We are still here!! Until the past two weeks I was riding Surly Girl daily…..you know the ‘normal’ ride. However, two weeks ago I was selected for Jury Duty in Salinas. The case is lasting at a minimum three weeks…..that means NO BIKE RIDES for me. The only good news is that just about that … Continue reading "MIA In Monterey"
Yesterday we received the first serious rainfall of the season, which means fire weather might be behind us. Also thanks to the rain, our creeks are flowing again after the usual dry summer. And the rain brought cooler weather. The high today only reached about 50° F. I almost decided to phone RJ, Rich, and … Continue reading "Oh, summer"
When I bicycled the grand opening of the new bike path on the Richmond – San Rafael Bridge last week, I expected to be able to photograph some interesting views from the top deck on the summit of the structure. Along with several hundred (maybe a couple thousand) other cyclists, I enjoyed the inaugural ride, … Continue reading "Bike the Bridge, again"
After decades during which bicycles were forbidden from crossing the Richmond – San Rafael Bridge, today the bike and pedestrian path across the bridge held its long-awaited grand opening, celebrated by hundreds if not thousands of cyclists. I was one of them. Read more at Bill Bikes
Marin County might be the wealthiest in California, but you wouldn’t know it from this odd little pocket east of Novato. After riding nearby last week, I consulted a map to double-check my route. It didn’t take long to notice this hidden—practically remote—area along the Petaluma River and the northwest shore of the Bay. The … Continue reading "Black Point"
I haven’t been up to the burn zone since full containment was attained a couple of days ago, but I’ve certainly bicycled through the area on multiple occasions in the past. Here’s a collection of some of my photos of locales as seen before they were consumed by the Kincade Fire…. Read more at Bill … Continue reading "Fire Tour"
Around here the official rainy season begins on 1 October. Based on annual averages, by now we should have received some significant rainfall. Not the case. Not a drop has fallen, and we’re dry. Dangerously dry. Santa Rosa and northern Sonoma County just survived—barely—the impact of multiple days of “public safety” power shutdowns, mandatory evacuations, … Continue reading "Rush Creek Open Space"
We had been having some very cold days that made one take pause before actually taking a bike ride ;’-). I did bundle up against the cold a couple of times and got out for short jaunts around. But this day was a perfect day for a ride. The numerous Heron that were out thought … Continue reading "A BEAUTIFUL FALL BIKE RIDE"
And I don’t mean Normal, Illinois. Still some smoke in the air, but trying to get back to usual routine. Slipped out the Greenway. Spotted new, “unauthorized” artwork along the trail, but in an awkward location where I couldn’t get into position to photograph the entire piece without a wide-angle lens. Vineyards turning autumn colors. … Continue reading "Back to normal?"
Two years ago Santa Rosa suffered major loss of lives, homes, and property when a wildfire swept across the northern part of town, just a couple of blocks from us. This year the fire was a couple of miles farther to the north when it was finally stopped — we hope — last night. This … Continue reading "Deja vu all over again"
I’ve been enjoying plenty of off-road riding with the Ogre lately, especially on trails in our local parks. Today, having almost beaten a never-ending computer project into submission, I decided I needed to get out and stretch my legs for a few miles on pavement. Off I went into the wild west county, where they … Continue reading "West County"
Despite increasingly shrill warnings from Pacific Gas & Electric—they who already admitted liability for previous conflagrations and dozens of deaths, and who entered bankruptcy in order to protect their asses, I mean assets—about the likelihood of an impending shutdown of the electric grid across northern California to prevent more wildfires sparked by their power lines, … Continue reading "Tolay Again"
Wandering around. Stopped to photograph flags at city hall. Explored double track along Santa Rosa Creek, although it was actually not very exciting or scenic, and it came to a sudden end. Read more at Bill Bikes
I am having a great time — even in the rain! We had our first ride yesterday and are about to leave for today’s ride — again in Vermont. I don’t know if we will ever ride in Quebec, but the riding and country in this part of Vermont is beautiful. If interested in more: HERE
