After leaving Sunday’s fabulous and famous Donut Summit, I decided to do some impromptu hiking on the trails near Griffith Observatory.  I learned a few things:

1.  Donuts do not make for great energy food for hiking.  Who knew?

2.  That bite of Stan’s peanut butter-filled donut probably saved my ass.  Not to mention that it was delicious.

3.  All that coffee was a big help too.

4.  Wrong turns = more uphills.

5.  Windy day + big hat = side trips down and up steep loose inclines to retrieve hat that inevitably blows away.

6.  The park rangers have terrific maps of the park, and will give one to you if you ask nicely.

7.  Griffith Park is gigantic, and the areas around the Observatory are but a speck.  If you search Metblogs for “Griffith Park,” you’ll find many posts covering and paying tribute to this grand asset.

8.  I find it impossible to hit the steps and terraces of Griffith Observatory and not think about “Rebel Without a Cause” every time (extra meaningful at this time due to Dennis Hopper‘s recent passing*).

One of the great discoveries that many Los Angeles area residents make, hopefully shortly after moving here, is that it’s possible, even easy, to revel in a peaceful, natural setting just moments from the cars, crowds, and donut shops that populate our city.  I knew I liked living here for a reason.

*I was given a Dennis Hopper bonus on the way home, when Gorillaz’ “Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head” came up on the iPod shuffle.

Related posts:

1. 47 days until the Donut Summit!
2. Donut Summit: Announcing the Donut King!
3. Donut Summit: TOMORROW!
4. Donut Summit countdown is on!
5. Donut Summit: Where are you bringing your donuts from?