I come here for a run or a nice walk. The trail is 3 miles from the parking lot to the end of the trail. So a total of 6 miles. The trail goes half way around the lake. It is a beautiful trail. I would say this trail is easy. There are no inclines. It gets pretty busy on the weekends. read more

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Beautiful lake gets you away from the city even though it's right around the corner. Good place to take a family. Fun hike ride or run around the lake. read more

Lake Murray - Ducks - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Just when I though San Diego could not get any better, I discovered this trail. It is extremely beautiful, super calm and highly underrated in my opinion. There are loads of parking spots. About the hike: The terrain is very flat and is well-suited for people across all ages. I ran pretty slow and took multiple pauses to watch the ducks, so I was able to finish 6 miles in 1.5 hours. The surrounding: The lake has a variety of ducks. They are super chirpy when they are feeding at sunset. Overall the trail is very green. Best time of the day to hike: An hour before sunset. read more

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One of my favorite attractions of San Diego so calming!! Tons of wildlife to see and a beautiful lake! Tons of parking... concession stand to buy snacks. You can rent boats, bikes etc. read more

This is my favorite place to run in SD probably because is really close to home but you get to see also the most beautiful su read more

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Lake murray is really really nice any time of the year. The trail around the lake is great. I like coming here for a nice relaxed walk. read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

The lake is clean, no trash. It is perfect for an evening stroll. I took my dogs here, they really like. Other dogs also friendly, so no loud barking. read more

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06-06-2014 - Correction to the bathrooms section in my 4/2/2014 review below: I must be blind as a bat. Apparently there are bathrooms with running water and even soap in the back of the main parking lot. I was so used to bathrooms being along a path or in recreational areas that I did not bother to check the back of the parking lot. Thank you to the Yelp user for first of all reading my Lake Murray review and second for bringing this to my attention. I would like to also apologize to anyone who had to suffer using a porta potty because of my review and oversight. I guess it is only fair to alter my rating on Lake Murray because of this mistake. So instead of 4 stars, I give Lake Murray 4.25 stars. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original review 04/02/2014- I find most lakes boring because there are no currents, no waves, no tides and the scenery is the same from practically every angle. When given a choice between going to the beach or lake, the beach wins 998 times out of 1000. So our trip for a little exercise would be our once in a blue moon trip to a lake. So we went to Lake Murray with very low expectations and came away with a pretty decent experience from this lake. Here is the scoop on Lake Murray: Directions and Parking: From interstate 8 we headed north on Lake Murray Blvd. From there, we took a left onto Kiowa Dr. where there is the huge parking lot. There is no charge to park in this lot and plenty of spaces available. There are other parking lots further down Lake Murray Blvd near some baseball fields. However, there is a risk of a foul ball smashing a car window and I think most of the lots are gravel and dirt whereas the one off of Kiowa drive is all concrete. Path: From the east end of Kiowa Dr. parking lot as the starting point, the paved path runs about 3 miles in a semi-circle along the eastern fingers of Lake Murray. There is a sign that warns travelers that the path does not go all the way around the lake. So the distance traveled one way is the distance needed to travel back the other way on foot. With a generous amount of traffic on the path, I was impressed how clean and well maintained the lake was. Birds and Trees: We saw plenty of ducks, a couple of Canadian geese, a grey egret and an enormous nest on top of an utility line. Lake Murray is definitely a bird watchers paradise. Lots of different vegetation grows around the lake. Our favorite was the tree blooming some kind of yellow flowers right behind the Cowles Point sign. It was very cool looking. Fees: The following are the fees for recreational activities on the lake: Fishing permits: Adult (ages 16 and over): $8; Youth (ages 8-15): $2.50; the sign did not have the fees for kids below 8 so I am not sure if they are allowed to fish or if they are free?....Boating Permit: $7, there was a Senior Permit (ages 65 and over) for $4. It was unclear whether this was for fishing, boating or both or maybe it's a fee to bring old people to the lake? Bathrooms: I did not see any bathrooms with running water. There are only porta potties and outhouses with no flushing toilets or sinks. This is definitely an area that needs improvement and would most likely be welcomed by the majority of visitors to Lake Murray. Crowd: Reading through other reviews, I was supposed to watch out for THAT guy or don't be THAT guy. I could never be THAT guy, I was raised to be polite and courteous to others around me. It's not in my blood. But damn, I wanted to see and witness THAT guy. It would have added some excitement to our stroll around Lake Murray. Maybe next time? Most of the people were doing their own thing and everyone was out to enjoy the day and have a great time. Verdict: Four stars for a lake. read more

