Yesterday Hopkins decided to take his Start picture by a pile of next year’s dry firewood supply. It’s not a glamour shot, just part of life in the country. I’ve got some stacking to do! The ride was shrouded in fog on the way to work. Visibility was alright for riding, so off we went … Continue reading "A Foggy Ride; A Sunny Ride"
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I thought I was done with February, but these brilliant cycling days just keep coming in Portland. If I could share some of them with you, I would. Yesterday on our ride to Gresham we crossed a new but already nicely rusting steel bridge; saw six bunnies; and to top things off, saw another shady … Continue reading "Saving the best rust for last"
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Cyclist Celebrating Leap Day* Leap Day isn’t a Holiday, I’m fairly certain it isn’t, but it is an extra day of note I see no banners or decorations or other accoutrements celebrating it An extra day in February — who would even want to celebrate that! (Well, maybe a Leapling would) At any rate, we … Continue reading "Happy Leap Day + Leap Day Ride"
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In 2017, I met John from Berkeley when the Mad Marauders terrorized San Francisco. Earlier this year he spotted me while we were both riding the new bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Since then we’ve been trying to get together for a ride, and it finally worked out today. Read more at Bill … Continue reading "Mad Marauders mini-reunion"
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Not sure if advertising on side of beer delivery truck counts as a mural. Can we get a ruling from the judges? Little-known fact: Earlier in his life, Old Grumble-Face was sometimes known as the Emaciated Rasputin. Read more at Bill Bikes
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New? Not me, as a matter of fact I’m amazed at how old I am. This summer I will turn 80. Even if it’s just a number, I’ve decided to use it as license for a number of things, above all achieving as much or little as I darn please. I can just be a … Continue reading "So What’s New?"
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I confess. I’m having trouble keeping track of the personal themes this month, and who chose each theme. I think I already screwed it up. Now I’ve probably done it again. But I pedaled today and photographed rusty farm equipment and a duplex Little Free Library. Maybe I got something right. Read more at Bill … Continue reading "Thematically confused"
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I guess I’m getting challenge-happy. In my last post I said that was it for the month, but here I am again with Laura’s challenge. I didn’t really feel like getting on my bike at 8 o’clock for my tai chi class. It was overcast, windy and just too darned early. But I did. Of … Continue reading "Just got on the bike, too!"
Read MoreI know that Laura says her post is not meant as a challenge for everyone, but just for herself. But once presented with ANY challenge I am hard put to ignore it ;’-). So, I got on my bike yesterday. My original plan was to simply have a solo ride around my neighborhood. BUT —- … Continue reading "JUST GOT ON MY BIKE"
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Once when my ace support crew and I visited our son and his family in Yreka in far northern California, they drove us over the mountains to Scotts Valley via a quiet road that turned into dirt. It seemed like it would make a great bicycling route. Now, every time we’re in Yreka I try … Continue reading "Greenhorn Road"
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50+F here today Ride south of town found some remaining {snow} in shaded ditches Actually recrystallized into what is called Neve or at a later stage Firn — snow, which under the right conditions can lead to glacial ice — looks a lot like snow cone ice No glacial ice forming here today but enough … Continue reading "Here are some snow men — Neve(r) said they had to be snow?"
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At last – the picture I have been looking for. Almost. The image above includes cycle plus sheep. You can’t really see though so here is the sheep in shadow. The front one thinks she is in the shade, or just enjoys snuggling with a wheel. The other one really is in the shade of … Continue reading "Sheep in Shadow – again"
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These stumps are older ones, not from the recent storm. We have stumps all over the place. I don’t know how many I’ve posted by now. I found these yesterday on a lovely ride on roads we haven’t done before, and it was 15°C! We were riding on pavement, though, not on that path through … Continue reading "Stump, Mural, Rust and Bicycle Related Stuff"
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The guys and I did an overnight ride on Friday and Saturday and were able to satisfy our triple m challenge. It wasn’t the most fun ride ever, but I am glad to have taken advantage of good weather. You will note in the feature photo that I did get the domesticated animal mailbox trifecta. … Continue reading "Some mailboxes, monuments, memorials and more"
Read MoreSo often, having someone available to stay with Jim and decent weather do not coincide. Saturday our daughter spent the day. The sky was blue and the temp was around 60F, so it was a perfect time for a ride. Nothing terribly exciting about it. It was again in my own neighborhood, but I did … Continue reading "The Challenge: Just Get on the Bike!"
