Sycamore Canyon is one of our favorite hiking spots:

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Last weekend we took a nice hike up the "Scenic Trail" and the "fire road overlook trail".

It was a good hike with some nice views of the ocean and surrounding area.  However while hiking we saw:

A BEAUTIFUL GREEN VALLEY.  And so, our quest began.  On the return leg of the hike we noticed a trail that cut from the main fire road: "Serrano Valley   2.7mi".  My instinct told me that was our valley…

So, this Saturday we return, excited to find this thing of beauty… is it true that a green valley exists in socal?

So, take the 101 to Kannan to the 1 drive north for 8 miles (or so) and pull a u-turn at Sycamore Cove.  Park on the side of the road and hike to the trailhead (no way we are paying $10 to park).  Up the fire road for a little over a mile and turn right on the trail marked leading to Seranno Valley.  It was one of the nicest hikes we have taken anywhere near here.  Tons of green, lots of shade, great views…

The trail follows a stream most of the way, repeatedly (like a dozen times?) crossing over it…

Wonderful. 

And, to top it off, the trail did lead us to our green valley:

AWESOME:

that one is worth checking out in full size

 More pictures if you care…

Another view from the roof of the mall parking garage that is prettier than it deserves to be,

We walk aroud burbank late in the evening a lot…

These are from a recent trip to Malibu – one of our favorite beaches has been changed quite dramatically by the recent rains

Pigeons on the pier

We were at ralphs getting some coffee filters and found this poor guy

You could say that this shopping cart is my Moby Dick of photography. I think it has potential to look cool but as you can see in my *second* attempt I still have het to capture it

On quick hike in Griffith Park after work, earlier this week we found a cave

My favorite of this batch…

 It’s been raining like crazy this last week.

all my favorite pictures in the rain have red in them

same picture as another earlier in my stream… a little less post processing on this one. Both just have varying degrees of tweaking in ACR + levels + sharpening.

so… is this better than the other one?

P.S. this blog, this week is dedicated to Mark – here now is a place where he can comment on pictures that I take without digging out his xanga password