Feb 17, 2007 - Santa Monica Mountains

I went on a ride with Michael up and down the roads in the Santa Monica Mountains.  It was a great day where records highs were being set across the southland, and the winds kept the fog away from the coast.  I was in a rush to get going in the morning, so naturally I forgot my camera.  So these pictures were taken with my cell phone, from the lookout at the top of Stunt Road.

You can see Catalina Island in this picture.  From the lookout it is about 45 miles to Catalina Island.

Turning a bit to the left, you could see the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  You can't tell it from the cell phone camera, but LAX was clearly visible behind the leaves to the right of the sign.  You also could see the San Pedro bay (Long Beach to Huntington Beach, and down the coast to Dana Point.

One final photo from the lookout:

We had a blast.  First the Rock Store, then over Mulholland and then up Stunt to the lookout.  Then east on Saddle Peak, down Tuna Canyon, which has a one-way section.  It is freedom to not have to worry about oncoming traffic through the twists and turns.  The road is tight, so it is 1st and 2nd gear all the way down.  After the 'goat trail' as some call it, it over PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and then up Las Flores canyon, then Piuma to Malibu Canyon and back down to PCH.  Over PCH and then up Latigo Canyon to Kanan.  A brief ride on Kana, then west on Mulholland all the way to the sea.  Then it was up the coast for a mile to Neptune's Net.  At Neptune's Net, I noticed  my bike squirting fluid.  It turns out that my radiator sprung a leak.  This is the second factory radiator in the ZRX, the first leaked twice and now this.  I am looking for an aftermarket radiator now.

Since the leak wasn't too bad we continued up the coast to Deer Creek road.  This is a delightful road.  It does take a bit of concentration, since it is only 1 to 1.5 lanes wide, with 2 way traffic.  I had been on some roads like this up north (Morgan Territory Road and Mines Road).  We eventually hit Decker Canyon, and went north to Westlake Village where I topped off the overflow bottle (it was still above the low mark, I didn't lose much fluid).  Then freeway home.