My Morning Walk in Claremont

I got a late start on my morning walk in Claremont. Joseph and I have a habit of walking, jogging, or running together 50 miles apart several mornings a week. We call each other in the morning to motivate each other to get out the door. Then we set out walking and talking on our cell phones. Sometimes we walk the whole route. Other days we walk for 5 minutes chatting to warm up, then hang up and run. When we finish running we call each other to check in. It has been wonderful motivation for me to get my exercise.

We were both up late last night and didn't get out the door until 8:30 this morning. Interestingly, it was cold, dark, gray and raining softly in Claremont while it was sunny with one small cloud in the sky in LA according to Joseph. Didn't know the weather could be so different only 50(?) miles apart!

I was on my last leg of the walk this morning going downhill on Mills Avenue. This is a big 4 lane highway leading up to Mount Baldy. I saw a coyote trot out in front of me, crossing Mills and heading down the sidewalk in front of me.
Now we see coyotes running down the street from time to time, but isn't this a little late in the day to be out, Mr. Coyote? And you are a little too close for comfort! (Last month my neighbor's dog was eaten by a coyote in his own backyard. No wonder my cat doesn't want to go outside anymore! My neighbor saw a coyote up on the brick wall between my backyard and hers 2 weeks ago.)

I glanced across the street at the house on the corner that the coyote had crossed over from. I saw another coyote on the sidewalk in front of the house trotting over to join his buddy in front of me. Except that he was BEHIND ME! Then a third coyote joined the second one BEHIND ME!

OK Now! This is really not cool! I've got one coyote in front of me and two coyotes behind me! I seem to be in the middle of the pack!


Fortunately, they didn't seem to be interested in me as prey. I saw the first one trot down a side street so I stayed on the safe big boulevard. Buddies number 2 and 3 followed #1. If I didn't get my cardio in with the walk, the coyotes helped me get it in anyway!


I went home and opened up my hometown paper, the Claremont Courier. It is printed twice a week and covers local news only. The day before my boss (who has heard my coyote encounters while walking before) told me she heard on the news that there was a bear in Claremont. Yes, there was the story with the picture below. A brown bear rests atop a tree in a backyard on Martin Way near Mills Avenue after wandering through north Claremont on Wednesday afternoon. The bear was eventually captured in Upland and released in Mt. Baldy.

Bear takes grand tour of Claremont
Claremont police spent much of Wednesday chasing a young brown bear roaming throughout the northern part of the city. “Apparently, it pretty much walked east along Base Line Road until it went into more residential areas,” Claremont Police Lieutenant James Hughes said.

According to the story, and to a coworker who lives in the area, the bear was first seen just south of the Towne Avenue exit off the 210 Freeway. The very exit you take when you come to visit me.

A street or two from where Christie and Noel used to live. Wonder if they encounter any bears in Georgia? No, just alligators! OK, I guess bears aren't so bad. They see deer in their backyard too.


This is a little close for comfort.
OK, I live off Baseline and Mills Avenue.


My beautiful picture of a hawk about to attack with talons forward and wings spread, just disappeared when I started typing. Where is the undo button? Oh well, you will just have to use your imagination.

Yes, that was the next article in the Courier...

Aggressive hawks pester Claremont residents

Swooping down from the trees above in a stealthy and silent attack, a hawk protecting its nest can pack a painful and powerful punch.

Apparently, it's nesting season and people are being hit in the back of the head with open talons just from walking by a tree with a nest!

So now I have to watch out for coyotes, bears, and scan up in the trees for hawks when I go out for my morning walk.

It sure is an adventure living in the city!