Evening walks along the crest (rim) of Hansen Dam in Pacoima/Lake View Terrace have become very popular this year.

Several hundred walkers, joggers, runners and cyclists make the four-mile round trip from Osborne Street to Wentworth and back (or vice versa) on the easy paved bike path that runs atop the dam, enjoying the breeze, the companionship and the views.

(Click on each photo to enlarge)

Many pause on the bridge over the spillway to catch their breath, take a swig of water from a bottle or the drinking fountain, and watch the thin stream of water make its way down the concrete channel to the Los Angeles River.

Pleasing views of the Hansen Dam Golf Course stretch to the West on either side of the channel... with trees, fairways, putting greens, winding kart paths, and a shimmering pond with jetting fountains to soothe the eye. If you are lucky you may see a V-shaped gaggle of Canadian "honkers" cruising towards the pond.

Raise the eyes for a peek at a deep gravel pit you never knew was there, some settling basins, and the candy-striped towers and bright lights of the DWP power plant. Beyond them the lights of Arleta and Burbank grow brighter as the day fades.

Cross to the other side of the bridge for a wilder view of the sands, trees, lake, and horse trails of the Hansen Dam basin. Look farther and you can glimpse the water slides at the Aquatic Park, the lights on the soccer field, and the barns at Hansen Dam Stables.

Even farther away, past the 210 Freeway with its steady flow of red and white lights, the San Gabriel Mountains rise, mottled tan and hopefully fire-free.

After a few weeks of walking nearly every evening, my husband and I have begun to recognize the regulars. Most nod, smile and say "hi."

There are the families with babies in strollers and young kids on scooters or bikes with training wheels.

There are the teens on skateboards, rocker boards, roller skates, mountain bikes or just walking in groups, wires snaking from their ears to blue-glowing iPods and iPhones.

There are serious runners in shorts and tanks or in sweatpants and "hoodies," sweating and huffing their way to health.

There are lovers (and sometimes oldsters) strolling hand in hand; singles with cell phones pressed to their ears; pet lovers walking their dogs; one or two expectant moms hoping perhaps to hurry things along; and even a few disabled folks being pushed in wheelchairs.

There is the occasional horse and rider, which never fails to bring smiles and excited shouts from the little ones.

For three weeks in the month we watch the moon, swelling each evening from a slim "fingernail" to a glorious golden "harvest" fullness, only to see it disappear for a week. (It's actually still there, subtly showing its face during the daytime, so we miss it on our walks.)

Nowadays, beginning around 7:30-7:40 p.m., we are treated to a spectacular sunset as El Sol slips slowly behind a Pacoima hill.

Lately, we've been checking the Daily News Weather page each morning for the posted sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times. Our daylight hours are decreasing by a minute in the evening and another in the morning.

Soon we'll be trading our shorts, Tees and sun visors for sweatshirts, pants and lights. But we won't be giving up the walks. The doctor says it's healthy, and we just plain enjoy them.

See ya there some evening?