Monday Blues: Its Burnt

Blue sky, blue water, a blue-striped jersey of the Local Bike Stand, burnt land. One of these things is not like the others. Society's inability to solve the problem of homelessness carries many consequences, both for people and the environment. You will notice a trail in the bottom photo; though hard to see, it leads to an extensive (and destroyed) homeless camp. The basin of Santa Fe Dam is pocked with such camps, some large, others small. Unlike the linear encampment that existed along the Santa Ana River the scattered camps in the basin are far less visible, and normally invisible, to passing cyclists, runners, various park staff, and law enforcement; it is quite surprising that there have not been more fires before this one. As you ride through the burn zone, the air is still acrid with the scent of burnt sage and chaparral, scorched rocks and earth; the breeze wasn't strong at the time so the scent did not assault us. Instead it easily rose from the ground and lightly enveloped us as we passed through.