After several days buried in an all-consuming computer project with no time for or thought of anything else (including keeping up with Cycle365), today I managed to escape for a quick jaunt out the Greenway. Sonoma County is hot and dry—see photo of waterless Brush Creek—and we are poised to have Pacific Gas & Electric … Continue reading "Hot and dry"
Over the last few days I’ve made a point of taking the Ogre on trails in some of our parks in Sonoma County along Highway 12. That means in the Sonoma Valley, in the Mayacamas Mountains on the east side of the valley, and the Sonoma Mountains on the west side. Today’s destination? The summit … Continue reading "Sonoma Mountain"
Sonoma Valley Regional Park, about fifteen minutes away by car, is a pleasant, compact chunk of the county that’s not nearly as flat as the name might indicate. Because it’s overshadowed by some of its closer, bigger, and more interesting neighbors, it’s a park I don’t visit much. I think I’ve hiked it two or … Continue reading "Sonoma Valley"
Only eight miles?!? It felt more like a hundred, given the steepness, heat, and swarms of gnats attempting to take up residence in my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Not having bicycled through Hood Mountain Regional Park in almost three years (although I hike there far more often), I decided it was time to give … Continue reading "Hood Mountain"
We always tell everyone our best time of the year is September/October. It came exactly on September 1st this year and so far it’s been great. The fog is either non existent or it is definitely blown out by noon. Just in time to enjoy a nice ride in the sun. … Continue reading "Summer Has Finally Arrived"
Last day of August! I’ve just got time for one last challenge post before closing the book. This one has lots of trees, but I featured the skeleton of a dying Sycamore maple out of respect. The post as a whole though might interest both tree and quest fans, because it’s the first stage of … Continue reading "August Challenge: the Portland Heritage Tree Quest"
There are still a few days left in the month, but I think this will be the last tree for me in the August challenge. I’ve been reminded that it’s time to come up with a new theme, and I’m a pretty poor multitasker. One thing at a time, that’s my motto. Today’s tree, a … Continue reading "August challenge: American Elm"
Actually, I think it’s probably a lodgepole pine. With its many arms though, it reminds me of Kali, the Hindu goddess with ten arms. It doesn’t look like it would be much use for making lodgepoles either, does it? We saw this lovely specimen yesterday on our ride to Chinook Landing, a spot on the … Continue reading "August challenge: the Kali pine"
Well we hope it is…….sure does seem to fly by lately. One day I think of doing something and then before I know it two/three weeks have passed. Again we’ve been out and about on our bikes a lot……sometimes together and sometimes separate. I have to admit with my now 3 (yes 3 part time … Continue reading "Time Is On My Side………."
We’re staying this week in Irvington, one of Portland’s inner east side neighborhoods. It feels a bit like living in an Arboretum, with a great diversity of mature trees – there must be fifty different species here, often grouped in short rows along parking strips, each block featuring a different tree than the one before. … Continue reading "August challenge: the trees of Irvington"
The Sitka Spruce is a pretty amazing tree. Previously we had a look at the largest known Sitka Spruce in the world, soaring nearly two hundred feet into the sky. Today’s featured image is a much smaller example, but nearly as remarkable. The Kalaloch Tree of Life ekes out its precarious existence on the wild … Continue reading "August challenge: the Kalaloch Tree of Life"
I intended to ride rough trails through Hood Mountain Regional Park today. When I saw the forecast for the interior hills—far from the ocean’s cooling influence—predicted a high around 105° F, I altered my plans. Even with an early start, too hot to struggle up the long, steep climbs in that rugged, sun-drenched terrain. Read … Continue reading "Heatwave"
Scooter wrote: “Since there’s no bike though, I think you owe us just a bit more, is there a Joshua Tree to be found?” I won’t have a chance to visit any Joshua trees during this month’s challenge, but I can offer this, which some might remember, from earlier in the year when I was … Continue reading "Yucca brevifolia"
