I work in an old two-story building in downtown Salem. Across the street to the south is the grocery store. Here’s my bike parked by the wall of the grocery store, shortly after 9:00am(CST) on December 16, 2018. The reflections on the grocery store wall are from the low mid-morning sun reflecting off the second-story … Continue reading "A wall, art(?), and a bike a few days before the winter solstice"
Read MoreMonth: December 2018
Happy Cycling 2019
FINAL POST OF THE YEAR?
The overnight fog had lifted by first light, though that wasn’t very early as it turned out to be a heavy cloud day all day, currently around just eight hours of daylight. Not sure if this will be my last posting of the year, if so best wishes to all for the coming season. Managed … Continue reading "FINAL POST OF THE YEAR?"
Read MoreWell What the Heck!!!!!
I know we…well I’ve, complained a bit about traffic on the bike trail lately. So,I thought I would share this text I just received from Jack?? These two lanes are on the rectrail. Have no idea how he did this? Think someone is explaining things to him. About twenty feet in front of his is … Continue reading "Well What the Heck!!!!!"
Read MoreDECEMBER CHALLENGE: MY FINAL WALLS (I THINK)
Once again my friend Cindy and I beat some rain! The rain will now continue through at least the next two days and possibly into the third. That will leave little time for more rides this year, though I intend to get out on my bike any part of any day that it is not … Continue reading "DECEMBER CHALLENGE: MY FINAL WALLS (I THINK)"
Read MoreWALLS OLD AND NEW
Cool start to the day some sunny spells, managed to get for a pleasant ride in the sun. This dry stone wall has sadly seen better days. Wall of straw near Sunningwell. Extension to this house next to Abingdon Marina. Distance – 19 miles. Journey – Solo. Bike – Tifosi Classico.
Read MoreRIDE # 178: 28 DECEMBER 2018
Thank you Nancy, Suzanne, Rich, Em and Tony for the good luck wishes for the Rapha Festive 500 challenge. The participant count is up to 91,228. 645 people have completed the challenge to date. I am delighted to report that I am one of those. I’m hanging my bike up for the rest of 2018. … Continue reading "RIDE # 178: 28 DECEMBER 2018"
Read MoreThe final 3 rides of 2018
There were some walls of hay, a sunrise, a floatie session and a lot of brown vegetation in our final three rides of the year. The high temperature yesterday was 43C, and we are heading toward that again today and tomorrow. So the guys and I are just hanging out and relaxing. No more riding … Continue reading "The final 3 rides of 2018"
Read MoreUnexpectedly a Solstice to Photo
In our little part of the world the forecast was for heavy cloud and light winds all day. Surprisingly after our visitor left at midday the clouds slowly began to clear, at 15:30 it was time to pop out with the camera. Not sure if I’m too late to qualify? View west across the Abingdon’s … Continue reading "Unexpectedly a Solstice to Photo"
Read MoreQuick Ride Around
Just had time for a quick outing before family arrive for the day. Still dull and grey no solstice shots again. Arch to the side of St. Helen’s Church. Private dwelling’s garden wall. Distance – 7 miles. Journey – Solo. Bike – Dawes Galaxy.
Read MoreDowntown Brick Walls
Another small downtown park where a building has been removed Some plaster remains — apparently, the exterior wall of one building was the interior of another Nancy’s recent post of walls in Everett got me interested in brick walls. After viewing some videos about brick laying, I went out to see what I could find. … Continue reading "Downtown Brick Walls"
Read MoreSOME WALLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Family Christmas for us is on Christmas Eve, so today is a relaxing day, kind of. There is no rain today and for a while I saw some blue sky with the threat of sun lurking in the wings. Time to ride! It was cold at 38 degrees as I started my ride at 11:00. … Continue reading "SOME WALLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY"
Read MoreRIDE # 173: 24 DECEMBER 2018
The Rapha Festive 500 challenge kicked off today. Ride 500 kilometres between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. I had a pre-dawn start under a bright gibbous moon. I rode a meandering route south-west to the coast, following the Langat River where possible. The Langat River this close to the sea is tidal. The morning … Continue reading "RIDE # 173: 24 DECEMBER 2018"
Read MoreCHRISTMAS MORNING SPIN
Sadly the weather did not permit a Solstice trip this morning, so the following are e few grey day shots of a very quiet Abingdon. A few dog walkers, a couple out rowing and a paddle boarder, and very few vehicles. Seasons wishes to all. Distance – 6 miles. Journey – Solo. Bike – Dawes … Continue reading "CHRISTMAS MORNING SPIN"
Read MoreA Day Late But Not A Dollar Short……Solstice Sunset
