Last week I drove over to Winters in Yolo County to pedal through the far western edge of the Central Valley and up into the foothills of the range separating Yolo from Napa County. Today I drove to Lake Berryessa in Napa County on the opposite side of those hills. From the lake, I wanted to pedal … Continue reading "Heat, snakes, ticks, and poison oak"
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Once there was a very nice boy who lived in the magical land of MY Town. His name, Gregblood, was rather macabre, but that’s okay because his friendly demeanor more than made up for the horrible images of blood-spattered crime scenes or battlefields. So, while this fairy tale might be a little scary at times, … Continue reading "The Boy Who Chose to Ignore Multiple Warning Signs and Take His Chances: A Bedtime Story With Pictures"
Read MoreI said I had posted my final blue entry for the challenge but then… I passed by the LFL that is fashioned as a (blue) phone box that I told Scott I would post for him. Then… …I looked for the recent transformation of this stump I always check on. This is the stump that … Continue reading "I DIDN’T PLAN ON BLUE, BUT THIS HAPPENED"
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Yes, I know it’s not August yet, but it feels like it. We’re having a bit of a heat wave here, even up here in mild Bellingham. To beat the heat a bit we got started early biked as far north as current customs allow, right along the border. Along the way, I saw one … Continue reading "Warming up for August"
Read MoreI work for a cybersecurity company called SANS. A few decades ago it stood for System Administration and Network Security but over time it just became SANS. I never thought of the “SANS:without” definition until I ran across a small company called SANS (no connection) offering samples of their new meal bars. A sample of … Continue reading "A SANS Ride: SANS Return, Sugar and Shade at the End"
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Ascending the back slope of the Paxton moraine Met up with Dave, and had our usual quandary of where to head on a ride today. He suggested Wellington, 6 miles north, or Rossville, 6 miles south. Thing is, Wellington is on a road that goes directly north, and Rossville requires a diversion east and west … Continue reading "Ride to Rossville"
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Vermillion is a very small town. It’s a nice, quiet farming community. So far, it has had no protests, no riots. A small stream named the Vermillion River flows nearby. The town is located about seven miles from MY Town and it’s along one of my regular cycling routes. Downtown Vermillion has a nice Catholic … Continue reading "A Vermillion Little Things"
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In the times of Corona bicycles are becoming more popular as a means of transportation and there are calls for better bicycle infrastructure. For example, the mayor of Paris has announced plans to make the streets of Paris 100 per cent cycle friendly by 2024. Rome is following Paris’s example, promising 150 km of streets … Continue reading "Bicycles and Pool Noodles"
Read MoreJuly 25, 2020 Solemn After watching the Storm (Seattle Women Basketball Team) win their game against New York this morning, I got on my bike at about 11:15. There was just a little chill in the air but the sun promised warmth on the way. For whatever reason, I could not find the love in my … Continue reading "SOLEMN"
Read MoreLet me clarify that: this is the end of my CHALLENGE blues. Those other blues that sneak up and hit me unannounced will stay with me for way too long during these troubles time ;’-(. Blue bottles… …and blue hose… …will end my blues for this month. I wrote a short little piece about those … Continue reading "THE END OF MY BLUES"
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This month’s theme: Radiation noun PHYSICS the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles which cause ionization. BIOLOGY divergence out from a central point, in particular evolution from an ancestral animal or plant group into a variety of new forms. ____________________ There’s a lot to work with here … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month, August 2020: Radiation"
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I’ve got a lot to cover in this post, and lot’s of pictures to upload, so let’s get right down to business, shall we? I must admit I’m still reeling from an embarrassing faux pas in my last post. You may remember that one: I tried to speak “Vulturese” to a tower-ful of vultures. It … Continue reading "Greg Goes Birding"
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Person, woman, man, camera, TV. I’m so impressed that our man aced his cognitive test, and can remember and repeat five words. And in order! Perfect really, if only TV were actually a word. I’m inspired, but five is a word too far for my old brain. Here’s my list, gleaned from our recent rides … Continue reading "Blue Chain Library Potato"
