Though I've grown accustomed to riding my bike in the hills that overlook Whittier, I have taken to riding my bike to various destinations around the city. The other day I rode to Olvera Street, downtown, and I brought my camera.

It seems that the original street of La Puebla de Los Angeles has become (or perhaps, always was, though unnoticed by me) a popular destination for So-Cal day-trippers, and maybe some folks from out of town. What used to be a thrillingly exotic scene to me, is now kind of boring (what, with all the white folks walking around with cameras, and such :) ).

But along the ride there, I went down Cesar Chavez Boyle Heights, merely a few blocks up the street from Olvera. This street is not a tourist spot, but has most of the things you can get at Olvera, plus the essentials and with little to no English spoken. The bustling boulevard is a truly isolated Mexican enclave.

The greatest charm of Cesar Chavez (formerly known as Brooklyn Avenue, named by Boyle's original Jewish inhabitants) is the buildings, nearly all of which have some kind of lively artwork on their faces.



The art usually looks endearingly amateur, as if the business's owner actually whipped out some paint and scrawled what came to his or her head first.



Much of the art is professional, and sometimes there is an inspirational message.







Though I've driven down the street many times, it is a far superior experience on two wheels, which facilitates up-close examination. Especially for this building, which is a giant color-collage of broken ceramics.





...as well as this giant mural on the face of the White Medical building.


(Photo taken in 2005 with my old camera)

These pictures represent a mere fraction of the neighborhood. It will take me quite some time to get my fill of the eye candy adorning Cesar Chavez and the surrounding streets of Boyle Heights.

Not that you can tell--

but this is Tyler Hamilton just the same.



He was just 5 feet from us before the start, but I didn't know what to say, and Dad didn't realize it was him until he was walking away.

In the first 3.8-mile time trial up Glendora Mtn Rd, he was unofficially 23rd out of 134, 34 seconds behind the winner (his team mate), who took 13min 5sec.

More pictures from San Gabriel Cyn

Remember Tyler Hamilton?

According to SoCalCycling.com, he will compete in the San Dimas Stage Race. It starts Friday in Glendora with a short time trial up Glendora Mtn Rd. (He'll probably start in early afternoon.) I won't be part of the race, but I might be there on my bike.

Easter in Placerville

We had a quiet Easter. David came for dinner and he met Aidan. MomaBeth helped Brianna with her new dress. Brianna enjoyed her Easter Basket and the good company.

Crystal Lake - for Aunt Beth

See more pictures here.
Yes, it was green, but not like a swamp.

I talked to a Forest Service worker who was working on a trail at the campground, and he said that since the 2002 fire, Caltrans has put in 25 new toilets--so there is progress being made to restoring the campground. The hold up is the bases of 2 bridges on hwy 39 (San Gabriel Cyn Rd). The water is stagnant and low right now, but he said that they're going to route water from other streams into the bottom of the lake with hoses to aerate it and fill it up.

More images from Tour of California

While I was diligently exercising my responsibilites as an official course marshall, Cindi was kickin' it with the celebrities of cycling. Picture here with Phil Liggett.







After some good rain, the rainbow.

There's still some snow in CA, too

Yesterday I rode my bike to the Crystal Lake campground, slightly above 5000' in altitude (and 40 miles from home), and there was still snow on the road, starting from a little above 4500'. I wasn't even a tad cold going up, but was (only) a tad cold in the ears coming down, which surprised me. I was excited to be able to make it to the snow in the mountains this winter before it all melted, but I appreciate the warmth of SoCal.

Akron Blizzard

From my mom..."Snow is the deepest we have ever seen it. We had to have the driveway plowed. Everything is shut down. We are toasty and warm. Dad had to shovel behind the car outside the garage so we can get out if we need to, but he took it in little time periods and then came in and rested. He feels fine. He is wise about that! Just thought you would like to know what it is like at our house. The snow is half way up the window by the computer on the porch boxes."

Anybody jealous?

And from the weather professionals to Akronyms: "Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 am EDT Sunday... Snow... heavy at times... will taper off from west to east across the area tonight. By the time the snow tapers off... total snow accumulations should range from 12 to 18 inches across much of the area. Gusty northwest winds between 20 and 30 mph will begin to diminish this evening. Until then expect to find considerable blowing and drifting of the snow causing near blizzard conditions at times. Roads that have not been plowed... and roads exposed to drifting snow will likely be impassible this evening. Local travel restrictions may be in place."

Brrrrrrrr!

Another b-day party

There are more than 100 years between us four!



Timothy is 20; Daniel is 17.