I was a little under the weather on the 21st so didn’t make it out. However, everyone under the sun was posting amazing sunset and sunrise photos on FB and other social media. As I sat on my couch last night…….I could see the color building from our window and decided I needed to get … Continue reading "A Day Late But Not A Dollar Short……Solstice Sunset"
Read MoreAndy Lopez Park
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"
Read MoreRetro wall photo – Cardinal Greenway
My parents have always been super-supportive of my interests and of me, in general. They could tell very early on that bikes were my thing… and they always did what they could to encourage me to pursue cycling. My dad built me scooters and Chopper bikes and all manner of bike modifications. He didn’t have … Continue reading "Retro wall photo – Cardinal Greenway"
Read MoreWinter solstice in Taipei
So I’m at least close. I got a photo of nearly the sunrise (I’m about 45 minutes late), on a nearly east/west road (off by about 15 degrees), on nearly the solstice (one day late). The photo is taken biking east along the Xindian River near Bitan Scenic Area, just south of Taipei. There’s a … Continue reading "Winter solstice in Taipei"
Read MoreHistoric Walls
I finally emerged from the wall of work. For a few days after two weeks of standing up for 10-hour days, I did very little – it felt very nice to just lie around and watch movies: Rocket Science, Brooklyn, Paradise Road, Mad Bastards, Testament to Youth, and others. Aaaahhhh…. But, as frequently happens at … Continue reading "Historic Walls"
Read MoreDECEMBER CHALLENGE CONTINUES: WALLS OF EVERETT
The weather forecasters keep tricking us. Yesterday we expected a bit of sun and mid to high 40d temps. No sun (but no rain this time), and temps in high 30s for most of the day. On my way to meet up with Cindy and Brenda (my buddies who joined the Little Free Pantry ride), … Continue reading "DECEMBER CHALLENGE CONTINUES: WALLS OF EVERETT"
Read MoreMissed out yet succeeded !
First – missed out. The Solstice was a cloudy time in my part of Tasmania so there were no sunrise / sunset pictures from 41 degrees south. I will try again when we return from a short Christmas break when the sun won’t have moved too much from it’s furthest position.
Read MoreWinter Solstice 40 Degrees North (Photos Added)
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)"
Read MoreWinter Solstice Challenge – without bike and road
Just got a shot of the sun as it disappears on the horizon here in Conil, Spain on December 21 for the Solstice Challenge. In Munich I would have had my bicycle and perhaps a street at the right angle, but I doubt the sun would have been out. Only rain and clouds there! Happy … Continue reading "Winter Solstice Challenge – without bike and road"
Read MoreDecember’s challenge: a wall, a bike, and a mountain
So my first December submission flopped miserably, rejected by sharp-eyed Suzanne’s observation that an iron fence doesn’t fit the definition of a wall. Let’s try again. This wall is maybe open to question too. It sure looks wallish to me, but some my view it as merely a highway restraining barrier. There are still a … Continue reading "December’s challenge: a wall, a bike, and a mountain"
Read MoreSummer Solstice ride into the city
Sorry Rich, but I couldn’t find a east-west road but I did discover that our new footbridge lines up with the suns furtherest point south at sunset. Of course I am one day ahead of the solstice but I don’t think it would make much difference. For more on my night ride Click here
Read MoreSeasons Greetings and A Seasonal Wall
OUT AFTER THE RAIN
More overnight and into the early daylight hours, then bright and sunny as some of the following will show. Having run out of wood screws for the latest project I’m working on and needing some wood stain as well, I took a somewhat scenic route to the relevant shops. Exposed timbers on this house in … Continue reading "OUT AFTER THE RAIN"
Read MoreDECEMBER CHALLENGE: WALLS ALONG THE TRAIL
Believing the forecast for ‘overcast with some sunbreaks and little to no chance of rain’, Cindy and I met up for a ride on the Burke Gilman Trail. In that anticipated weather we would ride across the new 520 bridge across Lake Washington, or ride to Lake Union in Seattle, or at the least ride … Continue reading "DECEMBER CHALLENGE: WALLS ALONG THE TRAIL"
Read MoreFirst Bike Ride
Well my brain cells are in overdrive trying to go so far back into the fog of history. My first cycle must have been to my local school and back just down the road about 50 years ago, way before the time of digital cameras or even polaroid cameras. I can remember my first crash … Continue reading "First Bike Ride"
Read MoreA Curved Wall
At last I found an interesting wall. From this angle it looks like a stand-alone, curved wall built for artistic purposes.
