Development marches on. Trails and access are lost. Saturday we discovered that the access via our usual route from the pink shopping center to the base of Chumash Trail was blocked. Of course, that did not stop us Saturday, but it looks like future Rocky Peak rides will suggest a new start point.

Heavy construction equipment fills the corner just north of the Kuehner Road overpass.

Undaunted by fences, however, seven vigilante riders--George, Joe, Nelson, Rod, Jamshyd, SteveK and Rob--climbed over and rode through the construction area, perhaps for the last time.

This is the ex-little canyon that leads to the climb (seen in the distance) up to the ridge before we drop into Mt. Sinai Memorial Park

We continued on around Mt. Sinai, past the Chumash Trailhead, and on up the Las Llajas Fireroad. Added to the usual toughness of the Las Llajas climb was a fierce Santa Ana wind which gusted to levels that sometimes threatened to blow us off our bikes. But to the top we all made it, and then yenta-ed to a decision to head up the Rocky Peak Fireroad towards the Chumash Trail.

Almost blown off the mountain, Jamshyd and SteveK walk a steep section of Rocky Peak Fireroad

Rod braces himself against the wind while Nelson and Joe pedal in the distance up the grade.

George is somewhere up ahead after pedaling up and down the hill several times waiting for us slow-pokes to arrive

At the Chumash Trail entrance we yenta-ed yet again and decided to head further up Rocky Peak Fireroad for a descent of Johnson Trail. As always, the trail provided a great ride. We even passed a group of SouthBay MTB Club riders who were ascending. At the bottom of the trail, after Rod and I did a bit of exploring--seeking the elusive trail out of Devils Canyon--we headed towards Santa Susana Pass Road for the last leg of the ride back to our cars.

Rod, Jamshyd, and I then headed on over to our favorite Simi Valley eating locale, the Santa Susana Cafe, where the now infamous photo of Jamshyd was taken by Rod with his new cell phone camera. I've heard rumors that this is now the most viewed photo on YouTube, My Space, Google, and Hell.