Read MoreFollowing Greg’s example, I am offering a potpourri of themes. To add an individual note, I am accompanying them with rhymes – and not to be taken too seriously! The limmerick first: What do you know A blue Garceau Blue on the outside - haven't been inside -That's all I have to show. Now for … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month: Neither Rhyme nor Reason"
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Here’s an amazingly blue photo I took this morning on my club ride to Woodmans Point, so blue in fact that I think I might have ‘trumped’# Gregblood in photo blueness. Also I made another startling discovery, the world’s happiest song is Mr Blue Sky by ELO. A computer calculated it and it’s on the … Continue reading "Mr Blue Sky"
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The Central Valley of California, larger than nine US states, produces more than half of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States. It’s divided geographically into the Sacramento Valley to the north (drained by the Sacramento River) and the San Joaquin Valley to the south (drained by the San Joaquin River). Today I decided … Continue reading "The Big Valley"
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I had nothing else planned for today, so I headed out for my 120-somethingth consecutive day of riding a bike. Along the way, I thought about some stuff and took a few pictures related to current events on Cycle365. For example, we’ve been pretty active with our blue challenge. There was no way I could … Continue reading "A Potpourri of Miscellaneous Minutiae"
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I hadn’t been aware that the Nooksack even had a Middle Fork until hearing the news that its dam had been eliminated earlier this month. For the first time in sixty years, the Nooksack runs free from Mount Baker to its mouth on the Lummi reservation on Bellingham Bay. Great news for the salmon! Also … Continue reading "The Middle Fork of the Nooksack"
Read MoreI was more or less sure I had exhausted my finds for these challenges. But lo, here are a couple more. You will recall that I included this one in the LFL challenge… Not only is it included here because it is blue. Also it is now functional. The front door to the library has … Continue reading "TWO CHAINS AND A BLUE"
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Like the Bowerbird below I’ve roamed around this July looking for blue-ness. The Bowerbird does it to impress potential partners whilst I do it on a bike to contribute to Cycle365 and because I just love cycling around, it keeps me sane in a crazy world. Birds are a passion of mine, they’re free to … Continue reading "A Blue-tiful Challenge"
Read MoreI’m not very good at taking pictures on rides, or remembering about challenge subjects, but this ride had a natural stopping point at a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains southwest of Leesburg VA. My daughter and her husband live in a Vienna VA neighborhood that has a short connector trail to one of the … Continue reading "Riding the Rail Trail With a Mid-ride Bump to View the Blue Ridge Mountains"
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Yeah, the challenge of the month is blue, but July in my part of Australia is all about green. It is in that very short period of time in the year when the landscape is well-watered. So we got out and enjoyed all that green on Saturday with several new roads, a fair bit of … Continue reading "Bein’ Green"
Read MoreNow that I have probably exhausted the blues, I will see if I can get chained. At the start of my ride This mid-morning in 72 degree sun (not to rub it in or anything), I was not convinced that I would find much in the way of chains. But soon enough I was proven … Continue reading "CHAINS FOR RICH"
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I can’t remember the name of the nun who taught my 9th-grade English Composition Class, but I definitely remember her very wise advice. Sister Mary Whatshername told us to be very careful when using words like “always” and “never” and “every” and “all” and “none” and “nobody” and “everybody.” She said we should only use … Continue reading "Almost All Blue"
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Rachael and I bicycled out to the Lummi Reservation this week, out on the opposite side of Bellingham Bay. A beautiful ride on a grey day, but the highlight was discovering that they were waiting for me and somehow knew that blue was my color for the month. Uncanny! That was more than enough to … Continue reading "A visit to the Lummi Nation"
Read MoreWhat a gorgeous day for a fine ride. Lots of sunshine, very little wind, temps around 70. Life is good. And I found some blue… Found a convenient, empty spot to have my snack and drink. And then it was time to head home. As I say, life is good at least on my bike. … Continue reading "ANOTHER RIDE, ANOTHER BLUE COLLECTION"
Read MoreOnce in a while I see something that brings back a very clear memory from my childhood. Like yesterday for example. Remember this picture? – My grandfather was an amazing gardener and he had an amazing garden in his back yard. I could tell you about all of the pretty flowers he grew and all … Continue reading "Acting Like a Kid (What’s New?)"