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Lake Murray is awesome for the following reasons: -Paved trail which means you can run, walk, bike, rollerblade... -Moms can bring their iced double macchiatos with their crazy transformer strollers and feel like they're getting a great workout -The Lake is pretty and full of fish, which brings me to my next point... -You can fish there (I recently saw that they stocked the lake with tagged trout, that if you catch a tagged one, you can turn it in for $$- what what!) -Dog friendly! Keep them on a leash though please. Be warned: -The lake DOES NOT loop around. I found this out the hard way at 2PM on a 85 degree day with no water. Definitely learned my lesson -No water fountains on the trail around the lake- bring your own! -Get started early. Especially in summer- it gets warm out! -There are bunnies, squirrels and ducks....so if you know your dog is reactive, keep him/her on a tight leash. -Walk, run, bike, rollerblade, whatever it is you're doing- do it on ONE side of the trail. DO NOT TAKE UP THE WHOLE TRAIL. Don't be THAT guy. Everyone hates you. read more

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I hate when I come here with every intention to jog...and then I remember that I hate running and that's why I'm fat. So I end up walking instead, and always quit before reaching the end. So overall, this place just reminds me that I'm a failure. But because you're not me, you might like it here. The main path is paved which is awesome for bike rides, dog walking and stroller pushing. It's a nice long path but it lacks shaded areas so come prepared. And also note that it doesn't circle all the way around so if you make the 3 mile trek to the end, you'll have to walk/jog/ride the 3 miles back. It's pretty open and there are always plenty of people around. You can feed the ducks and I've seen boats and fishing going on. What else can I say... it's a nice place for a relaxing time. read more

Lake Murray - ..the final marker.. 3.2 mi. each way.. - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

