Testing, testing…
Read MoreMonth: January 2022
Chimney Finale
Photos of chimneys taken prior to the onset of the lovely weather of late Its been an enjoyable time wandering around photographing chimneys Looking forward to the February challenge
Read MoreMENTALLY UNBALANCED MAN WEILDS HUGE ICICLE IN THREATENING MANNER

Wow? How’s that for a sensationalistic headline? And it was backed up with an equally attention-grabbing cover photo. As always, the story itself will not be as exciting as all that. (I probably should have been a tabloid reporter. I’m sure the National Enquirer would have appreciated my journalistic skills.) What really happened was this: … Continue reading "MENTALLY UNBALANCED MAN WEILDS HUGE ICICLE IN THREATENING MANNER"
Read MoreCreeks and Hills

Off to Sugarloaf for a quick spin through the park on hilly dirt roads…. Read more at Bill Bikes
Read MoreGot triplets?

Ran into both of my brothers — we’re identical triplets — while riding through Sugarloaf today. Everyone is always surprised that we have the same taste in shirts.
Read MoreA Story For All The Cycle365 Kids Out There
The Boy & His Bicycle and Michael the Icicle Once upon a time, a boy woke up to a 16-below zero day. "I'm not going to ride my bike in that," he was heard to say. "I'm not some kind of cold weather hero, I'm gonna wait at least 'til it gets up to Zero. … Continue reading "A Story For All The Cycle365 Kids Out There"
Read MoreA Phony Chimney? Phooey!

We’re shacked up in Borrego Springs now, surrounded by sand and creosote but precious phew chimneys. I thought I’d spotted an odd one of the horizontal ilk on our ride east to the Salton Sea, but now that I look again I think I was wrong. Phap.
Read MoreNo Greenway for the Parkway Today
As if we have a greenway, unless south 7th street (aka Hospital Road) or 1550E could be considered a greenway, which it isn’t January cycling has been extremely limited due to either cold, wind, or icy roads or any combination thereof So far the area has had a whopping 1″ of snow as opposed to … Continue reading "No Greenway for the Parkway Today"
Read MoreSEARCHING FOR CHIMNEYS HIGH AND WIDE
We just got home last evening from a five day get away and it is written about on my blog here. I would love to know how to put this as a link with a single word, but for some reason that does not work for me as it once did — so there it … Continue reading "SEARCHING FOR CHIMNEYS HIGH AND WIDE"
Read MoreRiding and Walking

I have finally given in and started walking when it’s too uncomfortable on the bike. I resisted but find I am enjoying my little wanderings through the neighborhood after all and I don’t feel cold at all – as opposed to when I ride my bike. First the pictures from no walk or ride Some … Continue reading "Riding and Walking"
Read MoreIn the Barrio Anita

We’ve only got a few days left of our stay here in Tucson before we start working our way back to Portland. I’d about given up on finding anything new for this month’s challenge until stumbling across this chimney in the Barrio Anita on my return, just a few blocks from home.
Read MoreBIKE MAINTENANCE DAY: An Essay

When it comes to bicycle maintenance, I am the WORST. I am not only an incompetent mechanic, but I don’t even keep up on basic routines like lubing the chain, checking the brakes, cleaning the drive train and washing the frame. Being so negligent in the summertime is one thing. Continuing such bad habits in … Continue reading "BIKE MAINTENANCE DAY: An Essay"
Read MoreA WHirlwind day of THrills & CHills, GHastly RHetoric and other SHocking PHenomena

It was an utterly amazing day of riding here in MY Town, which is sometimes known as SHangri-la. Chimneys and CH, SH, TH, WH, RH, PH and GH words jumped out at me from every direction. I took several hundred pictures and I’m going to share every one of them with you in this post. … Continue reading "A WHirlwind day of THrills & CHills, GHastly RHetoric and other SHocking PHenomena"
Read MoreThree

After a couple of days off my bike, it was good to get out for a little ride today even if the weather wasn’t particularly inviting. But above freezing is not to be scoffed at. We did have sun on the week-end but I had just gotten my shingles shot and had a strong reaction … Continue reading "Three"
Read MoreA few more chimneys
There are few interesting chimneys around here, most are about as mundane as chimneys can get Here are a few of the more interesting ones Chimney at the Hoopes mansion (and carriage house) This chimney is in the kitchen area and possibly the part of the home where the staff was boarded The main chimney … Continue reading "A few more chimneys"
Read MoreH WORDS ALPHABETICALLY
This is a collection from two days as I have not had the motivation to post each time ;’-). In a funk I guess. At least I did get out for some riding when the FOG lifted yesterday. Yep! Now we have heavy fog. It blanketed us for several hours in the morning until almost … Continue reading "H WORDS ALPHABETICALLY"
Read MoreChimney, chairs, & cheer

For some reason I thought the chimney challenge would be a snap, imagining that Tucson would be crammed with colorful and interesting chimneys. I’d never actually looked around with that in mind though, and once I did I was in for a deep disappointment. Nearly every home here has some short, blah stub that barely … Continue reading "Chimney, chairs, & cheer"
Read MoreSnow Day

