Runyon Canyon

I finally washed my car today. This is a pretty big feat, especially since I took it to a coin-operated, self-service car wash. There are apparently only like three of these type of car washes in all of LA, as the city seems to be dominated by $10+up hand wash car washes. I just wanted to chuck a few quarters in and squirt my own car off with the wand. That seemed like an impossible task, but after polling some friends and an extensive yelp review search, I pulled my car into the car wash I've always known was there (1 of the 3), but was afraid to pull into. I don't exactly know why, but I was intimidated by this location and desperately wanted to find an alternative place. I would have driven way out of my way too, If I could have found one. But today, I decided fuck it. And I went, and it wasn't horrible at all. It worked fine and I was able to satiate the sadist in me that seems to enjoy the game of seeing if I can actually go through all the cycles before the timer runs out.

And as easy as it was to let this act be my big feat of the day, I decided to one-up myself. It was just 11:30am after all. A smidge early to call it in for the day. Plus I have been feeling better now that the effects of the tetanus/whooping booster had finally worn off. So I decided to go for a hike in Runyon Canyon. I only know about this spot because my sweet, sweet granny mailed me a newspaper clipping from her local paper about the free yoga and hollywood stars that hike in the hills. I get tickled, because she doesn't have internet, and it seems so random the articles she will mail me at times, but if her local paper ever mentions anything that references LA, she's clipped it and put a stamp on it. Anyway, back to RC. Now I enjoy hiking. At least I think I enjoy hiking. I tell people that I do (like let them believe I'm all hard-core hiker chick), because it just seems like an activity I'd enjoy. In reality, I've probably only been hiking like three times ever in my life (if you don't count trasping the woods in Tennessee with my sister when we were younger) and each time I totally forgot to bring water. They were short hikes. I wanted today to be different. Which inevitably it would be, because for starters, I would be alone. Other than water and good shoes, I really had no clue what to bring or wear. Nor was I completely sure (still not) how long this hike would be. The only information I found stated that the three trails were a little over a mile each in total distance, but does that mean total from where I start to the end of the trail on the other side of the canyon or round trip? I dunno. I just grab the basics (hoodie, water, phone, headphones, ID, enough cash for fare) and hop on the metro for Hollywood and Highland. It's really a short walk from the subway to the Fuller St. entrance to Runyon Canyon, but I was definitely huffing and puffing by the time I got to the gate. I actually thought, "Well that's pretty good. I could just call it a day." But I didn't. And I didn't because my doctor has informed me that I need to do weight bearing exercise, as I have pretty significant bone loss in my hips. So a hiking I will go.

Again, I have not a clue where I'm going or what type of trail I'm looking for or to stay on, I just hope that there are enough folks that I can follow and figure it out. So of course I get lost-ish. Somehow I end up in RC's very own Spiral Jetty. Cute, but not the hike I was looking for. I finally find the dirt trail with a sign that indicates this is the direction to go for the view of the Hollywood sign and Observatory and head that way. The sign also mentioned something about it being steep, rattlesnakes, and one should be in good physical health. No problem. It was literally two minutes into this hike that I begin wondering WTF I was thinking. The getting lost bit and finding the Spiral Jetty and just the walk there counts as exercise. I could turn back and feel good about myself (not). But then I catch my breath and decide I could at least make it to the first overlook. And I do. And I'm gasping. Holy Shit. I could turn back now for sure and feel no shame (not). But then I catch my breath again and think, "If grandma here can huff it up this mountain with her dog, then I can." So I start the slow, dusty walk up this stupid incline that just keeps on inclining. Oh. My. God. My legs burn so much right now and two zaftig ladies just jogged by me. JOGGED! Like was two stepping up this beast. Son-of-a-bitch! So I talk myself out of walking back down again and keep on stepping. Surely to god there was an apex on this mother. And there was. And this was the view.

Not too shabby. And on the return down the canyon there was an easier paved path and it was quite enjoyable. From the research I've done on hiking Runyon Canyon, it seems like the consensus is that it's a weak trail for hard-core hikers and many seasoned trekkers prefer something more challenging and with fewer Hollywood Hypes canvasing the joint. Well, they can kiss my ass. Now I'm not totally out of shape, but for me, this was HARD. Like, I'm gonna quit this bitch and ain't never coming back, hard. But I didn't quit. Because it was kinda fun too. And I want to eventually be able to two-step it up that beast with ease. And maybe even take the third "really hard and dangerous" trail. But for now I just really want to like it enough so I keep doing it, because I really like hiking (at least I still do in my head) and being outdoors and I need to work on keeping my hips healthy and building bone mass.