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What did I have to do for Greg? My ace support crew and I had to drive 300 miles north to visit our son and his family. I had to pedal the Ogre into the mountains, up a steep road that turned into dirt. I had to search desperately in the shady ditches near the … Continue reading "The things I do for Greg"
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Well, with February fast drawing to a close I’d about given up on finding a silly snowman for Greg. We got lucky though on our ride to Chinook Landing yesterday. Doubly lucky too – this one looks right up Greg’s alley, with a goofy grin that makes him look like his alter ego G-2. Perfect! … Continue reading "Snowman!"
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Well . . . . How about that? LFL at Maple School constructed by the Woods class at Hooterville High! Considering Maple is grade K, 1, and 2, — the upper shelf must be for those interested in higher education 😉 Bicycle rack at Maple School Scrams!!!!! Park View Court public housing complex and 2 … Continue reading "More Challenge Photos"
Read MoreOn my ride a couple of days ago I was able to capture part of the Cascade Mountains but there was no way to get my bike in the photo. The I realized, the bike was not a necessary part of this challenge ;’-). Sorry for the power lines, but cannot get those out either. … Continue reading "SUCCESSFUL FEBRUARY FINISH — KINDA"
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Start Western Flyer about to embark on a shortish, breezy, cold-ish tour south of town. 5F wind chill this morning was a bit too cold for wimpy me! Warmer tomorrow they say — time to search more bicycle related stuff Photos not in any particular order More of a stub than a stump Rusty rail … Continue reading "Copy Catting: Start/Stump/Rust/Snowman/Finish"
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Finally, a rusty object that I can get my bicycle up next to. I found this prize on my latest PHTQ outing, embarrassingly truncated after only finding two new heritage trees. This is my third rust submission for the month, so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Still keeping my eyes peeled for those elusive shadowy sheep and snowman … Continue reading "A rusty bucket"
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In order to repair the dam, the park maintenance crew drained Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park to a level as low as possible. According to Cap’n Will (he and Jeff often swim the lake) if you tried to swim it right now you’d scrape your chest across rocks on the bottom. I suggested he … Continue reading "Ilsanjo"
Read MoreHi folks, Greg here, and I’ve been given the honor of hosting the next Cycle365 Monthly Challenge. But first, it seems I owe everybody an apology. I’ve been told by one of the executive officers of Cycle365 that my snowman challenge this month “showed a surprising insensitivity,” presumably because it was almost impossible for people … Continue reading "Check It Out! I Get To Present The March Challenge"
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A ride through the woods and on country roads, not looking for anything. I knew there wouldn’t be any murals here or discarded bicycles. I had already found sheep (not in the shade though) and rust. “Let go searching” as Lao Tse said. Kind of a Zen thing. For lo and behold, there were sheep … Continue reading "Finding Without Searching"
Read MoreWe have a plethora of Little Free Libraries nearby, but a dearth of murals. I made a specific ride into Everett today (poor me on this gorgeous sunny day) for a photo of my favorite mural, and one of the very few murals I know of. I may have posted this mural in another challenge … Continue reading "MURALS COPY"
Read MoreI begin many of my rides from my driveway. On this day I would ride to the club ride abut 7 miles away to join Cindy on a ‘social pace’ jaunt. Geared up and ready to go… I was bushed after what turned out to be a very long ride — to the start, on … Continue reading "START & FINISH + SNOWMAN & HEADSTAND"
Read MoreAs I’m writing this, a kookaburra is chortling away the last of the sunlight as the amber sky sunset lights up the spaces between the branches of the pepper tree out the back of my place. I was thinking about some of the comments on other posts where Greg said to Tony that sheep must … Continue reading "Come see sheep AND dairy cows AND mountains"
Read MoreI didn’t have any particular aspiration to copy anyone’s personal Challenge this month, but that changed a little today. My buddy Jeff has been almost entirely out of the saddle for months and months after a long series of medical issues. Last time we rode together was when he was rehabbing about ten months ago, … Continue reading "Cloning themes"
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Today’s ride has three goals: honor many but not all of our presidents, and support the Holiday Challenge; copycat some of the themes of this month’s choose your own adventure challenge; and visit another set of trees in my Portland Heritage Tree Quest. I think I did quite well: one dead President, (Teddy Roosevelt, shown … Continue reading "Triple challenge on Presidents Day"
Read MoreIn my state of Washington, I could not find something that represents that president. The only other I found, please add Rich’s quote from this President to the photo.
