Santa Fe Dam

On New Year's Eve, some of our friends went to the beach to watch the last sunset of the year over the ocean. Sadly, we couldn't join them, but Riley and I started 2008 with our own little trip to the beach -- landlocked though, as it were. We went to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, just 6 miles away in Irwindale. You wouldn't know it to look at these pictures, but this park sits amidst gravel quarries and other industry.

Besides the swimming beach, there is also an enclosed water park for little kids, a nature center, and miles of paved bike trails, including an elevated trail encircling the whole dam area. Riley and I didn't venture up there, but I imagine the views of the mountains are even better at that slighter higher vantage point.

Looking northeast, toward the snowy mountaintops.

Looking northwest, back toward Monrovia.

Scanning the horizon for swimmers (or birds) in distress

Hey! I told you no horseplay!

Helloooo, down there!

I've never seen this in any of the other parks around here. This was a trampoline in the middle of a spiderweb type contraption.

See Riley run. Run, Riley, run!

Fly, my fine, feathered friends, fly!

Riley wants to come back with me and Chris and rent one of these surreys.