Read MoreFirst Bike Rides: 1956 and 1992
My first bike ride came in 1956 when I was five years old. Back in those days “free play” was the rule. Mom sent us outside, then called up and down the street when it was time to come home for dinner. On this particular day, some of the older, scruffier kids in the neighborhood … Continue reading "First Bike Rides: 1956 and 1992"
Read MoreHeadlands with Jeff
Amid a stretch of rainy days and commitments to other projects, when Jeff suggested we should get out for a ride, I quickly agreed. We decided to drive down to the Golden Gate Bridge and pedal through the hills of the Marin Headlands. That turned out to be a good choice. It ended up raining … Continue reading "Headlands with Jeff"
Read MoreDECEMBER CHALLENGE: A LOW WALL WITH MOSS
I DO live in the Pacific NorthWET, so there is no surprise that we have moss all around ;’-). Not long ago — well maybe a year and a half or so, but that doesn’t seem so long ago — city maintenance cleared off the moss from the wall and walkways here. Helps to keep … Continue reading "DECEMBER CHALLENGE: A LOW WALL WITH MOSS"
Read MoreA FIRST BIKE RIDE
I don’t remember my first bike ride at all, but I do have many fine memories of the fun and freedom of riding bikes at every stage of my life. I can only conclude that I never had to learn how to ride a bike because I’ve been cycling since the day I was born–much … Continue reading "A FIRST BIKE RIDE"
Read Moreout before the rain starts
Heavy rain was forecast for early this afternoon, so having a couple of errands to run I managed to get out in what turned out to be a very strong Southerly wind. This weather beaten wall in Milton village has slowly deteriorated over the last few years. From Milton it was through Sutton Courtenay to … Continue reading "out before the rain starts"
Read MoreDecember Challenge: another wall
This past weekend was the annual ‘Holiday event’ for our little informal biking group of friendfs and we had, once again, a fine time. We did a different ride this year that involved a ferry ride from Fort Casey on Whidbey Island to Port Townsend. After about a mile of riding we connected with the … Continue reading "December Challenge: another wall"
Read MoreFirst bike(s)
I learnt to ride quite late. There were no bicycles in the household and I was probably about 11 when the 24″ wheel bike in the second part of the video was owned by a friend and she taught me. The process was to go to the local park, find a grass-covered hill, put me … Continue reading "First bike(s)"
Read MoreFirst Bike
I have not been able to find exactly what I wanted for this post, but I think you will get the idea. I grew up in a rural part of Baltimore County, and I don’t ever remember having or riding a trike. I remember having a four wheeled something. Not exactly a car, and not … Continue reading "First Bike"
Read Morein search of an unusual wall
After a visit from our eldest son and one of his girls, I was able to get for an hour or so. It has taken me more than a little while to remember where I had seen the following. This thatched top garden wall is to be found in the village of Appleford, a few … Continue reading "in search of an unusual wall"
Read MoreFirst Bicycle/First Solo Ride
That is a tricycle similar to the one I graduated directly from to a 26″ bicycle — way too big for me — but with assistance from brother — learned the rudiments of balancing on 2 wheels as he followed running alongside. Problem became, I out distanced him, and confronted with a US highway … Continue reading "First Bicycle/First Solo Ride"
Read MoreRide the CC Loop
Nothing to do with today’s ride, other than that building once housed a Western Auto where the bicycle for today’s the ride was purchased in 1975. Also shown is our one and only wall mural that was destroyed when the building partially collapsed and then was razed. When WA disintegrated it became a Radio Shack … Continue reading "Ride the CC Loop"
Read MoreWalls of Monterey
My first wall to climb was uploading these photos….I seemed to experience some technical errors ?but I’m ready now I think. I haven’t been on my bike in nearly a week….to much work and not enough fun. Today that changes!!
Read MoreSolstice Challenge (Updated)
Looking at the Analemma, the sun is so close to 23.5 S Latitude any date between now and January 1st would be a good time for a photo as weather/clouds allow. Just over a week until the Solstice. As we can see by the analemma the direct ray of the sun is very nearly at … Continue reading "Solstice Challenge (Updated)"
Read MoreDecember challenge: chilly morning with walls
Today is a dry and chilly day sandwiched between two rainy days. I knew I wanted to get out for a bit of a ride before the rain sets in over the next few days. I left from home to do my usual neighborhood loops and found some walls. This bare, weathered wall is of … Continue reading "December challenge: chilly morning with walls"
Read MoreHello from Conil de la Frontera
Hi Everybody! I feel like kind of a stalker here, reading and enjoying your posts but not commenting or posting. But now that we are settled in and I have my laptop out, I’ll be able to be a bit more active. As many of you know, I am no longer in Munich but on … Continue reading "Hello from Conil de la Frontera"
Read MoreAnother box in the wall
Hi ho! Kermit the Frog, here! I am doing a guest post as The Navigator is recuperating after another 10-hour day. We haven’t been riding much at all this month as she has been in a work frenzy after awarding a contract worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on 28 November. The record digitising contract … Continue reading "Another box in the wall"
Read MoreCRANKSGIVING IN DECEMBER AND A WALL
My Ace #1 eye spy found this Free Food Pantry for a chance to do a CRANKSGIVING ride ‘;’-). I had never seen one of these free library-like ideas used for food giving. What a great idea, and a good ride with two friends on this cool but no-rain day. We each brought along a … Continue reading "CRANKSGIVING IN DECEMBER AND A WALL"
Read MoreRIDE # 165: 09 DECEMBER 2018
Today’s ride was the Cameron Highlands KOM Challenge. This was a roughly 1,800 metres / 5,900 feet climb over 58km / 23.6mi from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands is named after William Cameron, who surveyed the area in 1885. In 1925 the British colonial administration started developing the area into a hill … Continue reading "RIDE # 165: 09 DECEMBER 2018"
Read MoreNot my bike. Not my wall.
