the west coast, I'll be moving east soon. I'll put this ride on the agenda. Your pix inspired me to find it and ride it.

Mt. Humphreys and Center Basin

I love this area when it’s green. Not much to look at the other 8 or so months.

Finished my ride and put my gear in the front seat and put my bike on the hitch rack. When I returned to put on my sandals, this is what I found. Obviously the neighbor kitty wanted to crash, but I had to help him back to his house. What a sweet heart, kitty tracks and all.

Where?

Sorry forgot to add, they both out front of this place.....

...the refurbed Battersea Power Station., London.

Notice the larch tree, an evergreen that loses it's needles in winter.

Heh. When I flew to Gatwick in ‘85 the train to Victoria Station passed by it. Like a total American tool, I jumped up, went to the other side of the car a said pretty loudly “That’s the place from the Pink Floyd album!” (It hadn’t been refurbished back then.) A nice, elderly couple explained what it was and that Battersea was known for its dirty streets and loose women.

Heading up Mt. Hamilton Road today during a break in the rain and wind:

Hi Vis Terry! Sorry, my juvenile humor slipped out.

Beautiful scenery and a wonderful shot of the road.

A little climbing today.

panhandle trail

ran into some snow on the trail in shaded / dense areas as we headed out

greeted by neat clouds as the sun set on the return trip

Gotta watch for loose rocks when descending these roads. A few months back 2 guys flatted on sharp rocks but both remained upright. A few years ago a friend fell after hitting a rock and got hurt. Luckily the roads were mostly just wet and sandy in spots.