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Nothing in particular, just random photos while out cycling https://richscyclingphotos.blogspot.com/2020/07/july-misc-photos.html
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“Yep, gravel riding is a different experience. I kinda like the variety.” -BobinVermont I kinda like the variety too, therefore I decided to make today’s ride all gravel. Basically, it would be a ride pretty much like ALL of The Navigator’s rides, except greener and not as far. Speaking of color, I also came up … Continue reading "All Gravel and No Blue"
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I found a bike club website with directions for a ride to the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in the Delta. It noted the route could be extended to the far side of the island for riders willing to grind gravel. I combed through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website and the Grizzly Island … Continue reading "Grizzly Island"
Read MoreI live in the outer suburbs, or maybe “exurbs,” of the Baltimore Washington area. I’ve now lived here for 42 years and development has of course increased and what was once woods or farms has turned into “edges” – neighborhoods of single family homes and occasional “new town centers” with mixed residential/commercial use that abut … Continue reading "Dodging and Drawing Deer"
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I seem to have been born with the ability to find a silver lining in almost every cloud, lemonade in every lemon, a potential silk purse in every pig’s ear, beauty in the ugly. I’ve even managed to find something personally positive in the pandemic, something cool in the Covid, something righteous in the ‘rona. … Continue reading "Reflections on the Pandemic, Blue Silos, an Odd Speed Record, and the 2nd & 3rd Funniest Jokes Ever"
Read MoreThough we have had a cool to cold summer so far, we are at least enjoying some sunny days thrown in. Most days I ride solo and keep my eye out for the monthly challenge; one day a week, most weeks, I now ride with Cindy and she helps with her eyes ;’-). This one … Continue reading "BLUES IN THE SUN"
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Today’s ride took me on a route that’s one of my favorites, since it has a little bit of everything. It starts out on a quiet two lane paved road, then jumps on to a busier state highway, then onto nice gravel, followed by some miles on the West River Trail, then in through town, … Continue reading "A little bit of everything"
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I try to pedal from Sonoma to Napa at least once each year, but it’s been a while. Time to ride. The winding route through the Carneros wine region is for the most part flanked on both sides by vineyards. I sometimes think of it as the Grape Road. I had no reason to think … Continue reading "Lost in the Sloughs"
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After proposing this month’s challenge, I’ve been remiss in rising to it myself. We’ve been getting out on our bikes almost daily here in Bellingham, and between the bay, the sky, and my blue bike there’s no shortage of blue subjects around. So, no excuse other than sloth. Fortunately, Suzanne observed that one of the … Continue reading "Blue, schmoo, Semiahmoo"
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The picture is blue and without a bike and so am I. Yesterday I went for a little birthday ride before my sons and their wives and seven of my eight grandchildren came to celebrate my 80th with me. It was our first get-together since Corona and a wonderful birthday. Just my bicycle didn’t want … Continue reading "Blue without a bike…"
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We got good rain over the weekend which made the gravel roads very fast to ride today. I made good on a promise to take the guys up to Reedy Creek for a float. You can check out all the float action and the seasonal change in Reedy Creek here: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2020/07/13/shifting-july-ride-2-untethered/
Read MoreGray morning with no blue in the sky at the start of my ride. At least the rain had stopped for the beginning of my loop. I was on the lookout for more blues today. At the elementary school the playground, and the garden presented blue me with some blue. Every gardener can use a … Continue reading "BLUES DAY RIDE"
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Suprisingly little is known about the origin of chains First use in Indo-European language dates back to 225 BC Leonardo DaVinci has drawings of a chain that looks amazingly similar to modern bicycle chains The most familiar chain to us Generally 114 inner and outer links with either 10 or 8 parts per link … Continue reading "Looking for Chains for a Change + Fox"
Read MoreThe Paya Indah Wetlands – Paya Indah means Beautiful Swamp – is a man-made wetlands area that was created on land which had been heavily degraded by tin mining and sand dredging activities. The excavations left by the mining works have been converted into lakes which are now home to fish, lotus plants and water … Continue reading "Serendipitous Blues"
Read MoreGreg’s post about riding with his wife, and the ensuing comments, prompted me to tell you about Bike Chick. My self-titled significant other. This was the bike she rode in The Netherlands. Equipped with panniers and used strictly for Albert Heijn runs. Albert Heijn being the largest supermarket chain in The Netherlands. She sold this … Continue reading "Bike Chick"
Read MoreThe three blues were very near my house and so easy to include. Talk about finding things for the first time on a route you have done many times, this next photo is on one of those kind of routes. Cindy and I, either on our own, with each other or with a few others, … Continue reading "THREE BLUES AND A WHITE"
Read MoreBeen down this road many many times, almost daily, but this afternoon there was something different to see. This time, a deer I have seen previously was out in plain sight — photo shot on the fly — and blurry, but there she is! On the way south, there were two foxes who watched as … Continue reading "Familiar Route / New Sightings"
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Chicory/Cornflower on a ride south to CSX Hot! We elected to stop in the only shade available Cloudless sky allows the full radiant heating effect 🙁 No need just yet — but it was warm Friendly Jerky waves to all Street signs/dying tree Blue Fusion!
