From our neighborhood, I turn right onto Portola Pkwy -- AKA "Portola Dragstrip" for the late night racing that goes on year-round. Fortunately, this summer Portola is being torn up to add new drainage pipes so the racing has subsided dramatically.
When you first reach Orchard Hills school (shown below), that can be a 3 mile loop, or you can run on its dirt track behind the school (it was locked up this morning or I would have taken photos). The view from the track is lovely. You can see clear out to Newport.
Continue past the school along the beautiful walkways lined by avocado orchards (hence "Orchard Hills!").
Can you see all the million-dollar homes built here? Neither can we!! Irvine Company planned this development to be nothing but $M+ homes, but then the market tanked and the builders cancelled their projects. So now the area lays fallow with lots of sage brush. Starter attached homes (1600 sq ft) with no yards were priced at $1.3M (Cough, Cough). If I'm going to pay $1.3M for an attached home, it better have an ocean in front of it.
A view from the highest point on the run and the 5 mile turn-around. In the near distance is Northwood High School. In the far distance are the Tustin Marine Corp Air Station hangers famously shown in many movies "Pearl Harbor" and many commercials.
More great views out to Irvine business center near the 405 and John Wayne airport.
Northwood High school....
The foothills above Orchard Hills. These are the hills that were burning during the October 2007 fires that consumed Southern California.
The fun playground at Settlers Park next to Orchard Hills School. My children love to play here because they have a paved scooter/tricycle route.
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