While the Lees Ferry site includes interesting old buildings and artifacts from the days when there really was a ferry in operation, nowadays there’s more. Lees Ferry is also the location where commercial and private rafting expeditions enter the Colorado River to float through the Grand Canyon. To that end, there’s quite a bit of … Continue reading "Colorado River"

Jeff has been recovering from his latest medical issues — we tend to keep the medical staff at Kaiser Permanente very busy — but he called me last night to let me know he has clearance to start pedaling again, and felt like he could handle around twenty miles. Cool! Read more at Bill Bikes

While my ace support crew backpacked the Grand Canyon, I established my basecamp in Flagstaff and planned to undertake a series of nearby day rides before our Sunday rendezvous. On Thursday I explored red rock trails near Sedona. Due to a cold, rainy forecast for Friday in Flagstaff, I drove a couple of hours north … Continue reading "Lees Ferry"

From the parking lot and Interpretive Center at Navajo Bridge, where I left the Forester, I pedaled less than a quarter mile up Highway 89A, then turned right on Lees Ferry Road, which runs between the Vermilion Cliffs and the Colorado River. Read more at Bill Bikes

The Joshua Tree ride continues…. Read more at Bill Bikes

When I headed for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument with the Ogre in February, I wanted to stop in Joshua Tree National Park and spend a day pedaling off pavement in some of the most interesting and remote parts of the park. However, due to rain and snow, the unpaved roads in J Tree were … Continue reading "Joshua Tree, part 1"

I wanted to get out for a quick ride and snap some photos. My ace support crew warned me it would start raining soon. I started to put on riding clothes. My ace support crew warned me it would start raining soon. I checked the forecast on my phone, and it showed only a 15 … Continue reading "Rain"

Where did the second half of March go? Family obligations. Ill-timed rainstorms. Home improvement projects. A lengthy, life-threatening (or so it seemed) onslaught of coughing, sore throat, congestion, and snot. But now it’s April. A new month and a new challenge. Thus, here we have mug shots of Old Grumble-Face and the Ogre, an album … Continue reading "Mug Shots"

Santa Rosa had a beautiful weekend, but I was out of town. I returned Sunday evening to a forecast of at least 75° and sunny for Monday. Naturally, when Monday arrived I hopped on the Ogre to see how everything looked along the Greenway. It looked like paintbrushes had touched the landscape with colors of … Continue reading "Colors of Spring"

Two weeks after the big storms and flooding in Sonoma County while I pedaled through Arizona, everything here gradually returns to normal. The rainy season isn’t over by any means, and we’ll surely have more storms, more wind, and more rain in the next few weeks, but right now we’re enjoying pleasant weather. Earlier this … Continue reading "Desperately Seeking Spring"

After three days of camping and bicycling at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, I had one more free day before I needed to pick up my ace support crew at the airport in Phoenix. I decided to expend that day pedaling around Tucson. The desert city has wonderful cycling infrastructure, with a great network of … Continue reading "Tucson Loop"

So far this month we’ve received approximately double the average monthly rainfall for February. More is forecast to arrive within the next day or two. Although I plan to get the heck out of town and head for warmer, drier climes before the rain returns, I figure I should take advantage of today’s pleasant weather. … Continue reading "Olompali and Rush Creek"

By the standards of Santa Rosa, the last few weeks have been especially stormy, wet, and cold, including unusual amounts of snow at the highest elevations and overflowing waterways at the lowest elevations. Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, the North Bay, and the greater Bay Area have all suffered localized flooding to some degree, and multiple … Continue reading "Laguna"

During some winters, California as a whole receives little rain and snow. That’s a problem for plants and animals, but good for bicycling. During some winters, California as a whole receives much rain and snow. That’s a problem for bicycling, and sometimes a problem for everyone else. This winter has seen no shortage of rain … Continue reading "Down in the Flood"

It seldom snows in Sonoma County. I’ve lived here since 1984, and I’ve seen snowflakes in Santa Rosa twice, with total accumulation of less than half an inch. Roughly once per decade, the higher elevations around the Bay Area — above one or two thousand feet — receive an inch or two of snow. Guess … Continue reading "Blizzard on Bald Mountain"

