So in case you haven’t noticed the pattern here yet, my plan is to post polygons in series, featuring one level at a time until I reach one I can’t find. Unlikely I’ll be able to make it up to Bob’s magnificent icosohedron, but hopefully I can at least break into double figures. Today, sevens, … Continue reading "Sevens!"
I have only been for short rides out in the flood plain and haven’t felt like pulling my camera out on rides for the few natural polygons I’ve seen. But I did do a swing through the village on the way home the other day to get some polygons so I can remain part of … Continue reading "Cult of polygony – Victoria chapter"
First off, I have to say how disappointed I’m feeling about this Cycle365 group and it’s questionable arithmetic skills. I was sure that someone would point out that the feature photo of my latest post, A Pair of Pentagons, was actually a trapezoid, a four sided figure. I knew this of course – five is … Continue reading "Hexagons have six sides"
The last couple of days, I’ve pretty much stayed off the pavement and instead explored some of the local gravel roads. Along the way, I came across a few polygons. Darn! I just realized there’s not a bike in any one of these pictures. Oh well, I promise I was sitting on a bike when … Continue reading "Icy Gravel"
(A distraction from Wednesday’s horrifying news.) The only bike related thing in this post is that I have been sticking to my new year’s resolution for biking: No biking in inclement weather. For some this isn’t bad weather, at least not by Vermont or Minnesota standards. The daytime temperature hovers around freezing and yesterday we … Continue reading "Polygons and almost polygons"
Leapin’ leparids! It’s a rabbit in a polygon! Actually, this post is just a bit of a fraud. The pentagons are real enough, but we’re just patched on to the end of a post about today’s ride to Sweetwater Wetlands. The pentagons were photographed from a couple of days earlier, but I added them here … Continue reading "A pair of pentagons"
I’m somewhat pleased with myself that I’ve been able to get out for a winter ride three out of the first five days of the New Year. Yesterday was a nice sunny day and quite pleasant to ride. Today unfortunately, was damp and cloudy. That first picture below was taken today. As you can see, … Continue reading "My First Polygon"
In my first challenge submission of the month, I think I aced the triangle test and am ready to move on. Our New Year’s Day ride along Julian wash uncovered a pair of classy quads: the poetic trapezoid shown above, and this artsy rectangle on stilts. That’s enough with fours, for the moment.
On a short and cold ride to visit friends on New Year’s day, I stopped only once or twice for pictures. We were traveling on streets that we have ridden so often and I wasn’t seeing anything I felt like taking a picture of. When we crossed the Würm, Janos pointed to the tree trunk. … Continue reading "Nature’s Angles"
The minimal polygon includes three sides and three angles, so I’ll start there. A single triangle, the least possible entry. And, for that matter, the associated post of our ride to Oro Valley is pretty minimalist too. And as long as we’re on the subject of smallest allowable whatevers, you may have noticed that the … Continue reading "The eternal triangle"
I thought I was done for this challenge, but this collection of wheelbarrows loaded with firewood for sale was just too good to pass up. I was sure you’d all want to see it. And, if you check out the rest of our New Year’s Eve ride, you’ll find a collection of hot redheads too. … Continue reading "One really last collection"
I am not actually certain that my photos fit into the parameters of this month’s challenge. I will post them here and leave it to the committee to judge. ;’-) I think these letter slots are polygons enclosed in big polygons. And these polygon bricks are surrounded and enclosed by each other polygons. There were … Continue reading "POLYGONS WITHIN POLYGONS"
Is two enough to qualify as a collection? I considered getting my own two thumbs into the picture too, but was too lazy to set up the camera for a timed shot. So, just imagine mine are there too. They’re there because there’s cause to celebrate! But you’ll have to read further here to understand what … Continue reading "A collection of thumbs"
The featured image shows how we’re collecting hot days lately, so many it’s become a heatwave. So there will be no snow photos from me this post or any other, ever, actually. I’ve resorted to getting up really early around 5-6am to do a ride to the beach or doing some night cycles around the … Continue reading "A collection of collections"
This month’s challenge comes to us thanks to Nancy (and Rocky extends a special note of thanks, because she’s tired of my lame ideas): Polygons. For those who have forgotten everything they learned in HS Geometry, a polygon is a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles, and typically five or more. … Continue reading "Challenge of the month, 01/21: Polygons"
One last submission for the Collection challenge: a file of mailboxes, on Sasabe Road. Sorry there’s no snow crowning them – that would be perfect for the season – but sadly, all we got was this almost hot sunny day. Darn.
