Confession of a SART Novice

It's true. It really is. Never have I ever ridden the Santa Ana River Trail to the sea at Huntington State Beach, let alone then turned south and continued on to Newport Beach. So there are, still, first times to be had in this life of riding. As it should be.

I know the SART had some problems in the past, but I tell ya, it is pretty darn nice now. Being far more familiar with the regions' other river trail whose namesake waterway tends to be dry for much of its length, the Santa Ana River, flowing for its entire length is quite a contrast. 

I know, considering how one local group, or the other, seems to ride the SART every week, you're thinking it is impossible that I haven't ridden it before now, but I promise, cross my heart and all that, this was the first. Getting to the remote start at the ARTIC is certainly an easy on/off the freeway, and a hop to the path right there; no streets, not even a crossing until arrival at the coast. Confession or not, I just may be a SART convert. Parks, murals (well one anyway), geese, an osprey, lots of fellow riders, plus an interesting place to turn around (with lots and lots of food and drink options) - what's not to like.

the requisite photo at the ARTIC

corndogs and smoothies at Janes in Newport Beach

the Ben Carlson Memorial statue at the foot of the pier

Ms Tamera got a flat and we turned up one of those short cul de sacs that end at the sand so she could fix it. all of a sudden i start to hear all this music out on the "main" street where the bike path is...

so i leave her to work and walk down to see what's going on, along comes a "parade" of low riders. i'm not sure how many were carrying boom boxes, but enough to fill the street with sound

back on the trail and over the steel and wood bridge

one of two parklets - this one bee themed (note the honeycomb)

sighting the big 'A' means the ride is almost over ;(