I was going to take a day off from riding today. I really was. At 7:00 a.m. it was snowing heavily and the weather forecasters said it would continue throughout the day. So I shoveled the front porch & sidewalk, sat in front of the computer and read the latest updates from a couple of … Continue reading "Snow Day"
Read MoreValleys and Headlands

After my dermatologist ordered me to avoid sunlight for a couple of weeks during skin treatments, I was finally cleared to go outside during the day. Bingo! Back on the Ogre! Read more at Bill Bikes
Read MoreChimbley Is A Word
More chimneys or chimbleys, . . . . . or chimley, or chimdy, or chimbley, or chimaley, or chimeny, or chimney — choose the one you like I guess?? Did He Just Say Chimley? Across the street from the R chimney house Tall chimney for a low building Chimney with wagon wheel Replacement chimney where … Continue reading "Chimbley Is A Word"
Read MoreSweeping Around for Chimneys

Yep, that’s me going off to clean some chimneys Gloomy day with a monogrammed chimney Several chimney caps and vents on this house Fireplace Chimney Crayfish Chimney 😉
Read MoreMy Longest and Most Successful January Challenge Day Yet

The obvious reason for my great success is the warm weather MY Town was blessed with today. The temperature rose up to the mid-30’s (or should I say, the mid-1’s for the benefit of my international friends) and there was no wind. As a result, I was able to ride longer than I can when … Continue reading "My Longest and Most Successful January Challenge Day Yet"
Read MoreCHIMNEYS
My post is a little after the fact as the photos are from my ride two days ago — when we even had a little sun break or two! Since then, the weather is not cooperative for a ride, and in addition I had a day of visiting my friend in Seattle. Around here we … Continue reading "CHIMNEYS"
Read MoreIs it schist?

No? Oh, Scheisse! Gneiss then? Nice! I’ve spent an unproductive few days watching for another interesting chimney here in Tucson without success, so I’ll have to move on to a different subject. There’s actually not much to satisfy the challenge in this post other than the shadows, shelter, sharp objects and cholla that you see everywhere … Continue reading "Is it schist?"
Read MoreCHASING CH’S

I’m not finding an abundance of subjects for the challenge, and not a single chimney for this post. Today and yesterday I found only ch’s. To start with, both rides were chilly with temperatures hovering around freezing. Yesterday I did a tried and true asphalt loop, no muddy paths through the woods. Today I cycled … Continue reading "CHASING CH’S"
Read MoreA Stack of Smokestacks

This post comes with a sunshine and no cloud guarantee. On Sunday I decided to head south along the coast to Kwinana Beach Heavy Industrial Area and check out the smokestacks for the Cycle365 Challenge for January. There was a strong, cooling sea breeze headwind (here it’s called the ‘Fremantle Doctor’) whilst I was cycling … Continue reading "A Stack of Smokestacks"
Read MoreP/S/W — ATHCES (or eightches?)
What a gorgeous sunny day with temp rising from 34 to 46 during my ride. This was so delicious. I did get a chimney photo, but will wait for just a couple more before posting. This post is for the letters part of this month’s challenge. PHoto shop SHadow (shadow!!!!!). Look at that blue sky. … Continue reading "P/S/W — ATHCES (or eightches?)"
Read MoreFMROTY and FRATIT

I told Nancy I was going to rip off the “FROTY” acronym she used yesterday. I gave her at least 5 minutes to object. Since I haven’t heard anything back from her, I figure I’m good to go. (I’m pretty sure that’s how copyright law works.) My actual FROTY was on a cold January 1st … Continue reading "FMROTY and FRATIT"
Read MoreA SHort Winter Ride

No, the weather was not inviting. It was windy and wet, temperatures around freezing. But in the afternoon the sun broke through the clouds for a moment or two and I decided to go for it. Not just the weather is a challenge, finding h-words is also a challenge. Finding Q’s was easier. Here is … Continue reading "A SHort Winter Ride"
Read MoreMY FROTY
For many years I did my FROTY (First Ride Of The Year) ride on the first DAY of the year. In fact, it became a tradition with the group of women cyclists I started way back. This year it was not to happen and the tradition got broken. Weather on the first day of this … Continue reading "MY FROTY"
Read MoreChimneys before there was a challenge
3 chimneys from a spring time ride This obviously isn’t Front Street! Massive fireplace chimney also on Washington Street All the green and trees leafing out look very good right now Chimney (paralleling the pole) at Hoopes Mansion I stumbled across these photos while scanning thru previous photo folders — which brings up a question. … Continue reading "Chimneys before there was a challenge"
Read MoreShopping in the schnee and a show

We went out in the late afternoon to get some shopping done. It was the kind of day that you have to kick yourself out the door, grey and cold, and a run to the supermarket was about all I had in mind. When we finally got out, it started to snow. Much nicer than … Continue reading "Shopping in the schnee and a show"
Read MoreChimneys and a Stack
Chimney at the east end of a McFerren mansion View of the mansion with both chimneys Web Capture Photo Chimneys not likely to conduct smoke again Deteriorating chimney — the concrete siding shingles likely contain asbestos which will complicate any attempt to demolish the house Due west of the previous houses stands the remains of … Continue reading "Chimneys and a Stack"
Read MoreThe SHining