Read MoreOur area generally tends to get quite a bit of tourist traffic during the 4th of July holiday, and that seems to be true this year despite the pandemic. So, I’ve been riding pretty much that same 16 mile close to home route every day for the last week or so. Some people might find … Continue reading "There’s always something different"
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I’ve been busy with lumber and power tools on a DIY project for a few days, but my ace support crew allowed me off leash today, so I headed up to Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park. Read more at Bill Bikes
Read MoreBlue Raleigh – Blue F 150 – Blue Oval Ice caffeine water? Never heard of it Blue sky and cumulus cloud
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It’s mid-winter here and we are having a foggy, frosty damp time of it. It feels like my brain has shut down and I have gone into a state of torpor. The above picture is from a wintery Melbourne some years ago. Found it when looking at pictures taken in June over the past few … Continue reading "Not doing too much"
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A couple of times per year, The Feeshko asks me to dig her 1970’s-era Schwinn Suburban out of the garage and pump up the tires so she can go for a bike ride. Today was one of those days. “What do you think about me and Diggity coming along for a ride with you?” I … Continue reading "The Feeshko Rides Her Blue Bike In A Blue Dress (Plus, the Funniest Joke Ever)"
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My ride this morning took me to my tai chi class – ah, a blue sign. In the afternoon Janos and I rode a loop in the nearby countryside under a lovely blue sky. Then it occurred to me that Bill wanted to see my bicycle on top of a May pole – so here … Continue reading "Blue Challenge"
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Here’s a bike. On a blue sign. Challenge complete. These signs direct you on road segments between rail trails in the area. Here is a link to the rest of the ride: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2020/07/07/shifting-july-ride-1-independence/ And here is an album for the times… the new one by J.S. Ondara. This song is my favourite because I love … Continue reading "June Challenge – Blue bike sign"
Read MoreThanks, Diggity!
Read MoreThe Friday of the July 4th holiday weekend brought typical July 4th hot, humid weather to the Washington DC area. On early morning outings Friday I got in a nice 4 mile hike with my wife and her friend and on Saturday a 61 mile road ride along the Chesapeake Bay and Southern Maryland. By … Continue reading "Just Felt Like a Ride Through the Trees: C&O Canal From Sharpsburg to Milepost 92"
Read MoreA sunny day with temps in the high 60s. So perfect for riding over the next few days. Having had many gray, cloud filled, drippy days recently, how could I NOT ride today. A collection of my day… The sentiment on the banner is one to heed. Especially now. At our local airport which is … Continue reading "JUST A RIDE + A COUPLE OF BLUES"
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Blue is a tricky color to find here in MY Town. Reds and grays and browns and greens and yellows and whites and beiges and blacks abound, but blues seem to be as rare as pinkish-electric-orange around these parts. Nevertheless, it is my duty to find some blues for this month’s challenge, so I enlisted … Continue reading "ALL TALK AND NO BLUE: A Dude and His Dog Search For a Non-Existent Color"
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“The white and blue diamond pattern belongs to Bavaria like the Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle or the Zugspitze. This trademark of the Bavarian way of life was created 810 years ago. The love between Ludmilla von Böhmen and the Wittelsbacher Duke Ludwig was the start for the career of the Bavarian diamonds.” And the rest is … Continue reading "White + Blue = Bavaria"
Read More10 mile out and back before the heat really starts in this afternoon Down 7th street to 3800N then east to 1650E and reverse Someone must have been sighting-in their gun on the stop sign 1650E runs back north to 4000N but is gravel most of the way On a previous ride to here a … Continue reading "Electric Blue"
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There’s just enough blue here that I can claim this as a submission for both the July and Holiday challenges. Today’s loop along the Nooksack River made the best of a generally grey Independence Day. No big sights, just a mostly quiet, peaceful fifty miler (one for each state!). Perfect. Video sound track: Fanfare for … Continue reading "Independence Day, Whatcom County"
Read MoreThere is a blue sky in here somewhere.
