Went for a bike ride on Friday and saw my first snake of the year.  It was about a 3' garter snake that looked a lot like this photo I took from the internet.  Shocked me for a second as it crossed the bike path in front of me and then headed up the embankment towards some homes.  It was on a ride along the Santa Ana River bike train out of Riverside.  I stopped and watched it for a moment and made sure it didn't have a rattle on its tail.  Welcome to Spring!!