Read MoreAround noon on Sunday, Hopkins and I seized the moment to get in a ride. Hopkins was especially bound and determined to fill in a few blanks on the copy-cat theme too. First off, he went for the “stump” theme (thanks Suzanne) with his own proclaimed “start” photo. Long ago this madrone tree fell from … Continue reading "On the lookout for copy-cattery…"
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On this fine President’s Day, I’m going to spare you from having to read paragraph after paragraph of my rambling nonsense. Instead, I’m simply going to post some pictures from today’s bike ride, paired with inspirational quotes from Presidents of the United States. Well, I guess … Continue reading "HOLIDAY CHALLENGE: President’s Day"
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The pleasant weather continues. When we left it was in the lower 50’s. Later on it clouded over and looked like rain. But we were home by then. For a couple of reasons I chose Starnberg for today’s destination. In the Internet I read that there are three little free libraries there. And if the … Continue reading "Stumps, Mountains, M’s and LFL’s"
Read MoreIn case you didn’t read the title of this post, I’ll repeat: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! But it wasn’t easy. Over the course of the first week of the February challenge, I managed to keep track of and rip-off all of the ideas of the other participants at least one time. Then a couple more challengers came … Continue reading "KING OF THE COPYCATS: Mission Accomplished"
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From what I have seen the forest paths have been cleared quickly after storm Sabine six days ago. Well, I think I got my own challenge right. There’s a stump in the picture but stumps are not hard to find around here. While riding I am of course on the look out for copy cat … Continue reading "The Challenged Copy Cat"
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I drove to and from Nevada in order to undertake some riding from a temporary base in Las Vegas. In both directions on the drive I made sure I had enough extra time to be able to stop in the desert whenever I spotted something worth exploring. I could pause for a quick photo, or … Continue reading "Desert Highway"
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Western Flyer about to set out to find some murals (Note rusted out rocker panel on the Chevy pick-em-up truck) Qualifies as a mural? Sort of? The AC in the wall won’t be necessary today Mural at the Water Department Rusty pipe extending from building –> may have been the site of one of the … Continue reading "Copy Catting: Start/Finish + Murals"
Read MoreI had better get into the fray of this before it is all over! You copy cats you. RUST. I include the first Rust photo I posted earlier, just to keep the ‘collection’ together. STUMPED: This next one is a favorite that is found right down the road from our house. BIKE RELATED: 3Ms: MUD … Continue reading "COPY THAT"
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The above mural is another by Fintan Magee in Leederville, one of my favourites. Here’s an article about this mural I’m continuing with my mural theme and copying TJ’s ‘start and finish’ as well. Today was a coolish summer day so I left home, heading to my mums house in Quinn’s Rocks (70kms) via the … Continue reading "Mural Challenge No.2 and copy-catting"
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Today there were plenty of sheep but none in shadow. Although the sun was getting up there, the cool wind from the east was keeping the sheep in the field. When it gets hot they often seek shade in the shadows thrown by the pivot wheels (sometimes even the shadow from the main bar!) – … Continue reading "Hunting Sheep in Shadows"
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I had three rides planned from my temporary base in Las Vegas. On Friday I bicycled the River Mountains Loop. Yesterday I rode through Red Rock Canyon. Today I intended to ride through Valley of Fire State Park. Unfortunately, by Saturday evening the weather forecast deteriorated considerably. The wind was already blowing like crazy when … Continue reading "Valley of Fire"
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G’day Cycle-lifers, So the February challenge is to post three posts, my work load has tripled (you know, some people have to still work, sad but true). My theme will be street murals as they’re all over the place here and I’ll also copy some one else’s theme as well. Today it’s Greg’s snowman, which … Continue reading "Some grungy street art and copycat-ing"
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I forgot about Valentine’s Day this year, until Rocky wondered out loud last night if anyone would get her a cookie this year, Typical – I never remember holidays or special days like anniversaries and birthdays. I’m a terrible companion and friend, unless folks remind me to look their way. Prompted into action though, I … Continue reading "A Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt"
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Outdoor Valentine Decorations here are as scarce and LFL’s Snowy/Icy streets means a clip art substitution plus the Valentine rug we inherited with the house Hope everyone had a great day!
