I think your club should just contract the space between your two pastimes and start shooting at the river. Show that river who’s boss.

Growing up near the headwater area, where Bell Canyon Creek comes from, gave me an appreciation for just how natural the local rivers could be; you guys should bike back into Bell Canyon someday. It’s beautiful.

I couldnt help but notice that one of the plants in the picture is Giant Reed (Arundo donax), a noxious weed which is invading creeks and rivers all around California… driving out native plants and animals, causing fires, floods, etc. I work in the Angeles National Forest and we have a lot of it scattered around up here (the headwaters of that river). I suppose it’s better than concrete, but it’s too bad that it is in there too.

It would be nice to clean that place up and get some more willows and cottonwoods in there.

Can’t we all just get along and shoot the damn weed.

I kind of like the way the river is now. I start on Riverside Drive near Figueroa (Frogtown, I guess) and can walk for almost half an hour with my dog without seeing anyone.

A bunch of us went on a night ride along the river this weekend and was almost knocked off my bike by the smell at several points between the five and Fletcher… yucko. not my favorite ride by a long shot… and who doesnt love 10 inch high bumps in the road every few feet on bike paths… the city is reclaiming the river path…

Yeah 35mm… the condition of thebikeway south of Fletcher to the end where Vidalia writes leaves much to be desired — especially at night. I’d definitely recommend any after-dark excursions without ample illumination follow the bikeway north from Fletcher.

While I’ve never ridden that stretch of the river after dark, and I can imagine some of those bumps really jump out at you if you aren’t expecting them, I have to say durring the day I enjoy it just as much, if not more than the north-of-fletcher part simply because it’s got a lot of character. Don’t get me wrong, the northern part is nice too, and certainly great to ride, but the lower half feels a lot more urban and lived in to me.

the may and june issues of the believer had a great 2-part article on ways of seeing nature in l.a. and nature writing in general. by jenny price.