Sunday, August 11, 2019 I went on a toodle around the Stanford campus today and came across this delightful coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) right next to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. The hospital was recently rebuilt, but thankfully they left this beauty in place. I love that a limb that was sunk into the … Continue reading "Challenged Oak"
Bristlecone pines. Per rules, this might be cheating — no bike in photos — so I didn’t flag it as challenge of the month. But I figured no one else would have an opportunity to post this species. Top photo from a combined biking and hiking expedition to Death Valley and Telescope Peak last year. … Continue reading "Pinus longaeva"
At 14,252 feet in elevation, White Mountain Peak in the White Mountains is the third highest summit in California. A long, rough, unpaved road (requiring four-wheel drive and high clearance) leads up from the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest visitor center several thousand feet to the University of California’s Barcroft Research Station at 12,470 feet. Normally … Continue reading "Bikes on White Mountain"
Sunday, August 4, 2019 After a lovely few days in fog-bound Monterey, I went northeast to visit a friend in the city of Davis which is in the frying pan that is the Central Valley. My friend Stacy is new to the city so a little ride around town was a fun exploration for both … Continue reading "A Day in Davis"
Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2, 2019 The wife and I had a few days off at the beginning of August so we headed to where we usually go on days off: to the sea. We went to Monterey this time and of course alerted other Cycle 365 regulars of our plans. Luckily Jack … Continue reading "Couple of Days in Monterey"
What a nice surprise a quick email to say “hey let’s go for a ride”. We met the Goddess and BJ at the coffee shop at Asilomar, chatted for awhile to catch up and then off we went. I’m taking advantage of the relaxed rules this month and including some of … Continue reading "A Little Visit From Our Favorite Goddess"
To the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University to meet my ace support crew for picnic on the lawn and Santa Rosa Symphony performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons while seasonal photos of Sonoma County projected on the giant outdoor screen above the musicians. The images showcased the county’s spectacular natural beauty, but one thing was … Continue reading "To the symphony"
My phone, my computer, and the weather guy on TV all agreed that today would warm up to nearly 90° F (it actually exceeded that by a few degrees) and I was late getting out of the house because I watched stage 18 of the Tour de France. Although I didn’t hit the trails at … Continue reading "Tolay"
Where has the time gone lately?! We of course have been riding but/and we have had visits from kids and grandkids….visits up to other kids and grands. So, it seems summer is passing by very fast. Thank you all for your posts..seems a wonderful summer is in the making for all. The featured photo is … Continue reading "MIA in Monterey"
It seems pretty quiet around here, so I decided to post this even though I haven’t been up to anything too exciting. Mostly I’ve been spending my time on training hikes in preparation for a (probably pain-inducing) expedition with the wild woman I call my ace support crew. But here are my latest rides. Read … Continue reading "The usual"
Despite narrow lanes, lack of shoulders, and sometimes heavy traffic (including plenty of RVs), I ride up and/or down the coast on Highway 1 at least a couple of times each year, most recently back in January. I pedaled steep Coleman Valley Road once, with Jeff, back in November 2015. I went halfway up unpaved … Continue reading "Willow – Coleman – Ocean"
Tolay Lake, the newest regional park in Sonoma County, has provided me with enjoyable riding since it opened last year, but it’s highly sensitive to weather conditions. During our rainy season, the trails become very mushy and get churned up (and mixed with fresh manure) by grazing cattle. In hot weather, the lack of trees … Continue reading "Tolay Lake"
Guessing that my photos from Mono Lake—get it? Mono—wouldn’t qualify as monochrome, I pedaled over to Spring Lake today and did a quick circuit with the camera in order to fulfill my Challenge of the Month obligations. I trust that at least a couple of these will find favor in the eyes of the infallible … Continue reading "Spring Lake"
