Sunday, October 26, 2008

Another weekend...

... another walk in the country. Beside a lake...


... lush with reeds and bullrushes...






...and populated by contented water fowl...


A stroll through the woods..




....with a rest on the low, curving branch of a eucalyptus tree...



Where? Los Angeles. After forty years of living in this city--and a lifetime for Ellie, the photographer today--it continues to surprise us. Franklin Canyon, where we took our long walk yesterday morning, is at the heart of greater Los Angeles, in the city of Beverly Hills. Enter either from the north, on Mulholland Drive, or from the south, on Coldwater Canyon. A great place to hike.

We had not intended to be here. We had intended to spend the weekend at our Laguna Beach cottage. What a disappointment! We drove down on Friday, thinking that now, finally, the place would be habitable, the kitchen ready for use. No such luck! We spent a couple of hours there, in consultation with the painter and the cabinet maker--then turned back and drove home to the city. Ah, well. Next week...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's lovely - wish I'd known about that while I was there on a layover. It felt at teh time liek I was surrounded by roads, so it's nice to see some greenspace.

Taradharma said...

bummer about the cabin, Peter. I hope the work progresses more smoothly in the future...very frustrating!

It's wonderful to see wild place in L.A....they do exist but are few and far between. Ever read Robert Crais mysteries? He lives in an A frame in Laurel Canyon, and describes it beautifully. His character is a detective named Elvis...fun stuff.

robin andrea said...

You do find lovely spots for earthy adventures there. Sorry to hear about the weekend letdown in laguna. We're heading down again, but will only be there Tuesday through Friday, leaving next Saturday morning. I don't suppose there's a chance for a rendezvous this time?

Peter Clothier said...

Citizen, yes, it's easy to feel that way in Los Angeles. It seems to take forty years to find out otherwise!

Tara, thanks for the sympathy. Later this week, we hope... And yes, I do know Bob Crais. We published our first novels around the same time, late 80s, and did some book-signings together at the time. Haven't seen or heard from him in years, though.

Robin, yes! See my separate email.

And thanks, all!