Read MoreI see a few of you got the holiday started just right with your posts. Way to Go! I got out today on a beautiful crisp weather day. It is such a delight to see some blue in the sky and some sun breaks through white clouds scattered across the blue. I knew of at … Continue reading "HOLIDAY CHALLENGE FOR FEBRUARY"
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Valentine’s morning just happened to be the coldest morning of the year so far (14-degrees below zero.) That’s pretty brisk, even by my standards. By 10:00, however, it had warmed up about 11-degrees so I bundled up and began my Holiday Challenge ride. (Wouldn’t want to miss one, you know.) It was a very short … Continue reading "HOLIDAY CHALLENGE: Valentine’s Day Edition"
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Yesterday I rode the River Mountains Loop. For the second ride from my temporary base in Las Vegas, I chose Red Rock Canyon. According to what I read online, that National Conservation Area featured a paved road for cars through a stunningly scenic area. But it was a wide, low-speed, one-way loop with plenty of … Continue reading "Red Rock Canyon"
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The second day after storm Sabine passed through, the wind had died down and the temperature had gone up, not bad weather considering it’s still February. I remind myself it’s not spring yet and I can be thankful for the days when it’s pleasant to ride. Janos and I did one of our usual loops, … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: More Stumps"
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This past autumn I started scouting around for possible bicycling getaways to have up my sleeve when wintertime rains began to inundate Santa Rosa. One of the destinations that caught my eye? The River Mountains Loop trail outside Las Vegas. Although I had never considered Vegas as a cycling destination, a little more research revealed … Continue reading "River Mountains Loop"
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CC Hopkins’ Start/Finish Quick ride before the snow arrives — Western Flyer ready to go! No copy cat here, my own Theme (sort of) of bicycle related stuff Dave’s Trek 930 which was stolen and later retrieved after being spotted on Craigslist We don’t believe the guy selling it was the one who stole it, … Continue reading "Several Copy-Catted Themes"
Read MoreHey Gang! Hopkins here! Don’t tell TJ, I’ve joined the February challenge. As far as I can tell, the theme is any theme I want, right? And maybe a little extra credit for copying someone else’s ideas? So far, there’s been some really clever entries here with lots of great ideas. I’ll keep it brief … Continue reading "Count Me In Too!"
