Second Annual Point Mugu Old Years' Ride

December 30, 2020

Second Annual Point Mugu Old Years' Ride

"...Well the world goes around

I can't stop it

So I'll sit back and watch the sun go down

If it comes back up then this day's a good un

You know I wouldn't be that surprised

I'm just a regular guy..."

(Steve Earle)

Ah, the holiday break, a time for traditions, old and new. In this case the annual (2nd) ride at Pt. Mugu State Park. A time to watch the sun ride across the sky and go down with a splash, tracking its course from down below in the coastal canyons, inland to the sea. Climbing Woods Canyon and Overlook Trails is a far cry from Steve Earle's "sit back and watch" ideal, but I cain't say as i'd appreciate the reward as much if it was reached without the effort.

The campground may have been covid-closed this year but that didn't deter great mobs of riders and hikers (and plenty of small groups and couples) from ranging along the trails. I was really looking forward to another new tradition - savoring a sandwich from Wolfe's Market at the picnic tables of the Danielson Multi-use Area, most of the way up Sycamore Canyon. Covid-closed got in the way of that too, but across the road there was a nice mottled limb fallen beneath a big old sycamore that made a nice alternate place to sit. A native bumbler would not give us any peace, however (I'm guessing his burrow was right there), so we gave him some room and...

it was time to get back to the ride by then anyway.

Woods Canyon and the Overlook Trails are such a toil, but boy what views - Boney Mountain on one side, the length of Sycamore Canyon, La Jolla Valley, and then ultimately, that big blue Pacific. An clear, it was incredibly clear today - Catalina was out there to the south, Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands up to the north, and directly out on the far horizon, little Santa Barbara Island. I didn't even know you could see that one, but there it was. It was a true sparkling day; I'm not sure I can wait 365 days for the next time.