I hadn’t planned to go for a ride in the rain today, but then I saw Greg’s post. If he can venture out in wintry Gopher State weather, how can I vegetate on the sofa with a bottomless mug of tea and a box of glazed doughnuts? If he can pedal through the slushy remains … Continue reading "Traction in the Rain"

When I rolled out of bed this morning, here the temp was approximately 70 or 75 degrees F warmer than balmy locales in the Midwest. For the second day in a row I decided to ride in honor of my vortexed comrades in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois. I scooted out the Greenway with the … Continue reading "Sonoma Vortex"

I had other deeds I needed to accomplish today, but I made a little time for a short ride. I wanted to show solidarity with my comrades in places like South Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois, who — in the face of the polar vortex — no doubt ventured out on two wheels today wearing nothing … Continue reading "Cold, cold, cold"

Another pleasant January day in northern California. High cloud and filtered sunshine, with temperature close to 70° F in some places, but a chilly wind out of the north while pedaling. I drove down to Mill Valley, parked near the elementary school, and biked through Sausalito, across the bridge, and on the path along the … Continue reading "Put your arms around me, baby, like a circle ’round the sun"

Finished my morning chores. The sky looked excellent, especially for the requirements of the Challenge of the Month. The Ogre being slightly under the weather (nothing serious; heading for the shop tomorrow), I grabbed the lonely Long Haul Trucker. Had to remind my hands where to find shifters and brakes levers. Cruised over to Spring … Continue reading "Obscured by Clouds"

Plenty of rain around here so far this month, which is exactly what is supposed to happen in January. Last time I checked, we were up to 80 or 90 percent of average for the rainy season. That limits my opportunities for pedaling and means I need to hop on two wheels whenever there’s a … Continue reading "Water, death, sheep, cloud"

It has been raining for a couple of days. More rain on the way, but a short break today. In order to comply with the Challenge of the Month — clouds — I grabbed the camera and headed out on the Ogre for a quick spin. Took two photos, and camera batteries died. Reached for … Continue reading "I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now"

After being out of town sans bicycle for a few days, I figured the Ogre would want to get out and bid farewell to 2018. Despite the moderate temperature, a cold wind howled and gusted out of the north. I think it blasted straight down from Hastings, Minnesota. It blew me all over the roads … Continue reading "Community Bikes"

The temperature was in the 30’s (Fahrenheit) this morning, but it was expected to warm up and the forecast called for rain starting around noon. Inspired by recent news about an incident from five years ago, I bundled up and headed down to Andy’s park, with a couple of detours along the way to look … Continue reading "Andy Lopez Park"

Out the Greenway and back. Made a couple of short side trips to see about photographing walls. Other than that, not much excitement except when the garbage truck stopped in the middle of the road and tried to back up over top of me while I was pinned in place by traffic and parked cars. … Continue reading "Wonderwall to be here"

After my brief interlude in Minnesota — it seemed like a fevered dream, almost a fantasy — I returned to Santa Rosa where I discovered the temperature was not expected to rise above 55 degrees Fahrenheit today. In bone-chilling, life-threatening conditions such as that, my Gopher State host, Greg, never rides his bike. He just … Continue reading "Another brick in the wall"

Today marked the thirteenth consecutive day in Santa Rosa (and the Bay Area) with the Air Quality Index in the “unhealthy” range or worse. That’s a record. However, the weather prognosticators finally forecast the wind would kick up today and clear out most of the smoke ahead of a big rain storm moving in tonight, … Continue reading "Smoke and Art, part 2"

Our smoky air is not nearly as dangerous and destructive as the fire that roared through Paradise (and continues to rage), but it is harmful enough that schools have been closed, outdoor events cancelled, and residents warned to stay indoors. That’s been going on for eight days. By the time I headed out today, the … Continue reading "Smoke and Art, part 1"

The Bear Creek Greenway between Ashland OR and Medford OR was always on the itinerary for this trip north, weather permitting. It rained Saturday night, but this morning the forecast promised the precipitation was done for the rest of the day. Ha! We drove up I-5 from Yreka under thickening clouds. Shortly after my ace … Continue reading "Bear Creek Greenway"