Pink flowers grow between remnants of the old Kite-Shaped Track from the early 1900s. The rails were forged in Germany.
By John Murphy
Monday afternoon I left Highland, crossed the wash, and wound up on Grove Street in Redlands. My goal was to walk a portion of the Orange Blossom Trail.
The 7.5-mile trail was built in 2014 and runs across the city. But it was 95 degrees, so I only walked a portion. Along with me were roots rockers Son Volt, Lucinda Williams, Townes Van Zandt, and Roy Orbison. The Orb didn’t feel much like walking, but I insisted.
The sun beat down on this cloudless day. Nobody was around, save for a guy on a 10-speed collecting empties.
Highlights of my trek were remnants of the Kite-Shaped Track railroad built in 1907, and the Mill Creek Zanja dug by indigenous people in 1819. That’s about when I started writing sports.
The track from the railroad, forged in Germany, was visible. Plants peeked through and butterflies floated about. I took a long pull off a bottle of water. It tasted good.
Colorful murals break up the monotony of the trail.
Off to the left is a wall separating the trail from a trailer park. Colorful murals dominate, portraying the University of Redlands, the Museum of Redlands, and the Redlands Asistencia. I took some photos.
More intriguing are the remnants of the railroad which helped popularize Redlands in the early 20th century. There are wood pilings from the old set-up rising out of the Zanja. Peer closely and you see the date on an old concrete truss that says 1916. Wow.
The old truss says “1916” — three years before the White Sox dumped the World Series. :
The miles passed and the music poured through my headphones. Warren Zevon sang “Carmelita.” The sweat flowed.
Before long I reached the end of the trail and returned. A grizzled guy in an Angels’ cap walked by but didn’t make eye contact.
Walking is pleasant and relieves stress. It loosens my brain and makes me more creative. Maybe.
A cooling breeze arose toward the end or my trek. And Son Volt provided the commentary:
“May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel
May the wind take your troubles away.”
Cactus blossom rising above the wall separating the Orange Blossom Trail from the trailer park.
Main Street Dog 