Building Bridges
As mentioned in an earlier post, this year’s annual Black Friday Family Hike had to be more like a walk due to injury. For something both short ‘n’ pretty, I decided on a trek to walk over the new David Kreitzer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge at Lake Hodges.
The pathway/trail to the bridge is easy to reach from a concrete entrance at the end of Sunset Ave. in southern Escondido. I’d run numerous times along the nearby Mule Hill Trail and another used in the old San Dieguito River 10k Trail Run, but this was my first on this path. We were close to the chaos at the North County Faire mall but miles away in terms of scenery and seclusion.
The path initially parallels the 15 freeway, then goes under it. The bridge is within easy sight on the other side.
There are signs – and signs – that this area was hit hard by the 2007 wildfires.
Another natural disaster also was in plain sight: long-term drought. While on the bridge I recognized part of a 10k trail race route on the Rancho Bernardo side that I’d last run a few years back. Then, the trail was surrounded by water on the lakefront side. Today, there are only spiny, desiccated stalks and cracked earth where part of the lake used to be.
When the bridge was dedicated in May, it became the longest stressed ribbon bridge in the world, according to Wikipedia. Learn more and see photos of its construction and note that throughout, the bridge is above water.
From the bridge, you can run, walk or cycle for many miles on soft earthen trails that hug the reservoir, or what’s left of it. Everyone we passed that morning seemed in good spirits, and I noted that not one runner or walker had on earbuds. Smart people. The trails aren’t always wide, and the best way to avoid a collision is to stay alert. I’ll definitely be back, perhaps with my bike or maybe just a water bottle and walking shoes.
My fellow hikers at the end of our brief but beautiful journey. (Once again, our older daughter couldn't come home for Thanksgiving, but I promise to make it up to her at Christmas.)
The pathway/trail to the bridge is easy to reach from a concrete entrance at the end of Sunset Ave. in southern Escondido. I’d run numerous times along the nearby Mule Hill Trail and another used in the old San Dieguito River 10k Trail Run, but this was my first on this path. We were close to the chaos at the North County Faire mall but miles away in terms of scenery and seclusion.
The path initially parallels the 15 freeway, then goes under it. The bridge is within easy sight on the other side.
There are signs – and signs – that this area was hit hard by the 2007 wildfires.
Another natural disaster also was in plain sight: long-term drought. While on the bridge I recognized part of a 10k trail race route on the Rancho Bernardo side that I’d last run a few years back. Then, the trail was surrounded by water on the lakefront side. Today, there are only spiny, desiccated stalks and cracked earth where part of the lake used to be.
When the bridge was dedicated in May, it became the longest stressed ribbon bridge in the world, according to Wikipedia. Learn more and see photos of its construction and note that throughout, the bridge is above water.
From the bridge, you can run, walk or cycle for many miles on soft earthen trails that hug the reservoir, or what’s left of it. Everyone we passed that morning seemed in good spirits, and I noted that not one runner or walker had on earbuds. Smart people. The trails aren’t always wide, and the best way to avoid a collision is to stay alert. I’ll definitely be back, perhaps with my bike or maybe just a water bottle and walking shoes.
My fellow hikers at the end of our brief but beautiful journey. (Once again, our older daughter couldn't come home for Thanksgiving, but I promise to make it up to her at Christmas.)