I visit Lake Murray almost daily. My main activities there are walking and photography, so this review is only about that. First two pieces of advice on parking and when to visit the lake. First of all, the address for Lake Murray is given for the La Mesa side of the reservoir. In my opinion it is better to park at the parking lot on Murray Park Drive close to the border of Del Cerro and San Carlos. This is the more picturesque side of the lake and I think it is safer. I've heard of car break-ins at Kiowa Drive, but never at the Murray Park Drive parking lot. So put this address in your GPS: 7001 Murray Park Drive, San Diego, CA 92119. Secondly, the lake can get very busy. My favorite time there is very early in the morning and sometimes in the middle of the day on weekdays when it's not too hot. On weekends it can get crowded and having to share the trail with strollers, skaters, skate boarders, bicyclists, joggers and walkers is not fun. Worst time to go is late in the afternoon / early evening on weekends. For walking the trail is approximately 3.2 miles long from gate to gate. You can not walk around the lake completely because there is no access across the Dam. The trail is paved and in pretty good shape except for some minor areas of asphalt damage that do not affect walking. There are some minor hills along the path. For me it's a favorite place to walk. It's safe, picturesque and there are plenty of toilet facilities, though I do not like to use them. In the summer the gate for the Murray Park Drive parking lot opens at 5:30AM. We usually walk about that time and can make it to the gate on the La Mesa side and back before 7:00AM. This is a distance of 4.2 miles. There are a lot of "regulars" at the lake in the morning and it's nice to start off the day walking and saying "Good Morning" to about fifty plus people. For photography, there are four types of photography that are very good here, birding, macro, fog and Sunrise/Sunset. Over 150 kinds of birds have been observed at Lake Murray, I have photos of Ospreys, Red Tailed Hawks, Cormorants, various kinds of Hummingbirds, Egrets and Herons, Ducks, Geese, Coots, to name a few. Best time is in the mornings in my opinion near the Murray Park Drive parking lot, toward the gate on the Del Cerro side and toward Jackson Drive on the north side of the Lake because there are more trees there. There are also Lizards, Snakes, coyotes and lots of Rabbits. For macro there are many types of flowers and plants of interest and also insects. It's especially nice when overcast and foggy when you have dew and droplets everywhere. I've found some amazing spider webs at the lake. Fog photography is not everybody's cup of tea, but I like to walk on the north and west part of the lake and near the golf course and take photos of trees, reeds and shoreline. Sounds boring, but in a black and white conversion the images are really beautiful, especially when you get layered effect in the image. As for Sunrise/Sunset photography, Sunrise is much better, especially in the Winter time. Best places are just north and west of the Murray Park Drive Parking Lot. You can either go up left (north) along the paved trail a few hundred yards, or on the right (west). I think the right is better. Sunset photography is best if you park on Baltimore Drive, and walk from there, though the image I uploaded was taken 200 yards of the Murray Park Drive Parking Lot. Direct Sunset are blocked by the Del Cerro Hill. Here is a gallery of Lake Murray images I have taken between 2010 and 2016. It will give you an idea of what types of images you can get: http://www.pbase.com/amoxtli/one_hundred_views_of_a_lake Last, one word of advice for photographers walking off the paved trail along the edge of the lake and on the narrow dirt trails. Keep your eyes peeled for Rattlesnakes. When it's foggy everything is wet, wear a pair of shoes you don't mind getting muddy or wet. That's my take on Lake Murray, there's plenty more to do there, but walking and photography is what I like to do. Enjoy! read more

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I live near Lake Murray and Mission Trails Park and make almost daily use of these fine facilities. Five years ago I wrote the first Yelp review for Lake Murray. Yelp was just being introduced to San Diego and hardly anything had been reviewed. Yelp has become a terrific tool and been a very valuable help. Thanks Yelp and thanks to all those that make contributions. Much appreciated. Many people use the lovely walk around Lake Murray on a daily basis as do my wife and I. Some run, some bike and others like us just walk. But everyone seems to enjoy the exercise and the beauty offered here in this otherwise urban environment. Both Lake Murray and Mission Trails are real treasures and much loved. Highly recommended. read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I recently trained for a half marathon and needed a place to run long distances. Upon looking for places nearby that we could run our long distances outdoors as opposed to the treadmill, we found Lake Murray! Pros: -Parking is not an issue -Port O Potties all around (although I haven't used any of them) -Beautiful lake to stare at -Doggy poop bags available -Completely paved Cons: -You can't run all the way around in a full circle. For some reason it's blocked on one side so you have to do part of the circle and turn around and come back the way you came. -Not really shaded so the sun beams down on you, for this reason I try to come later in the afternoon to avoid unsightly tan lines. -Sometimes when it gets crowded, some groups have to walk side by side so to pass them you have to run on the other side of oncoming traffic (the sidewalk looks like a road but made for walkers/runners/bicyclists/etc. If you run the full length of the partial circle it's about 5.62 miles according to my GPS watch roundtrip. I feel pretty safe running here but I wouldn't want to just be working out alone as the sun goes down (no lights besides the ones near the baseball fields). During the day there are lots of families, people walking their dogs, etc. read more

Lake Murray - Great place to run your dogs! - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Pristine lake! Very well maintained park, great flat trail for walking, running, and biking. We picked up a fishing license at a local fishing store but didn't catch anything. There were a few guys in canoes fishing. read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