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Because I knew I’d have plenty of time to drive across the desert from Mojave to Las Vegas, I kept my eyes open for interesting sites to explore by bike along the way. In addition to my planned ride to Zzyzx, I figured I might find some out-of-the-way, oddball places to spend a little time … Continue reading "Baker"
Read MoreHow did I get so far behind everyone?!?!? I have not read all your posts and will not have time to do that until later today. There is a window of riding weather that I am about to grab onto ;’-). Two days ago there was another window of weather — with sun!! I grabbed … Continue reading "A FEW CREATIVE LFLs"
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Very high winds and stormy yesterday. Storm Ciara in England and called Sabine when it arrived in Germany, caused all flights to be cancelled, no trains were running, things were pretty quiet except for the wind. Actually, sitting indoors we didn’t notice much. I wasn’t going out on my bike, though. Today we still had … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: Stump After the Storm"
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This next round of antibiotics is kicking my arse. I’m kicking big goals at work, too, but it’s requiring long days and lots of thinking. That’s not particularly fun though when I feel cruddy and the pain in my legs is really bad. Go away, bartonella! However, I did get out for 12 kms after … Continue reading "February Challenge: A bonus M"
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I have been pushing the ever-decreasing “Little Grey Cells” to set a challenge for myself. I set out this morning on a short, slow ride around Longford deliberately looking for inspiration. Then, AHA!. While out cycling we often see sheep sitting or standing or fighting for space in the shadows – to get out of … Continue reading "Sheep in the Shadows"
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Definition of rust 1a: the reddish brittle coating formed on iron especially when chemically attacked by moist air and composed essentially of hydrated ferric oxide b: a comparable coating produced on a metal other than iron by corrosion c: something resembling rust : ACCRETION 2: corrosive or injurious influence or effect 3: any of numerous … Continue reading "Challeng of the month: Desert rust"
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On my two-day drive to the Las Vegas area for a few days of bicycling, I expected to have plenty of time for some short rides at places of interest en route. In particular, I wanted to explore the Mojave National Preserve, a place I’d never visited. While studying maps, I discovered within the Preserve … Continue reading "Zzyzx"
Read MoreJust a few minutes ago I posted my monthly challenge ride. Maybe you didn’t even see it yet. That’s a good thing, because this post really should have come first. Most of the content in this post occurred before all those Copycat Award-winning photos in the previous post were taken. So I apologize for publishing … Continue reading "A SOMEWHAT TRUE STORY ABOUT CALIFORNIA"
Read MoreI’m feeling some pressure now that my Cycle365 compatriots are adding more and more of their own challenges. As you may remember, I have two personal challenges this month and one of them is to find a way to rip-off everybody else’s challenges. (The other one is to build a snowman and stand on my … Continue reading "KING OF THE COPYCATS, PART THREE: Post Academy Awards Edition"
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This time a brand new stump in contrast to the old and gnarly one in my previous post. How much of the forest here is used commercially? How is reforestation regulated? Who owns the forests? Many questions and I have no answers. I think this picture looks a wee bit apocalyptic but fortunately so many … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: New Stumps"
Read MoreWe have had only a couple of days so far this month without rain. I hopped on my bike to search for some LFLs in a new to me neighborhood. It is not far from home so i was able to ride there from home. I did enjoy meandering around a different area, but it … Continue reading "LFLs #4, 5, 6 + A RUST"
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I should be home tomorrow, so I can finally start catching up on several days of riding, taking photos, and pondering the theme — now chosen, I think — for the month. Meanwhile, here are the last two teases. Valley of Fire and Desert Highway
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Actually, I’m surprised that I haven’t come across more rusty relics here in Southern Arizona this month. It seemed like we were biking past agricultural implements rusting away in the basin or mining relics up in the hills every day in late January – it’s why I came up with this theme, thinking I was … Continue reading "Rusty Tucson"
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After today’s ride, one plus and one minus. The bad news. Didn’t see anybody in a corn jerkers t-shirt, didn’t meet anyone from Hoopeston. Bummer. The good news. I have a theme for this month’s Challenge! Yay! I’m way behind in posting rides and photos, but will try to catch up soon and reveal the … Continue reading "A Theme at Last!"