We’ve been riding but not really much to write about…..oh yea, there was another fall on the trail for me?!! We are starting to hate riding there. People just walk right in front of you and will not move and then when they do they go the opposite way and DOWN you/I go!! So, Tuesday … Continue reading "Happy 4th of July"
I pedaled for more than two hours before I encountered eastbound traffic, and almost three hours before westbound traffic caught up with me. At that point I quickly got out of the way. One of the first westbound vehicles in the long line of fast-moving traffic on the narrow road was my white Forester, driven … Continue reading "Tioga Pass, part 2"
I have to say how pleased I am at the responses so far in this month’s challenge. Here we are only on day 2, and we’ve already got four submissions and several colors represented. Keep up the good work, team! And let’s see some red in here to go with the blue and white we’ve … Continue reading "Monochromatic triple play"
Tioga Road across the Sierra through Yosemite National Park is one of the most spectacular high mountain routes (up to nearly 10,000 feet) in the US. But all the usual reasons—narrow lanes, lack of shoulders, curves, climbs, heavy traffic, lumbering RVs, inattentive drivers—make it a dicey proposition under normal circumstances. Consequently, bicyclists love the opportunity … Continue reading "Tioga Pass, part 1"
Rodriguez is excited to be out of his box again for a few months and has been looking for a way to get back into the action. I could hardly contain him when he saw this old truck. He immediately swerved over to sidle up to it, almost causing an accident. Good instincts though, I … Continue reading "Old steel, new steel"
After leaving the Forester at the overflowing Lee Vining Creek, I pedaled the Ogre on dirt and gravel “forest roads”—no trees—around the southern shore of Mono Lake to the main tufa area. (See part 1.) These impressive spires and towers of carbonates grew underwater and emerged when the lake level gradually receded over the years. … Continue reading "Mono Lake, part 2"
After riding through the snow on the dirt road from Bodie to Bridgeport on Thursday, on Friday I had time for a morning ride before I needed to drive back home to Santa Rosa. Mono Lake was only about thirty minutes away by car, albeit in the wrong direction. Not having explored that area in … Continue reading "Mono Lake, part 1"
After starting up the dirt road from Bodie (see part 1), I gained elevation and repeatedly ran into snow covering my route. It was impossible to ride across the white stuff, so I always had to dismount and push until I could get back on bare dirt. Every time I thought that would be the … Continue reading "Bodie to Bridgeport, part 2"
Before bicycling the dirt road through the mountains from Bodie to Bridgeport, while I was still home in Santa Rosa I consulted four local “experts” via email and phone about what conditions to expect. All agreed cars could not get through due to deep snowdrifts at multiple locations. Beyond that, everyone had a slightly different … Continue reading "Bodie to Bridgeport, part 1"
After arriving at Bodie, now a state park, I started exploring the ghost town for a couple of hours before setting out on my bike ride over the snowy mountains to Bridgeport. This concludes my tour of Bodie. Read more at Bill Bikes
W. S. Bodey and his companions discovered gold high in the hills at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1859. After almost twenty years of small scale mining by a few prospectors, in 1877 industrial scale mining on the site brought about the boomtown of Bodie, named—inaccurately—after the deceased W. S. By … Continue reading "Ghost Town, part 1"
It was a very full-on three weeks in America, but now we are home and trying to recover from all of the extra energy we expended seeing family and helping my parents host 12 out-of-town guests and a 50th Anniversary party complete with 100 guests, a live band and a cake the size of Colorado. … Continue reading "Our new ride"
Time for another getaway, this time to escape a spell of temperatures above 100° F. I drove over to the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, basing myself in the town of Bridgeport (not far from Nevada), which put me in a position to do some riding up to the eastern face of the mountains, … Continue reading "Twin Lakes"