Love this lake! Easy access off the I-8, great path for biking or running with or without kids. Cool boat dock with cheap rentals $25 for 2 hours on a motor boat. Plain row boats and kayaks available as well. Great spot for a kids birthday or picnic! The weather this weekend was amazing! We arrived at 2:15 and got 2 full hours of scooting around the lake, exploring every inlet with our motor boat. I loved that my 6 yr old could steer half the time. Equipment rental closes at 5:30pm. The guys who run the shack are super friendly and informative. Note to the other reviewer who posted about dogs loving the water?! Eeks! Signs posted everywhere say that dogs must be on leash and are not allowed within 25? or so feet of the water. This is to protect wildlife- i.e. birds nests etc, and also because this lake is a Reservoir! That said, we love bringing our dog here for walks. read more

This is the perfect place for a morning run when you are looking for a little escape from the city. You can't go all the way around the lake, but it is ~5.8 miles r/t from the parking lot to the fence where you are forced to turn around. There are some small inclines here and there, but I would pretty much call it a flat run. In the morning there is always ample parking, but I can't speak to the afternoon. There is a second lot up and around the corner if the main area is full. There are always people on the trail (biking, running, walking), but not so many that it is bothersome. I tried to Rollerblade there once (don't laugh, I wanted to try something new) and I found the path to be a little bit rough in parts. I'd probably stick to the paths by the Bay next time. If you are coming here from the coast, remember it is often much hotter in La Mesa. In the summer, I would definitely stick to early morning runs. read more

Whether you're here to ride a bike, take a walk, feed the ducks and geese, walk your dog, or just enjoy the view, this is a pretty area to visit. The lake is pretty good sized but you can't actually walk all the way around it; you go half way around to a stopping point and then return the way you came. There are picnic tables around if you want to come here for a pleasant lunch or family picnic and you can rent kayaks if you feel like paddling around the lake. There's nothing big and fancy about this place, its just a pleasant place to spend some time. If you come in the spring and summer there are often baby ducks swimming around which are fun to watch. Be aware though if you're walking your dog you're supposed to keep it away from the water and there is no swimming allowed because this is our future drinking water, folks! read more

Lake Murray is situated in La Mesa and is a part if the Mission Regional Trails Park system. The running route is an out and back and totals 6.4 miles. The route runs along Lake Murray and ends at the dam where runners must turn around. You cannot walk around the lake completely because there is no access across the Dam. The trail is paved and in good shape. Get there early because it can get busy with walkers, bicyclers, and runners alike. It can get very warm during mid-day, so sunscreen and water are suggested to complete the route. There are a few restrooms along the way. The lake is open from sunrise to sunset. I really enjoy jogging here, it's relaxing and I get a good workout every time. read more

Lake Murray - Overcast Spring morning - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Great place for biking and walking. Unusual and unfortunate that they don't allow paddle boards here. You can imagine the fun of inflating one, getting out on the water, and then having a park ranger tell you they aren't allowed. read more

I hadn't been here since I was a kid, but have been looking for new places to jog. It was rather stupid of me to pick today to try out the jogging track at Lake Murray (with a high of 93 degrees). You can't run around the entire lake, which I didn't realize until I got stuck trying to wend my way around the water purification plant to find my way back to the lake. Big duh on my part. The trail is asphalt, which doesn't make for the best jogging experience, and there is little to no shade along the entire route. There are plenty of port-a-potties and one drinking fountain (at least that I could find) along the way. The things I liked about the trail are: olfactory experiences--jogging along I got to smell eucalyptus, sweet wild fennel, marshland and even some piney scents; and wildlife--lots of lizards, birds and squirrels. I think this might be a better trail for bikes than for jogging. I prefer Chollas Lake with its dirt paths and shaded areas for jogging. read more

Lake Murray - Wild fennel along the Lake Murray trail makes for a sweet olfactory experience. - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

