The peaceful path

Last week, Pam wrote about the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Downey Cemetery. While we were there, I couldn't help but appreciate the peaceful feel of the surroundings. The path that led us to the ceremony is curved and shaded with beautiful, mature trees.


There is something calming about walking through the grounds and reading about people who lived before us, many of whom sacrificed so we could have the freedoms we do today.

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” 
~ Pericles

Path of power

Looking for paths was fun. As you can see in this picture, the pathways of the wires on these power poles allow power to be transmitted  to our city and beyond. But, somehow, to me they still look like tall robots holding the wire...

“Electricity is really just organized lightning.” 
~ George Carlin

The river path

The foot and bike path along the Rio Hondo riverbed is one of my favorite paths in Downey. Here at the entrance by Crawford Park, this bridge provides a path to both sides of the riverbed.

On the Downey side, the walk to the north takes you past the Rio Hondo Golf Course. On the other side, you pass the Bell Gardens Golf Course, followed by John Anson Ford Park. There are a couple of gates into the park, where you can take a pleasant stroll around its lake and watch all the ducks.

Childish exercise

This path at Furman Park leads you to the children's playground where children can exercise their muscles in a playful and safe environment. Adults can only observe.



This path leads to the playground next to the one above and is for the smaller children. We love to take our grandson here and watch him climb the steps all by himself, then go down the slides. You can see the Kiwanis' emblem on the path. All the equipment and ground cover were donated by the Downey Kiwanis Foundation.



Sometimes our paths are downward. Do as the kids do and enjoy the ride.

Quiet exercise

I ride by this path each day on my way to work. It is the sidewalk on the perimeter of Kaiser Hospital on Caring Way between Imperial Hwy and the large parking lot just north of the hospital. The hospital staff are encouraged to walk this path along with the park across the street as exercise. I don't know if the walkers are rewarded monetarily but the beauty could be reward enough.

Alley pathway

Continuing with the theme of paths...this "alley" pathway has always puzzled me.

We live in Orange Estates and the large majority of homes have alley access to their garage or the back of their yards. Well, these homes (just south of 4th) have alley access to their yards, but this is really much more of a footpath than it is an alley; they certainly don't have garage access. I have always wondered how this alley came about so differently from the rest. Does anyone know?

"Imagination is a great thing in long, dull hours, but it's a real curse in a dark alley." 
~ Zilpha Keatley Snyder

A peaceful path

Path: a road, way, or track made for a particular purpose. This week at DDP, we're focusing on paths.

On the gravestones in the Downey Cemetery, we often see the phrase "Rest in peace." This path, shaded by these old, old trees, contributes to a peaceful setting for those who come to visit.

"Like a good meditation practice, visiting a cemetery focuses our attention on what really matters; helping us to discriminate between what is true and lasting from what is transient, and of little importance."
~ Pythia Peay, Huffington Post

Follow the road before you

I am someone who likes to walk. This path is along side the riverbed by Wilderness Park. While this isn't the most interesting path, it does offer a little more of a view on either side:  Wilderness to one side and the overgrown riverbed to the other.

"It's your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you." ~ Rumi

Happy trails to you

Along with the beauty of the ocean, the night sky and the surrounding countryside, what made our stay in Avila Beach so memorable was the Bob Jones bike path. It is a 2.5 mile trek along a beautiful golf course and through an expansive oak grove.



As you can read, Bob Jones was worthy of this honor. And we were glad we brought our bikes along.

New pathways

In September, I showed you the first signs of change at Furman Park. Then in October, Joan showed you some signs of progress.

And last weekend, much sooner than I ever expected, the completed walking path was dedicated with a fancy ribbon-cutting ceremony and an inaugural walk. Twice around the park is a little over a mile, which is a nice morning walk.

The new path is made of decomposed granite. Since it rained (hard) the morning of the ribbon-cutting, we got to experience firsthand the advantage of decomposed granite. There were no muddy puddles!

Furman is changing

The process feels like it is going slowly, but it does seem like every day I walk through the park, they are continuing to make progress. The new walking path is beginning to take shape. Today, parts of the pathway were already curbed.

As I rounded the corner, the pop of pink from this tree beyond the backstop fence made me smile. I love that Furman has so many different kinds of trees. Not sure what kind of tree it is, but I do appreciate the beautiful patch of color.

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Brick wall

This brick wall lines the backside of one of the yards that back up to this alley. I have always liked the "feel" of  brick.

“I like talking to a brick wall- it's the only thing in the world that never contradicts me!”
~ Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan