First of all, I probably should begin by answering the question that is probably on all of your minds.  YES, I did create that work of art at the top of the page–all by myself. I have to do this Holiday Challenge ride a day early because The Feeshko and I will be in Iowa … Continue reading "A DAY TO BE THANKFUL"

[In this part of the world, during this part of the year, two animals stand out as being particularly active.  Geese and squirrels are so ubiquitous that most people do not even notice them.  If they do notice them, they generally won’t give them a second thought.  I notice them and I give them second, … Continue reading "GEESE & SQUIRRELS: A Multi-Media Nature Documentary"

Just trying to think how to link today’s ride with our challenge of the month. On our ride through the forest we saw some interesting sculptures. No, actually I don’t think children had anything to do with them unless they were created for their entertainment. These interesting wood sculptures, made with a chain saw, are … Continue reading "Children at Play"

We woke up to rain. It had been predicted but we hoped against hope that it wouldn’t rain, or maybe not much, say, just a drizzle, anything that would make riding our bikes an option. But it was pouring. The next days were going to be more of the same. Great, the best of the … Continue reading "Following the Inn: Day 6"

Somehow I never finished my journal. I wasn’t writing while on the road, but had every intention of posting the journal soon after we got home. That was about three months ago – and I have still to write the final chapter. What were the obstacles that kept me from writing? Was I so busy, … Continue reading "Following the Inn: Day 5"

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Travel-Information/Maps-&-Charts/Trails/Vermilion.pdf A compilation of photos over several years and rides. I find it interesting to see just the what might be called the Common Stuff of different places. Ive intended to takes photos, for example, of a ride to the Post Office and back — nothing particularly striking about that, but, since 365 is about … Continue reading "Here is what I saw — A Compilation"

In this post you will read about a guy who not only completed the most difficult Monthly Challenge since monthly challenges were invented, but he also managed to work in a Holiday Challenge ride.  Yes, you read it right–TWO CHALLENGING CHALLENGES IN ONE DAY! The November Monthly Challenge is problematic in that it involves taking … Continue reading "SOMETIMES YA JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE"

As I have mentioned in a post to Suzanne, I am attempting to embrace change ;’-). I am doing some of that by enjoying riding my bike through some of fall color around me. We have plenty of brown leaves that have fallen, but ALL the leaves are not yet brown. ;’-) On my very … Continue reading "ALL THE LEAVES ARE NOT BROWN (yet)"

Last month my goal was one ride and photo every day. Sometimes it was an effort, either due to rainy weather or a tight schedule or I just didn’t feel like it. But I succeeded and it became a habit. Although I had no such goal for September, again I found myself trying to get … Continue reading "Cycle Days Challenge: September"

Finally, the next sequel of our ride…Again great weather, sunny but not too hot. The route is flat with a very gradual but steady gain of altitude, mountains to either side, prettier than yesterday although we are again frequently within earshot of the highway. You can read more HERE:

Went out for a look around for Scooter’s latest vexing challenge into Vexillology, and I did find several examples that would quality. This is not one of them — most Vexillologists  would agree, a wind sock in not a flag, but, its sorta like a flag.  An air filled flag (with appropriate wind conditions as … Continue reading "Jumping the Gun, But, Its Not a Flag anyway"

It has been a very BUSY four days of moving house and cleaning the old place. But the guys and I did get out for a lazy six kms after running errands for much of the day today. I should have been resting after such a big expenditure of energy Friday-Sunday, but the mtn bike … Continue reading "On the board: Springing back in line"

Larch, pine, spruce, yew, fir? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to identify the conifers although I usually recognize one as an evergreen when I see it. This one is a ??? Took the picture on the second day of our trip, in the meadows of the Isar. Since I am sure you want … Continue reading "A Tree and Day Two"

Say hello to Gija, It’s a boab tree that was transported over 3000kms south from around Derby in the far north of Western Australia to Kings Park near the city. No one is sure how Boabs ever came here from Madagascar or Africa and I’m sure it doesn’t like the cold mornings but seems to … Continue reading "A Boab Tree far from home"

I live about a kilometre from the Murray River – Australia’s most iconic river. Combined with the Darling River, they drain 1/3 of Australia. The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia’s main food bowl and the centre of considerable controversy over its management. Growing along that iconic river are the river red gums. These trees can grow … Continue reading "August Challenge: Eucalyptus camaldulensis"

What to say about July? Another month here and gone. We got two overnight rides in, testing to see how fit are we this summer. Nothing sensational, but still fit to ride with paniers and sleep in guest house beds. As we get older, the problem isn’t necessarily the pedaling itself… More HERE with pictures

As widely reported via national and international news outlets, Tomas Quinones while bikepacking in the remote backcountry of eastern Oregon by sheer chance encountered a 72-year-old man — severely dehydrated and near death — who had collapsed after walking for four days from his stranded Jeep. Tomas tells the story in his bike blog: http://adventuring.bike/2019/bikepacking-the-obc-day-6/ … Continue reading "News: Bicyclist rescues man near death"

We’re in the midst of another heat wave. Phew, 32°C is unusually hot for these parts. Yes, the climate is changing much faster than I think anyone anticipated. But the intrepid ADFC bicycle group met and rode. Today’s program was a guided tour of a restored grain mill on the Würm, the Linner Mühle. To … Continue reading "Tuesday Afternoon with the Bicycle Club"

Today rain is predicted for the afternoon so we are happy to be awake early and are in luck that breakfast is served starting at 7 a.m. It doesn’t do any good to be awake early and then have to hang around for breakfast. The route today is shorter and flatter, too. It will be … Continue reading "An Outing in the Bavarian Countryside – Day 2"

Are we finally getting a window of good weather and nothing on the calendar? If we had to book a flight far in advance or apply for a visa or arrange transportation for our bicycles, I am sure we would have gotten away sooner. But we have the good luck to live exactly where we … Continue reading "An Outing in the Bavarian Countryside – Day 1"

Oh yeah, Monochromitis is a very real medical condition.  The Harvard Journal of Diseases & Stuff defines it this way: “A psychological disorder in which a person – usually a bicycle rider – compulsively searches for items of similar color for the sole purpose of taking a photograph.  His or her obsession is so powerful … Continue reading "A SERIOUS, TWO-DAY CASE OF MONOCHROMITIS"

Many of the places we are now visiting by bike aren’t new to us. We’ve driven here by car or have taken the train with our bikes. Today we rode our bikes to Maisinger See, a small lake in the middle of a nature preserve. We’ve been there often. And of course there is a … Continue reading "Visiting Old and New Places"

The last few weeks have been jam packed…..with rides but also with life. I have had to work a lot at the tasting room and Jack has been working extra shifts here in the park. Seems everyone needed to take vacation at the same time. We have been able to get our rides in but … Continue reading "This and That"

We absolutely love the area where we are living now, but there are still a few problems to deal with: One, the move involved a lot of work and I haven’t found much time for getting out on my bike. That should change soon (if it stops raining). And secondly, for the time being I … Continue reading "Coming Soon …"

Day thee was a combination road trip and bike trip. We drove from St George to Springdale at the mouth of Zion National Park. Once there we were going to follow Bill’s suggestion of riding up to bus stop #9 and back. The challenge for today was going to be ‘wind’ and just how much … Continue reading "Road Trip……Day Three, Four and Five"

Space where a building burned exposes adjoining brick wall, and provides an area for a small park Collapsing flower box and a short alley Interesting old windows framed in brick Vines climbing brick wall and electrical entrance Down Town Motel continues to deteriorate Building was in an imminent stage for collapse and was removed  Bricks … Continue reading "Sunday Morning Brick Tour"

This year’s Ride of Silence for fallen bicyclists will be held at locations around the world on Wednesday, 15 May. More information here: https://www.facebook.com/rideofsilence/

It seems moving toilets are all the rage these days. I have to disappoint you, when we move we are leaving our toilet behind (oops, a pun just happened). HERE is a link to my blog, though, to show you the loveliness of our future surroundings.

I dusted off the roadie bike today for my participation in The Great Portable Toilet Challenge.  I needed to achieve maximum speed because three other Cycle365ers have already posted porta-potty entries ahead of me.  I mean, this was MY challenge, and it sure wouldn’t look good if I was the last one to meet it. … Continue reading "A GOOD DAY IS A 3-PORTA-POTTY-DAY"

MY TOWN’S WOE:  A Flood Story About ten days ago, I rode my bike down to the banks of the Mississloppy River (as I often do) to take a few pictures.  Those pictures were going to be part of my epic Cycle365 photo-documentary about the major flooding that the TV news was predicting would arrive … Continue reading "TWO TALES OF WOE"

This might have been a CLC, if only I had remembered to buy something! But as it was, I was quite happy that Janos persuaded me to go for a ride, I was happy that I stopped for any pictures at all, happy that I got out although it was chilly and a cold wind … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: Flora"

I’ve been out on my bike frequently the past weeks, but not calling the rides CLC rides and not taking pictures of purchases, if any. But now I see some people have already finished seven CLC rides (so competitive!) so I better get cracking. It doesn’t look like spring yet here in Munich, but it … Continue reading "Cycle Life Challenge Ride 2: To the North"

Look, I’m not exactly an early riser.  I WAS an early riser for 34 years in my working days, and then for another year after I retired, before I was able to rid myself of that filthy habit.  So yesterday I actually had to take the unusual step of setting an alarm so that I … Continue reading "Greg Gets His Account Back and Submits A Spring Equinox Story"

A Record Month … Here in Munich, February weather set records for being the driest, sunniest and warmest for decades. It wasn’t all sunshine though, we did have some snowy and icy days as well. But at the end of the month the mercury climbed to a cyclist friendly 15°C and we opened the touring … Continue reading "My Rides in February – Cycle Days Challenge"

I took one look at the TV weather and said to myself “I’m NOT going out in THAT!”   Call me a sissy, but I decided to waited until 10:00 for my bike ride when it would be a few degrees warmer.  Plus, the wind had reduced somewhat from the overnight windchill of more than 50 … Continue reading "DAY TWO OF THE GREAT MID-WEST FREEZEOUT"

Yes, it was still insanely hot all week. It got to 45C again on Friday. On a couple nights, it never dropped below 29C. We’re breaking all sorts of records after more than four weeks of scorching hell. But finally, on Saturday night, a cool change came through and we were able to get in … Continue reading "Boring and blissful clouds"

Although I’m not sure whether I should call them gloves or mittens. But I got the kind of winter hand gear the Nancy recommended and they are the best. Not cheap, but what sacrifice won’t I make to be able to ride my bike. Seriously, I am developing a taste for winter riding. Not Minnesota … Continue reading "Have Mittens, Can Bike"

We are still on the Atlantic coast in Andalusia, Spain. It might possibly be the sunniest place in Europe. This stretch of the coast is called Costa de la Luz, Coast of Light, for good reason. I guess I shouldn’t rub it in, but I had a hard time finding a cloud today. What deprivation, … Continue reading "Cloud? What’s that?"

  Cloudy Day 🙁 — doesnt look like much of the rest of the country fared much better (Red dot is approximate location of Vermilion County, Illinois) So — good thing there was a Plan B in case this exact thing happened Plan B: Take advantage of the latest possible clear sunset close to the … Continue reading "Winter Solstice 40 Degrees North (Photos Added)"