Water Flows Not So Free

Los Angeles is in the middle of another water shortage. We Angelinos are asked to only water our lawns twice a week, sweep our driveways instead of using the hose and avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Yeah, right!

LA doesn't have too many natural streams like in the old days. There are a few near natural streams like the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena. Most of our water resources come from our mountains both near and far. Anyone read Cadillac Desert? Despite the lack of water, there are some secret spots here in LA that still flow with cool, sparkling water--even in the dog days of summer. Of course it's harnessed and directed by man, but it's still water.

Kids...

A cool day under cloudy skies didn't keep hikers and rock-hoppers away from Eaton Canyon. The little boy above was getting a verbal lashing by his parents for getting his shoes wet. But we all know that getting our feet wet is half the fun.

Eaton Canyon is in Pasadena, at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains--six minutes from my home base. During strong rain storms, the canyon floods, turning boulders, trees and even an occasional building down its swollen banks. Days like today, families, joggers and bird-watchers fill the trails and water ways with the sounds of frogs, dogs and people laughing.

It was a great day not unlike many winter afternoons in Southern California.