So the guys and I have been out for rides this month, but nothing in particular of note. It has been super busy at work and in my own life. There’s been some good news, some bad news and some really tragic news. But we have snapped a few collection photos here and there. And … Continue reading "December collections"
I thought I was done with this month’s collection challenge, but this cute little clump of hedgehog cacti was just too adorable to not share. Sorry, no bicycles, but they’re not allowed on the trails of Saguaro National Park. And besides, it seemed like this site was getting overburdened by a blizzard of snow posts … Continue reading "A clump of cacti / a heap of hedgehogs"
Rocky’s interest sure is. She can hardly wait for this month to be over so I’ll quit holding us up at some stupid spot on the road for a photo I can wrap a post around. She requests that someone, anyone, please come up with a theme for next month so we don’t have to … Continue reading "Is your interest in collections Flagging?"
Don’t give up too soon, folks. There’s still nearly two weeks of this challenge month left, and collections yet unseen to be viewed and boasted about. Time does drag in the winter, when it’s cold and wet where many of you live, or hot and insufferable for others; and where you can’t entertain yourselves by … Continue reading "Are we tired of collections yet?"
Should we go out, should we stay in…? I have a goal for the year, 6,000 km, and I can’t waste any days decent enough to ride if I want to make it. It was 6°C when we left and 4°C by the time we got home and that was good enough. Our reward: The … Continue reading "A Rewarding Ride"
OK, I’ll admit that a gathering of pigeons isn’t the most interesting or unusual collection to flash around. I imagine some of you may have seen a similar collection in your home town/county/state/territory/province. But it’s the best I’ve got to offer today, unless you consider a pod of masked university students an interesting collection. Also, … Continue reading "A passel of pigeons"
The weather has taken a turn for the better and I got on my bike for a ride to Starnberg. We left a little late considering how short the days are now. The temperature had dropped and it was getting dark by the time we got home. Which reminds me – in one week we … Continue reading "Mountains, Boats, Turbines and Birds"
Contrails are beginning to reappear — questionable whether they are a collection or not Beautiful day here for a change, sunny, and relatively windless Nice 15 mile ride south and east with Dave. Follow that black stripe up to the crest Barely (if not impossibly) visible is a deer — another was following Two specks … Continue reading "Collections ?"
Last winter, we headed south for a few months to escape the worst of the cold weather. We had planned to do the same this year. After much discussion though, Marilyn and I decided that given the pandemic and the dire predictions of what the next few months might bring, we just weren’t up for … Continue reading "Winter Preparations"
I haven’t been riding much. The weather isn’t conducive. It isn’t prohibitive either but I am trying not to be too compulsive about getting out on my bike regardless. So if it’s nasty, I stay home – or maybe just take a short ride for a picture and a mouthful of fresh air. Not collecting … Continue reading "Collecting"
I’m liking this challenge! An otherwise ho-hum ride suddenly comes to life when you happen on some interesting subject in an unusual collection. Not that our hike in Montaña de Oro State Park was humdrum by any means – far from it, actually – but coming across these three coyotes at its close made it … Continue reading "The Collection Challenge: a clutch of coyotes"
I took a couple of days riding to find these as I knew I could replicate my last post ;’-). And one more to round out the Ps ;’-) Enough of those now! Will search for “different” collections.
We’re seeing some creative, imaginative collections here. Keep up the good work! My sole offering today is less dramatic and dynamic than those elephant seals, but still unusual enough to be worth posting: a row of fence posts with cowboy boots capping them, on our ride through Edna Valley. There were probably 20 or more … Continue reading "The Collection Challenge: a rack of boots"
I had some finds on rides these past couple of day, and as my oom-pah-pah is lagging this morning, I may not be out collecting today so will post what I have so far. ;’-)
New month! New challenge! And for me, a new year. For my birthday ride we took a ride up the coast to Ragged Point, at the lower end of Big Sur. Perfect weather, a beautiful ride. Best of all though was getting to see the elephant seal colony beached at Piedras Blancas. What a great … Continue reading "The Collection Challenge: a herd of elephant seals"
Today’s age related ride would take me via a circular route to Kencot, where I would endeavour to answer a local question required of my British Cycle Quest attempt. Whilst out I would keep an eye open for collection opportunities.