This place is great, and I don't think I can say anything that you have not heard or read about on YELP! But here are some of my favorite things about this lake... spacious parking lot family friendly with a safe environment good place for a run bikes available for rent (on weekends) AMAZING place to watch the sunset I heard you can catch a great view of the sunrise here as well! I also noticed that the ducks here are ridiculously HUGE. There's a Starbucks 5 minutes away (walking distance), so if you're thirsty, you know where to go :) read more

Lake Murray - Activities at the lake :) - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Great place to walk your dog although beware you should be 50 ft. away from the water if you're walking your pup. There's the side of the lake which is good for just strolling also saw some people doing Yoga under the trees. Seemed very peaceful. The other side seems to be for hiking. I haven't made it to that side yet. Plenty of ducks and geese. Great views for any side of the lake your standing on. Also plenty of parking. read more

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Went again Had to bribe my daughter with a new book if she fed the duck out of her hand. After much of the same as last time she finally did it..Then we went for a walk. We will be back read more

Walking my Yelp off! Touched the gate and came back. That is as good as it gets 3.2 miles there and back read more

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God, I love this place. I usually walk the path with a girlfriend. Exercise and chatting with a loved one is always therapeutic, but there's something extra special and refreshing about getting it all out while walking around Lake Murray. I've seen osprey here, and plenty of red tailed hawks. I love gazing at the water, the ducks, and the reeds poking out of the water. And the target at the end that says "touch here or your lap doesn't count" is pretty special. It's a little silly, but it makes me feel like I'm part of a special little club with thousands of anonymous members. Please know that this place gets REALLY hot. Ocean breezes don't make it this far east. Also, it can be crowded. I've ridden my bike here on a weekend and it can be challenging to navigate the path with the dogs and the children and the runners and walkers and everyone else! But it's worth it. Beautiful place! read more

Lake Murray - I made it - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

I love hiking here, it's so relaxing and you can pass people doing so many other activities. There's even a separate way for bikers to go so they don't run over the hikers. I find it very peaceful and beautiful, just make sure to bring water with you if you're going to take the long way and watch out for those disgusting worms on the ground, there's a section where they're EVERYWHERE! Or maybe it's just in the summer time. I bring my dogs here sometimes and they love it as well. read more

I like to go running here, whenever I'm in the area. Depending on where you start, the paved trail is up to eight miles long. The trail borders Lake Murray (obviously) and also goes by a couple of holes at the Mission Trails Golf Course. And, I've never had a problem finding parking in either of the lots! There are a few negatives, none of which are big deals: 1. They lock the gate every night, so if your workout runs long, your car could be stuck there overnight. (There's street parking outside the gate.) 2. Though there's a 10 MPH speed limit, bicyclists sometimes still go whizzing by. 3. The trail is an out-and-back to the parking lot, not a loop around the lake. read more

I have gone to Lake Murray many times over the years -- it's a beautiful setting. I've seen lots of interesting waterfowl and a couple gorgeous sunsets here. It can get really crowded on the weekends but I usually find parking inside the park. As others have mentioned - it's not a loop, but that's not a big deal. I like that there are a couple alternate options for entering the trail. My biggest problem is the portapotties. At least they have more than they used to, but they are just not maintained as well as they should be. I was there around 10am last Saturday and let's just say it wasn't pleasant... read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

I love going to Lake Murray, this is a great place to go for a walk or run bring your family or your pets. I found that there is always plenty of parking at the lake. The extra cool part is you can make the walk as long or as short as you would like. Overall the walking path is very clean, there's a lot of trash cans around, and there really isn't a bad part of the trail that isn't looking at the lake with a beautiful view. The only time you should really avoid coming here is during major holidays when they have events, then you might get stuck in a traffic jam and not be able find parking. You can rent bicycles and canoes, and even go fishing with a day use permit. Definitely give lake Murray a chance. read more

Lake Murray is a beautiful, flat trail for bikes and pedestrians! The goal is to walk to the red bullseye and back, which is a little over 3 miles each way. Lots of flora and fauna along the trail, which makes it beautiful and soothing. I frequent the trail several times a week and highly recommend it for those looking for a natural, flat trail to walk or jog. read more