This is especially for Janet. I arrived in Bridgeport on the eastern side of the Sierra today and immediately went for a warm-up ride in preparation for my expedition into terra incognita beyond Bodie tomorrow. Who — or what — should I run into? A local guy — who also makes touring videos — on … Continue reading "Ogre and Troll"
I’ve been looking for a chance to bike this route through Willow Creek Open Space Preserve near the coast. I’ve hiked parts of the trails before. I know there are some steep uphills that will require pushing, and they are sensitive to weather conditions. Always too wet in winter, which would have me slipping, sliding, … Continue reading "Willow Creek"
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 More time travel on my trusty trike this day. Almost starred in a movie. Sorta. There’s an old road that winds its way up and over a mountain on the Pacific Coast south of San Francisco, officially called Pedro Mountain Road but people in the know call it Planet of the … Continue reading "Planet of the Apes and Devil’s Slide"
After interrupting my exploration of animal sculptures with a morning ride to Fonts Point, part 4 of Creatures of the Desert resumes my bicycle safari among the wild and unpredictable creatures inhabiting the desert around Borrego Springs. Read more at Bill Bikes
We continued to get highly unusual torrents of rain in May. I lost track of the rainfall records being set around Santa Rosa this month, but I knew I was tired of precipitation. Time to head for the desert. For this trip I wanted to take the Ogre off road to the Fonts Point scenic … Continue reading "Creatures of the Desert, part 1"
As part of my brief expedition to the desert, I intended to pedal the Ogre up to Fonts Point, reputedly offering a fine view of the badlands between the Salton Sea and the town of Borrego Springs. The turn from the paved road is marked with a small sign in the sand. Interestingly, whether configured … Continue reading "Fonts Point"
I spent a couple of days bicycling through the desert. Who knew it could be so dangerous? Fortunately, I survived this and further attacks by dragons, giant scorpions, and other wild beasts who thought the Ogre and I looked like tasty morsels. I made it home safely, and I’m trying to put together details of … Continue reading "Coming soon: Dinosaur attacks in the Desert"
We had planned a ride for today however with yesterday’s extreme weather we weren’t sure if it would happen. We woke up to clear skies at 30 degrees. That was good because it wasn’t snowing or raining. We waited around until 9am and by then it was 40’ish and we figured we’d go ahead and … Continue reading "Road Trip …….Day Six"
It’s not supposed to rain around here in May! Rainfall total for the entire month averages under an inch. Ha! On Wednesday alone approximately twice that amount poured down upon us. And that was just one day out of the current rainy spell, with more rain falling as I type these words, and more in … Continue reading "Lovall Valley"
I was going to try and do this trip all in one rightup but it’s already getting way out of hand and I haven’t even started. We left Monday the 13th from Seaside and headed to St George, UT. We made it in just about 11 hours…..seems we stop often to “stretch”. Tuesday we … Continue reading "Road Trip…..Day One and Two"
A beautiful day in Wine Country. While it’s possible to pedal the direct route out Highway 12 to the multitude of wineries around Kenwood, it’s always much more fun to take the longer route up and down Lawndale Road. Read more at Bill Bikes
So…today is the 10th wedding anniversary of our 29th year together. Of course this seemed like the perfect card. You’ve heard off and on about my arm issues and how riding ‘Uptown’ has seemed to help with that and Monday I just decided to go to our local bike shop “Work Horse Bikes” because they … Continue reading "Let Me Introduce You ………"
Janet is right. Northern California suffers from a relative dearth of brick buildings. Why? Earthquakes. Brick buildings tend not to stand up to earthquakes too well. In the big 1906 quake, Santa Rosa suffered proportionally more damage than San Francisco. Practically every brick edifice in town collapsed. Nowadays, most of the brick walls around here … Continue reading "One Brick at a Time"
I don’t think of there being any brick in our area. Northern California in particular just doesn’t have a lot of brick left……but hey wait! Where did all these golf balls come from?