Three more for November The last EMPTY of this kind I hope. Once again I went out and after I took my first shots my camera notified me that the memory card slot was empty! What to do? I rode home, got the memory card and set out again to get some last pictures and … Continue reading "The Last Three"
It’s so great that some sage proposed that we ‘just ride’ this month. The pressure’s off to find some theme inspired photo to justify the post. Today’s ride to Paskenta nearly qualifies for several challenges. It’s the day after Thanksgiving, so it just misses qualifying for the Holiday Challenge. Or is Black Friday a Holiday … Continue reading "The Paskenta Ride"
I found a picture that I thought would be a good transition from the November challenge “empty” to the December challenge “collection”. Here it is, a stash of empty bottles. Or is it a cache of empty bottles? Saw those bottles next to the road on my outing yesterday. It’s getting cold now, but the … Continue reading "A Collection of Empties"
Swarms. Legions. Flocks. Skeins. Gaggles. Googols. Armies. Droves. Throngs. Murders. After a month of emptiness, don’t you think we should lurch back the other direction? This seems like a challenge everyone can participate in, regardless of season or environs. We expect to see a host of submissions this month, featuring many different aggregations. What’s the … Continue reading "December Challenge: Collections"
Things were going very Minnesotan this month, a cold and wet November, my bike froze up, see featured image (fake news??). ‘ Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ they say, so I’ll return he favour of Greg’s ‘Hastings Little Australia theme park’ and demonstrate how we’re going Minnesotan around here. I agree that Plataturkeypus-up is … Continue reading "Plataturkeypus-up and emptiness"
This doesn’t qualify as a challenge post, since there’s nothing empty about the featured image. Quite the opposite, in fact. I just thought I’d pass on our encounter with a googol of snow geese at a refuge not far from Chico – one of the most memorable bird sightings of our lives. You might especially … Continue reading "A googol of geese"
No more bicycling in these entries, but this concludes our expedition to the Warm Springs oases in Saline Valley of Death Valley National Park, in case anyone is interested. Hiking Oasis Departing
For my third day ride from base camp in the desert at Lower Warm Springs in the Saline Valley of Death Valley National Park, I wanted to drive the Forester to Lippincott Road. Here’s what the National Park Service has to say about that: “Rough 4WD. Very steep, exposed, and winding with cliff edge washouts. … Continue reading "Death Valley: Warm and Saline: Ride 3, Warm Springs Road"
For my second day ride from base camp in the desert at Lower Warm Springs in the Saline Valley of Death Valley National Park, I wanted to pedal up Steel Pass Road toward Dedeckera Canyon and Eureka Sand Dunes, roughly 20-25 miles distant. In January I pedaled from the dunes to the top of the canyon … Continue reading "Death Valley: Warm and Saline: Ride 2, Steel Pass Road"
Due to never-ending pandemic, wildfires burning up to the edge of our home, and family obligations back East, 2020 has prevented me from undertaking as many bicycling expeditions as I would in a typical year. I made it to Death Valley in January and Nevada in February, but that’s about it. Despite those triple constraints, I’ve remained determined … Continue reading "Death Valley: Warm and Saline: Arrival and Ride 1"
I’m not sure why this challenge has been harder for me. I leave home on a ride empty-headed with the best intentions, but return empty-handed. All of the photos seem to have something in them – flowers, trees, birds, the usual riffraff that keep hogging the stage – but finally a suitable image showed up. … Continue reading "An empty wharf"
Empty or not empty, that is the question. No, the question is how legitimate is it to sneak in non-empty pictures. But to be a hair-splitter, you might say empty of empty is empty. Anyway, I have some pictures to post. It just now occurred to me that I didn’t have to go to such … Continue reading "Empty or Not Empty…"
After a fairly sleepless night last night, obsessively checking my phone for election updates every hour or so, I decided I needed to get out on my bike for some stress relief. The last couple of days have been sunny, but cold and very windy here. I’ve managed short rides, but they’ve been challenging. Today … Continue reading "Election Stress Relief Ride"
The last commute for a while anyway. The past months I have ridden to Pasing on the outskirts of Munich about three times a week. That’s where my tai chi school is and the gym where I work out in an attempt to maintain a little strength that doesn’t come automatically just because I ride … Continue reading "Just Ride: The Last Commute"
Well I’ve just managed to slip this post in edgeways to complete this months challenge. True, it’s the 1st of November here but this website is still in Californian time and I’ve really been busy doing lots of rides lately. A few weeks ago I joined my cycling club and rode for nine days around … Continue reading "October Challenge – Vanishing points"
As some of you know already, we’re cutting our tour short and heading home tomorrow. The Covid situation is becoming alarming in Europe, so there’s that of course – but then it’s plenty alarming back home too. There are a couple of other things on our mind calling us back now also, and it’s just … Continue reading "Europe, at the vanishing point"
Built in 1927 and named after one of the town’s founders Alba Honeywell History of the school The demolition begins 🙁 Vanished So, this may be something for the Vanishing Challenge, or equally, the possible Empty Spaces Challenge Nancy suggested I can say this, no one was happy about the fate of the school, and … Continue reading "Vanished or Vanquished?"