Lake Murray - Beautiful view of Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

Came here at the end of March for a bike ride. Rented a cruiser for $10 for an hour and a half. I was able to bike 3x around the lake and still have time to return the bike in time. It's a little over 4 miles all the way around. This is a man-made lake and certain areas of the lake area are closed off. The scenery is beautiful and there's a great variety of plant and insect life. I've ran and biked this lake, and I don't recommend running it if you have a history of knee problems. Most of the track is asphalt, which makes it perfect for cruising on a bike. The trail can get crowded at times, but most of the people around are good at shifting away for people that want to pass. The lake and trail is well maintained, I saw very few signs of trash. There are porta poties every mile or so on the trail, but I wouldn't recommend using it unless it's an emergency. read more

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AAAAHH! This lake is the worst place/lake I've been to in California so far! Although you can bike and rent a boat or go fishing...plus there is plenty of parking spots but I just felt like they're not taking care of this lake or it's amnesties! And I really hate the fact that you can't walk around the lake! I can see people having good reviews but I happen not to agree with them ! #sorrynotsorry read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Good lake, very convenient for me. There's a park on one side with a nice playground, and the walk around the lake is 6 miles (there's no loop; on one side there's a dam and on the other there's a concession stand and another park-like area. Lake Miramar is better for rollerblading because this one is more rough and doesn't have as many fun curves. Lots of wildlife - geese, ducks, sometimes their offspring, rabbits, interesting-looking birds. read more

Beautiful spot and great bass fishing. Winter time throw big trout baits and spawn time they're shallow. Good spot to bring your dog if walking the perimeter. read more

Lake Murray - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

Ah Lake Murray. You are one of the best foundations in San Diego. I absolutely love you. You are the z to the zen. read more

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Great place for a run and there's always parking. Only thing is that it's not a full circle =( Lots of open space though and areas for a picnic. read more

Ah..never thought i would be writing a review about lake murray. I grew up right near the lake and used to love feeding the ducks here. I personally dont like walking in a circle with a bunch of other people like a maze rat but maybe im just grumpy. Lake murray has tennis courts(lake murray tennis club), baseball fields, rowboats, and a lot of nice benches to rest on and just relax by the water. Nice place to ride your bike, but not when its crowded its hard to menuver around people who dont stay to the right side of the road. It is $8 to rent a rowboat for the day. Paddle out onto the water, drink a cold tasty beer, read a book, relax. ahhhhhh read more

If you come here to utilize the trail, go fishing, have a picnic, or just enjoy the surroundings this is a nice spot! I personally come for the trail, nice way to kick start your day, enjoy the outdoors and get your cardio in. There are always a fair amount of people on the trail, walking, jogging or biking. On an average walk it usually takes about an hour from start to end for me at least but might be shorter for you power walkers. I try to avoid the hassle of the parking lot and just park on the street and enter on the side of the lake. Definitely better to get your cardio in early morning before the sun comes up and there's a lot of people. read more

I took theses photos my name is Sarah Vitalich and I at times go on the weekend to lake Murray to take photos of the ducks and feed them all five stars on my review such a beautiful place and peaceful and well kept up it a beautiful u should go read more

I love the great outdoors...Overall I love being active and mother nature so this place is like a safe haven for me.. total of 6 miles to and back.. Plenty of parking, lots of Lake creatures! I have seen geese, ducks, different birds and even a crane... nice terrain as well, I'm a MTB rider so this is not ideal for me but I do sneak a few trail rides whenever there's a path for one. Overall, it's a fun short ride everytime I'm pressed with time..this is my go to place. There's also benches surrounding the lake if u enjoy time for urself, which I love to do when I want me time. Eventually I will invest in a Giant Liv Avail Advance 3 and will fly on this road...I can't wait, till then my Trek baby will do the job... read more

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