Tex and I finally arrived ….blood pressure up , cursing in full swing but still there was a sense of relief . 2 hours inland from Hermosa Beach and 90 minutes from LA sits the San Bernardino Mountain range . Hidden up here is the ski resort Big Bear and just below that is Lake Arrowhead , this is our destination.
Climbing out of LA was a relief . Living in LA you notice just how dry the climate is . The ascent up the San Bernardino range begins with the typical scraggy , rock scattered hills that are common here . I would like to have taken a photo to show you guys but Tex was near hysterical about me keeping my eyes on the road , admittedly the drive requires your full concentration with winding bends , hairpin corners and sweeping turns that seemingly push you out over steep drop offs . From the floor of the LA basin to Lake Arrowhead was 35kms ,a much longer drive when you’re in your 4th hour of what should’ve been a 2 hour cruise , courtesy of the 91 (freeway) shutdown . Finally we flatten out along the crest of the range and momentarily get a panoramic view of LA ……..It’s huge ,a sweltering , smog covered sprawl humming far below . It feels good to look down on it . On our right is the abyss ,on our left is something we haven’t seen for a while …. trees . 
There’s something magical about forests and trees and green and pine needles and wood cabins and shadows that aren’t formed off concrete . The house we share with Megan,Ben,Kim ,Bill and all our kids is a rambling old timber structure built into the hill . 
The house wraps around a stairwell leading into bedrooms that sit amongst the trees . This is one of those old houses as a kid that you’d love to be playing hide and seek ,with its many rooms ,closets ,nooks and dark little corners that you could sink away in . Below was an entertaining room with a large theatre screen ,side bedroom ,bathroom ,a big kitchen with a long table sitting under a bay window . 
Outside theres a nice little spot under the trees to rock away your stresses whilst you wet the whistle , and I did plenty of that .
Lake Arrowhead is a beautiful location . A 200 meter walk through large pine trees opens up into a small clearing …and there it is ,a lake that’s not just some dam or oversized pond , it’s bigger ,sprawling and twisting around points with jetty’s , grand old lake houses , hotels ,resorts ,marinas and small sandy beaches . 
Wow ! This is a polar opposite to the day to day living of LA . Lake Arrowhead is so close but far enough out of reach to protect its charm and beauty from being swallowed by the Los Angeles sprawl . I’d like to tell you a whole lot more about the town but I didn’t venture far , the others were here longer and no doubt saw a lot more of it than myself .
36 hours later Tex and I descend , leaving Emma and the others behind . It was brief . It was beautiful , surprisingly close . I think we’ve gotta get back up there for another look .
Lake Arrowhead ,it’s a little gem 
Tree change
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