Read MoreBud Light is arguably a step up from the more popular Busch Light AB must think so they charge more for it Purdy blue can in either case, until they put Busch Light in the Corn Can Busch, the beer brewed for America’s heartland and a long-time supporter of agricultural communities, announced that it will … Continue reading "Blue Buds"
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Some blues from my rides yesterday and today, and yes I am resorting to blue skies, because I love them. That was yesterday, no blue skies. But today, yes!
Read MoreRide around the neighborhood produced some patriotism 🙂 The flag below Old Glory does not merit any comment Crossing over to the Blue Challenge Here is one for Lednar — blue golf car and look at that flag! 🙂
Read MoreI’ve come to the end of my “Travels on a Bicycle” archive of photographs. I’ll finish with some of my favourite photographs. Not all taken while on a bike ride, but all related to cycling. Malaysia I really like the composition of this one. The shot was taken by a photographer for Cycling Malaysia magazine … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 45: That’s a Wrap"
Read MoreApparent dampened patriotic spirit leads to a dearth of holiday decoration for 2020. I did find a few however. And my favorite is on display at this stump that has a display for just about every holiday or every season. Stay safe and well everyone.
Read MoreBlue Bicycle and Blue Oval Down-staters are just delighted to have Chicago’s skyline on our license plates 😉 That’s Mr. Lincoln over to the left of the R
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After retiring a few years ago, I’ve made it a point to get away every two or three months for at least a couple of days of bicycling in parts unknown. The lockdown followed soon after I returned from riding in Nevada in February, and that caused me to cancel a couple of expeditions. Since then, … Continue reading "Blue Skies at Tolay"
Read MoreWhen we moved to Houston a number of family and friends said they would visit. Not one did. When we moved to Den Haag we had to open a reservation book. Especially for March and April, which is when the Keukenhof tulip gardens are open. Keukenhof is about 32km / 20mi from Den Haag. The … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 44: Keukenhof"
Read MoreThe sky was not blue when I started my ride, and in fact it was misty raining at the time. Found enough blues though. The sky remains gray this afternoon with a promise of better weather tomorrow — when I will be out hunting for 4th of July decorations ;’-)
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First half of the year finished, another half to go… whichever way you look at it, the time is going fast, the days are already getting shorter… HERE are my pictures for my rides in June.
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Blue skies, and I hope we have a lot of them. I’ll post all I can get. I wonder what the cow is thinking? She is looking longingly at my bike and probably wants to go for a ride. That’s my guess, what’s yours?
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Every ride starts out on my BLUE bike, and almost always from my BLUE-doored garage. And by the way, I live in a neighborhood called Hillwinds, which unsurprisingly is on the top of a hill. So this song seems appropriate. And the classic line, which is very appropriate for all cyclists…“Hey, let’s be careful out … Continue reading "Starting out Blue"
Read MoreI had no intention of posting anything for at least a few days, but how could I possibly pass up this vision of Blueliciousness without taking a picture and sharing it? The answer to my rhetorical question is, I couldn’t. –
Read MoreNot cornflowers, but wild lettuce chicory with a cornflower blue blossom County Line road — Vermilion to the left, Iroquois to the right We aren’t quite up to crop circles yet, so do road circles instead 🙂 Winter wheat ready for harvest beyond the bean field
Read MoreTeluk Intan is in the state of Perak. About 160km / 100 mi north of Kuala Lumpur. The area around Teluk Intan was originally populated by refugees from the Malacca Sultanate who fled the Portuguese conquest of Melaka in 1511. The sight to see in Teluk Intan is the Menara Condong or Leaning Tower. More about that … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 43: Teluk Intan"
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Out the Greenway and then via gravel to the wastewater pond where Santa Rosa Creek meets the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The gate—usually locked—was open today, allowing me to venture past the “No Trespassing” signs near the water treatment facility. More at Bill Bikes
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Interesting clouds on a ride down 7th street Ride got more interesting as I was headed back north I had seen this guy before, but never able to get to the camera fast enough This time I saw him early on, but way far away so the photos are far from the best Barely visible, … Continue reading "Fox!"
Read MoreAlkmaar is best known for its traditional cheese market. Cheese has been bought and sold on Waagplein square since 1365. Today’s Alkmaar Cheese Market is for the tourists. Dutch cheesemaking has been a mass-market industrial operation since the 1960s, and the real business if buying and selling cheese takes place in corporate offices. Much of the … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 42: Alkmaar"
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