Ok, this is kind of not ‘legal’ as I am not on my bike this weekend. But look who has been here, I could not resist posting this for all to see that even that red-suited man travels by bike once his sleigh lands in town. Must carry that toy bag on his back I … Continue reading "Not my bike. Not my wall."
Read MoreShhhhh …. My 2018 Challenge is going well
My 2018 challenge is to ride 100 k each week. This changed to 5,200 k in the year (average 100k) after some weeks not making the 100. 2 weeks and 161 k to go. To help the totals along this week I “did” an S24O ride. Notes can be found HERE. This coming week I … Continue reading "Shhhhh …. My 2018 Challenge is going well"
Read MoreWonderwall to be here
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"
Read MoreGalvin
Rain stopped. Roads dry. Caught up on other projects. Grabbed the Ogre and went looking for walls for the Challenge of the Month. Didn’t find any worthy of expending pixels, but liked this shot of the pond at Galvin. Came home. Brewed a cup of tea. Took a nap. Retirement is rough. Read more at … Continue reading "Galvin"
Read MoreDecember challenge: blue wall with some shadows
Oh the frost this morning!! My friend Cindy and I met in the late morning for some frozen fun! It was cold at 38d for most of the day, but the morning temp was at 25d! It climbed to a high of 41 by about noon, then began to fall again. We each said how … Continue reading "December challenge: blue wall with some shadows"
Read More2 Walls & A Few Snowflakes
North wall of a church on Chestnut street. In addition to the brick, is a central column of Indiana Limestone flanked by stained glass on either side. It was widely used across the United States including most of the exterior of the Empire State Building. Wall along an alley behind the home of a former … Continue reading "2 Walls & A Few Snowflakes"
Read MoreDecember Challenge: A fence wall
Not much of a photo, but on my cold ride this mid-morning I saw this striking tree. And there was a fence next to it. So… I figured that qualifies under the loose rules of the challenge ;’-)
Read MoreDecember challenge: walls
It has, by our standards here in the Pacific Northwest, gotten rather cold and frosty here. I know that 35-40 degrees is not what some areas consider frigid weather, but it is that here. In these past few days we have had temps in the upper 20s at night, low 30s in the morning, and … Continue reading "December challenge: walls"
Read MoreSerendipitous Wall
After about a month’s hiatus four of us did a pre-dawn ride today. Pai and I started from his home and we picked up Kelin and Bin Soo where they live. By 8.15am we had covered 70km and were thinking about coffee. We usually get our cuppas at The Artisan Roast next door to Pai’s … Continue reading "Serendipitous Wall"
Read MoreDecember’s challenge: crossing the Tech
Today we crossed over into Spain, crossing the Pyrenees over the low Col de Panissars, the ancient route the Romans took through the mountains. To call the day adventurous would be an understatement. With a treacherous descent and a barefoot walk in the water, it was a ride not quite like any we’ve experienced, a … Continue reading "December’s challenge: crossing the Tech"
Read MoreAnother brick in the wall
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"
Read MoreVarious Walls and a Lucky Escape
Many thanks for all of the positive comments on my previous postings, much appreciated. It was very mild with sunshine and showers and a fresh SW wind when I set out on a morning ride. Bit of a cheat this one, I took this yesterday when I had to collect a few items from our … Continue reading "Various Walls and a Lucky Escape"
Read MoreWhiskyneuring – Could it be a thing?
“We can’t stop here, this is bat country!” – Hunter S. Thompson All the Coffeeneuring and Vinouring posts on here got me thinking. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I do love a good whisky or dark rum every now and then. So I had an idea … … Could Whiskyneuring be a thing? … Continue reading "Whiskyneuring – Could it be a thing?"
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