Yesterday I looked at the weather forecast and said, No more riding for me this coming week. But this afternoon, after snow flurries all morning, the sun came out. 32 degrees isn’t as nice as the 57 we had a couple of days ago, but it was good for a short ride and a few … Continue reading "The SHining"
Read More
Actually, those aren’t cholla – they’re some variety of prickly pear – but I like cholla because it starts with ch-, one of the magic digraphs for the month. Also I like it because it allows me to raise an important point, with apologies if it’s already been raised before but I haven’t been reading … Continue reading ""
Read MoreSmokestack Lightnin’
Whoa, smokestack lightnin’Shinin’ just like goldWhy don’t you hear me cryin’?A-whoo-hoo, a-whoo-hoo, whoo—Howlin’ Wolf Nothing serious, but I’m out of action for at least a few more days. Consequently, here are old photos that might qualify for this month’s challenge, except that they’re old.
Read MoreWALKING ON THIN ICE
There continues to be underlying ice, and in some cases black ice, that keep me off my bike. Sigh again. Today’s photos are rather bland and mundane, but I needed something to pay attention for. THree… TH words are difficult to find as we have no thoroughbreds around here CHimney… A ‘ringer’ in Black and … Continue reading "WALKING ON THIN ICE"
Read MoreA Stunning View . . . . .
. . . . . and not necessarily a positive one of chimneys in a downtown alley Tall chimney at the Will-Don building (named for town founder Mr. McFerren’s sons, William and Don) After feasting your eyes on this impressive view, note the stack on the beauty to the right, and two additional chimneys to … Continue reading "A Stunning View . . . . ."
Read MoreSH SH SH — there’s AN RH AROUND THE CORNER
Sigh (big sigh), I have yet to get on my bike ???. So today I took a walk with my eyes focused on finding something to post here. SHutters… SHovel SHed… And a RHodie in the winter… What it looked like a couple of days ago… I did see a few chimneys I will get … Continue reading "SH SH SH — there’s AN RH AROUND THE CORNER"
Read MoreI Can’t Think of a Clever Title Today

What kind of kids eat Armour Hot Dogs? Fat kids, skinny kids, kids that climb on rocks. Tough kids, sissy kids, even kids with chicken pox . . . Forget that! Today my theme is “What Kind of Chimney’s Dwell in Hastings?” I never realized how many chimneys MY Town has until this year, and … Continue reading "I Can’t Think of a Clever Title Today"
Read MoreChimney With A Story
That few know of or possibly remember — well, they would remember if the topic ever comes up. But, it seldom does, the whole event was gag ordered — even National TV wanted to cover it, but was refused. That is the chimney, back there, at the High School Minnesota boy falls approximately 50 feet … Continue reading "Chimney With A Story"
Read MoreJust Pictures of Chimneys and THings
Chimney Challenge

On my ride to the city from home I usually pass theses old relics sitting by themselves next to the Ascot Racecourse. I think the local government has big plans for the area’s redevelopment but nothing’s happened for years. Weather-wise it’s just been sunshine and temperatures around 30 to 42 Celsius which is pretty typical … Continue reading "Chimney Challenge"
Read MoreChimneys and Whatnot

Again warm weather, 14C/57F! No sun today but it didn’t matter, no cold toes or fingers either. And lots of chimneys. We rode a familiar loop but the cHimney challenge made it interesting. I hope I don’t use up all the chimneys and H-words in the area in the first week of the challenge, or … Continue reading "Chimneys and Whatnot"
Read MoreChimneys and Consonants + H

What a fabulous first day of the year! It was 14C/57C and the sun was shining. What a feeling! I even saw someone in cycling in shorts but wasn’t fast enough with the camera to get a picture of shorts, shins and thighs.Of course, later in the afternoon the temperature dropped and as the shadows … Continue reading "Chimneys and Consonants + H"
Read MoreNew Year’s Day Chimneys

Before I start showing my chimney pictures, I want to acknowledge some of the difficulties some Cycle365-ers have expressed regarding the January Ch-Ch-Chimney Challenge. I also want to provide some relief. For the folks who might be experiencing some serious anti-bicycling weather, or who might be having their bicycles overhauled this month: Please remember that … Continue reading "New Year’s Day Chimneys"
Read MoreHAPPY NEW YEAR IN WH ITE
Though I plan for at least a short walk today, here is why I am not riding…and a first entry for January challenge (one of them) This is an early morning shot (WHy it looks a bit blueish I think) from our front door. See the WHite, cold, icy road?? Though the main roads look … Continue reading "HAPPY NEW YEAR IN WH ITE"
Read MoreNYE: The Aftermath
We knew there was quite a party going on a block and a half away . . . . . What we didn’t realize till the following morning just how wild it got 😉 On a somewhat more serious (?) note: Mileage by Bicycle for 2021 Happy Cycling 2022!
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