OK. PCH was a parking lot this morning. The mudslides are getting cleaned up, but they still had northbound down to 1 lane - which meant merging and a major slowdown starting at Topanga, which was still closed. I was pretty sure Malibu Canyon was going to be closed and since I has gas in my tank, I left the main alternative route and made my own. No, I don't drive an SUV or 4x4.... yet. It's just me and the snob - a black Saab Convertible. Today - we had the top down and proceeded to twist our way up to the ridge.
The "reward" was there. Las Ramblas has some really excellent downs... rocks, trees, not so much mud. Pavement cracking (still hanging on though). I wound my way on the ridge using all parts of the pavement. That yellow line meant nothing. Views of the pacific, clear and blue. I attempted to take some photos but my camera batteries ran out. Tomorrow - wait for the photos. I pulled off at an overlook and peered down. There was Malibu Canyon, no traffic, muddy streaks and I saw a couple trucks around what looked to be a slide. I carved my way down Piuma. I have a love affair with this road. Can a woman love asphalt and concrete? Oh yes, she can - and I do. I love this road. I love the name. I love driving up and down it. I love it in my car or on my motorcycle. I love it alone or with friends in the passenger or leading or following. I love it. And it felt so good to be affectionate to it's cold moist pavement. Not too many slides. Mostly trees covering the lane here or there. Malibu Canyon was closed at Piuma so I took my normal commute route on Las Virgines to Mulholland. Mulholland was more or less clean and I was back to safety in second gear. (I usually don't push it beyond 3rd gear here.) I wound my way to Cornell then Kanan and Agoura Hills. No freeway for me. All in all, it took me about 40 minutes from PCH to Kanan Rd via the canyon.
It was gorgeous. I was in love. The sun was shining and I was listening to my stereo. What more could I want? At least at that moment.
Ahhhhhh.
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