Carrie, Byron and I spent Memorial Day riding the Ojai Valley Trail (OVT) while Leili hung with friends. The OVT is my favorite place to ride with the family. The new bridge over San Antonio Creek adjacent to the Ventura river was completed in March of this year. We started at Foster Park and pedaled the 9 miles up to Ojai for lunch. The 9 miles back to Foster Park from Ojai is as easy and relaxing as it gets.
Our first look at the new bridge.
Byron checking out the bridge. It's a cool bridge and it's long enough to enjoy the ride over it's wood slats before exiting onto the other side of the trail.
Here's the old crossing. Byron is looking out onto the Ventura River from the old crossing over the San Antonio Creek. During the rainy season flooding would often close down this stretch of the OVT for days, if not weeks, after a rain. Taking busy highway 33 to circumvent this part of the trail and get to Ojai is not a cycling friendly option.
Carrie following me up the OVT.
A few more pictures of different parts of the OVT.
Oh yes...lunch time at the Ojai Cafe Emporium . The 9 miles back to Foster Pack is easy and involves a lot of coasting so eat up and enjoy a beer.
We stopped at the bridge on the way back to get another perspective...
...from below.
Now the San Antonio Creek flows freely into the Ventura River. Great place to stop and enjoy the shade of the bridge and cool off your feet,
Time to finish our ride back to faster Park and wrap up another great family ride. We missed Leili but she had fun with her friends back home.
Click here for a Visitors guide for Ojai, California. When we stay overnight in Ojai we stay at the Blue Iguana Inn. It's on Highway 33 before you get into town and right next to the Ojai Trail.
The ride on the Ojai Valley Trail when combined with Ventura River Trail starting in Ventura makes for a nice 30 mile round trip. The Ventura River Trail presents a sharp but interesting contrast to the Ojai Valley Trail with it's industrial buildings and old oil wells. Bring your camera!