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I have been choosing and then rejecting so many different possible themes for this month. It was so much easier to complain about the given challenges than come up with one of my own. To make it more difficult – or challenging – is that everyone else has come up with such clever ideas. I’m … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: Stumped"
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Pedaled for more than five hours today. Constantly thinking about a theme. I think I need some suggestions. Let me know if you have any ideas. PS: TRUE STORY! When I stopped to take this photo, a couple about my age politely inquired if I knew how far it was to the dam. One thing … Continue reading "Need help with theme, plus a true story about Minnesota"
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Gotta come up with my own personal theme for the February Challenge. Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm…. Four serious teases for themes
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That’s it — as close as we come to a LFL — which isn’t very close at all Where books go from there I have no idea Once they go in, they aren’t coming back out without a key (Note the lack of cars at McDonald’s — normally looks like total gridlock)
Read MoreWe have had a couple of days of not rain!!!!!! So I was out in my neighborhood looking for these LBLs. I was hoping to get a few more and make one post with several photos, but our weather is going back to miserable so will post these two. I have more that I … Continue reading "LFL (LITTLE FREE LIBRARY) #2 & #3"
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When I just want to go for a quick spin, I generally pedal across town and head out the Greenway and return. That out-and-back makes an easy 24 miles. Doesn’t take much time, and makes me feel like I did a little work. It’s possible to turn off the Greenway near its downtown Santa Rosa … Continue reading "Eviction"
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Well, this morning Dave and I repeated our loop — he too thought the groundhog den was on 6th Avenue It is! That one and 3 more!! In my defense, if there is one, (there isn’t) he was over on the side of the road where they are much more visible. Thats my story and … Continue reading "Park & South Loop Ride"
Read MoreThis afternoon, we added air to Violet’s almost flat tires. I was thinking I may get a chance to ride soon on a Tuesday or Thursday when Jim attends an Adult Day Center. That was my only goal for today, as I cannot leave him home alone. Right after that my son stopped by to … Continue reading "Perfect Timing!"
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Well, I’m still looking around for something rusty so I can start on my own challenge. While I’m waiting though, I’ll take a stab at Em’s theme, with my own twist. The featured photo, taken in on our ride from Douglas to Bisbee, brings together Mesquite, Mistletoe, and Mountains. MMM!
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I hereby declare that my February Challenge shall be: the Triple M. I will be looking for interesting mailboxes, memorials and monuments. Wait, you say, that constitutes three things and that is not fair. You should have to find all three in one ride to qualify. I say: it is going to be a very … Continue reading "February Challenge: Triple M"
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Far be it from me to hijack somebody else’s creative idea for the February Challenge. That would be wrong, just as it was wrong to copy Rich and Old Grumbleface in my last post. And it would be even MORE wrong for me to steal the ideas of EVERY SINGLE CYCLE365-er this month. I … Continue reading "KING OF THE COPYCATS, PART TWO: Monthly Challenge"
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Far be it from me to hijack somebody else’s pictures for my own fame and glory. That would be wrong. That would also be a copyright violation . . . UNLESS I provide academic-like accreditation to the original photographers. That’s what I’m doing here: Featured photo at the top of the page: Copyright Rich-Illinois … Continue reading "KING OF THE COPYCATS, PART ONE: Holiday Challenge"
Read MoreNot sure this is a Holiday On several rides on a loop south of town, Dave and I both remarked — Hey there is a groundhog den! So this morning in honor of the occasion, I set out to photograph said den I was ‘almost’ certain it was along a field on south 6th Avenue … Continue reading "Happy Groundhog Day!"
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Rich, I couldn’t resist. You inspired me to go out to the garage and poke around behind the bike tool box. Haven’t looked back there in years, but sure enough, look what I found! I purchased “Anybody’s Bike Book” at Vitesse in Normal back in about 1979. It might even have crossed Europe with me … Continue reading "Books"
Read More Since there are 0 Little Free Libraries here I will, with Nancy’s kind permission, post a few of my personal bicycle library books A short motor tour of Indiana provided two, count ’em 2! Little Free Libraries — one in Boswell, (pop 778) the other in Ambia (pop 239) Anyway we will start with these: … Continue reading "Little Library Challenge — This doesn’t qualify"
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January – Winter at its best … We have had a warm January, that’s my subjective opinion anyway. I haven’t seen the meteorological statistics. Some days were below freezing but we frequently had sunny days. There was no snow to speak of and I could ride almost every day. That is until I got sick … Continue reading "Cycle Days Challenge January 2020"
Read MoreI had thought I would wait to get a few of these, but after riding early this morning in pounding rain, I decided it deserves to be posted now ;’-) This library is about three miles from home and was my destination for this morning. It rained hard within about 10 minutes of my ride … Continue reading "LITTLE LIBRARY #1"
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