In a previous post I believe I noted how during any given ride up in the San Gabriel Mountains you are bound to run into a balloon or two while pedaling along. Usually I will come across them while mountain biking; today's sighting was on the road, lower Mt. Baldy Road to be exact.
I appears that not even Tinkerbell could give Dora enough lift to help her over this chainlink fence, and so her goal of reaching the mountains fell a bit short. All she could do is look through this stand of California Black Walnut at the snow covered peaks in longing, and hope for a big gust of wind to come along to render some assistance.
Le Pain Quotidien is one the establishments that came to life a couple years ago in the Village West expansion area (they have other bakery/restaurants around the world). It's front doors and patio dining area open up to an expansive courtyard with seating, shade trees, fountains, and weekly music, some planned some spontaneous, throughout much of the year. Ask most people to describe Le Pain Quotidien and they might say it is that French restaurant with the long table. Indeed that would be my initial description, but I see from their website that the owner worked as a chef in Brussels, as in Belgium. I guess if you combine those two, that would make it Flemish. What ever it is, it is good, the restaurant and the bakery. The communal table if a great idea, a good way to meet your neighbors, but they also have smaller, private tables as well.
As I was sitting in the courtyard courting my morning cup of coffee, I was hoping someone would ride by so I could combine bike and restaurant for the post. Just as I was about to give up, a rider did come along trailing a big bunch of balloons. He sat nearby and started to work on his computer and left his bike and balloons to make the photo.