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Crissy Field in the San Francisco Presidio, my happy place, was the start of my final Cycle Life Challenge ride this year. It’s where I can see the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay and the beach and the city all just by turning around in place. It was going to … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 7: Playing Tourist"
Today’s the day my ace support crew emerges from the Grand Canyon after her backpacking expedition. I need to pick her up, and we’ve arranged a rendezvous point at Grand Canyon Village. However, it’s impossible to know what time she’ll climb out of the big ditch, and there’s no cell signal, which prevents her from … Continue reading "Hermit, part 1"
The day was warming up as I pedaled slowly from Hermit’s Rest back toward the start of Hermit Road at Grand Canyon Village. My ace support crew could emerge any minute from the bottom of the canyon, or it could be a couple of hours. Read more at Bill Bikes
Sunday, April 21, 2019 The title of my post is a bit misleading. I had no trouble finding the local Goodwill. It’s right next door to my mother’s assisted living building and I pass it most days of the week. However, Goodwill provided me the opportunity for a little twist on the “supporting the local … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 6: Goodwill Hunting"
Although I hike it year-round, I don’t get up to Annadel State Park on two wheels much in the winter due to wet, muddy trails. Many of the mountain bikers around here love rolling through that squishy stuff and emerging with bikes and selves caked in clinging mud. It tends to wreck the trails, it’s … Continue reading "Ilsanjo"
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"
Upon my return from Arizona, I washed red dust off the Ogre, cleaned and lubed the drivetrain, and made a few minor adjustments to enhance performance. Then I cruised over to Spring Lake to see if those modifications would help us get airborne. Read more at Bill Bikes
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
With my ace support crew down in the colorful depths of the Grand Canyon for four days, I had several ideas for bike rides to keep me busy until I needed to pick her up. I completed a very introductory exploration of trails around Sedona yesterday. I also planned a couple of rides closer to … Continue reading "Navajo Bridge"
Our ride on Monday was a mix of urban traffic, GPS snafus for BJ, concerns for the Goddess and the threat of impending rain. However, even with all that we managed to smile, laugh and roll our way through Monterey.
After completing the Bell Rock Loop, I was back at the trailhead. I peeled off some clothes, studied the map of the trail system, and applied a fresh layer of sunscreen before setting out on the Big Park Loop. This was also rated as a beginner trail, but singletrack with a few tricky sections, unlike … Continue reading "Red Rocks, part 2"
My ace support crew and her team departed Flagstaff before dawn to begin a four-day backpacking expedition in the Grand Canyon. That gave me four days to bicycle around Arizona to my heart’s content, as long as I was on hand to pick her up on the South Rim when the expedition emerged. To begin … Continue reading "Red Rocks, part 1"
Monday, April 15, 2019 The wife and I had been itching for a day in Monterey. I contacted Our Good Friends Jack and Janet (TM) to see if they would be around for a CLC ride. They were. We did. While we cycled the wife drove and drove (which was not her plan). We managed … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 5: Monterey"
I’ve been on the road. While my ace support crew has been backpacking in the Grand Canyon, I’ve been pedaling my little legs off in places like Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, Lees Ferry, along the Colorado River, Schultz Pass, and Hermit’s Rest. They were all terrific rides, and I … Continue reading "Coming Attractions"
Sunday, April 14, 2019 A nice sunny day and we’re off to the Bay Trail where we haven’t ridden in several months. But first we make a sharp turn off the Permanente Creek bike path into the Googleplex. Not much happening in the main courtyard but we say hi to T-Rex. A while ago some … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 4: What Is Art?"
…but I was really in Flagstaff, en route to deliver my ace support crew to the Grand Canyon for her backpacking expedition, when the weather turned all Minnesota on us.
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"
Sunday, March 24, 2019 Last year I took a ramble that included the sweet-smelling apricot blossoms in the remnant orchards around this area. This year I wanted to get to the largest remaining local orchard that I know of on a property that happens to be owned by the Packard family. Because the blossoms were … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 3: What Put the P in HP"
Today was pretty stunning….60+ degrees, not so windy. Well at least while I was riding and sun ☀️ I decided to try getting across town on the streets and not the rec-trail…let’s see what happens. Also here is a memorial to Father Junipero Serra. He wasn’t all that nice to the first people’s. I like all … Continue reading "CLC Ride 5 with Flora and Fauna"
Saturday, March 16, 2019 A short ride back in time today. The ride was short but the time was longer than I’ve been alive. I rode to New Almaden, a small quicksilver mining village now subsumed by San Jose that is almost like going back to the 1800s if you squint well enough. Fans of … Continue reading "CLC 2019 Ride 2: New Almaden"