I am a geologist, albeit not by trade. I have been studying geology for most of my life. It started when I was in kindergarten picking up rocks in the playground at Mitchell Elementary in Santa Clarita, California. I wanted to know more about it. Where did it come from? How was it made? The rocks that intrigued me the most were small flow-banded rhyolite clasts that came out of the Mint Canyon Formation, the rock formation around Mitchell Elementary in Santa Clarita, CA as well as where I lived.

Through the years, I studied these rocks and others, eventually trying to find the source of these rhyolites. I searched the local area for older rocks, learning that conglomerates are made of older rocks. The only other volcanics I could find were basalts from the Oligocene Vasquez Formation. It took a bit longer before I found that the San Andreas Fault had moved the source by a couple hundred miles. These rhyolites are from the Orocopia Mountains east of Indio, CA.

Through this process I took a big interest in Structural Geology. I wanted to know more about how these rocks were able to move so far and what they went through during that process. It is an ongoing project and it really teaches you about how Southern California became what it is today. Without the San Andreas Fault, however it may be perceived by those living here, the great megalopolis of Los Angeles may never have existed.

It is a direct consequence of that fault that the mountains that rise so steeply north of Los Angeles, that squeeze the rain from the clouds and block the desert winds, helped establish the early resources that allowed the cities of Los Angeles and beyond to be built.

In August 2011, I sold my car, a 1994 Toyota Camry Wagon. It wasn’t something I planned to do as the engine died and I couldn’t afford a replacement at the time. From August 2011 to early November 2012, I was carless. It wasn’t that much of an adjustment for me, as I rode my bicycle more than I drove. Bicycling is a lot of fun, healthy, and a great way to get around the city. I don’t ride as much as I used to but still enjoy going out when I can.

Bicycle touring is another fun way to travel. On June 24, 2001, I started a bike ride from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to Santa Clarita. It took me seven days to complete the ride and was 505 miles long. On July 31, 2009, I started my second major bicycle tour. I went from Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR, then east along the Columbia River Highway to Hood River, OR, then around Mt Hood, returning to Portland, OR. In June 2010, I finally rode the Big Sur coast.

From August 1998 to August 2021, I adopted a section of Interstate 5 in Kern County between postmiles 6.00 and 8.00 in both directions. It is fun and, at times, I get to directly help the traveling public. I get a sense of pride when traveling that stretch, as I have worked to keep it clean, when I get the chance to travel there. I have also adopted two sections of former US 80 in San Diego County under the name – Road Scholars.

In April 2017, I also adopted a section of Interstate 8 in San Diego County between postmiles 44.9 and 46.9 eastbound. This is the section from Sunrise Highway to two miles east. Please, join me in adopting your own section of highway, or helping with my own cleanups. You drive it all the time, why not help to make it cleaner too. You may be surprised at how rewarding it feels.