Before the month vanishes, I thought I would round up a few pictures for the challenge from my October rides. Many look almost the same – a forest path disappearing in the distant trees, but that’s where I ride most often – when I ride. Due to a pesty infection I have been off my … Continue reading "Going Going Gone"
Well, let’s see. So far, Rachael has disappeared in the distance into a mirage, at the end of a long, non-winding road, and into the fog. Somehow though she keeps reappearing, only to disappear again. Today she’s escaped once more, this time crossing the scary bridge over the Po when entering Ferrara. What next?
The first photo is form a ride I had done earlier this week; the second is from my ride yesterday, who’s is also my photo of the day. When thinking of vanishing photos, it is usually roads that come to mind, and of course I find a lot of those. More challenging to find thing … Continue reading "VANISHING MORE"
I’m starting to feel insecure. Day after day, my companion ditches me the first chance she gets. She always comes back, eventually – typically just in time for dinner, because I’m carrying the cash. Today we weren’t even on the road for a mile before she disappeared into the fog.
On my last challenge post, we lost Rocky at the vanishing point. Some of you comforted me by assuring me that she’d return, and you were right! But now, sadly she’s disappeared in the distance again, in the Valleys of Cormacchio. Where’s Rachael?
I wish the rain would vanish, but we are in for a couple of days of this kind of weather. It certainly cramps my style. I’m calling this a ride although to be honest I did little more than get my errands done and a picture.
I’m of course exceptionally lucky to have a cycling partner to share my life with. Among the many other benefits, one big plus is that I have a subject at hand to include in action shots. Without that, I’d be dependent on either getting better at cycling selfies or on becoming a better artist so … Continue reading "Rocky at the vanishing point"
Not that we’re sorry to see September go, but we’re dragging our feet just a bit. Here’s one last arch for the road, from our ride to the historically important Croatian city of Nin. Time enough to find some vanishing points for October – they seem easy enough to find.
I don’t know what that title means, I just liked the saying ;’-). In this first photo you will see that the golf fairway vanishes over the hill, but if you can enraged the picture you will see more vanishing. There are tracks there, most likely from a maintenance vehicle as I cannot imagine that … Continue reading "YOU CAN VANISH BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE"
So the feature photo has just one example of vanishing lines from a short overnight ride the guys and I did on Fri/Sat. There’s more vanishing lines to be found in my journal entry which can be found here: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2020/10/04/shifting-oct-ride-1-re-emerging/
Both Suzanne and Laura have posted photos of a horse — I mustn’t be left out ;’-). On our weekly ride together, Cindy and I stopped for some horse love here in some more country side. Such a friendly horse, it was hard to leave ;’-). Like the goat the other day, the horse kept … Continue reading "MY HORSE PHOTO (AND DAY #6) (AND A VANISHING ROAD)"
The feature photo is of the Scott Covered Bridge, one of same bridges you’ve seen before. If you look real close, my bike is located at the exact center at the far end of the bridge. This weekend is Adventure Cycling’s Bike Travel Weekend and Bike Your Park Day. So, I decided it would be … Continue reading "Bike Your Park Day"
The header image leads us through an arch to the next month with kind of converging lines. I culled my pictures from September and found a few more arches that I don’t think I have posted yet.
No confusion here. I know it’s September, and I know what the theme of the month is still. We’re running out of days, but I think we can still squeeze an arch or two if we look around. Oh, here’s one: at the entryway to our apartment in Cres.
On Thursday I left work early and went for a ride down to Fremantle and back to take a photo of a most colourful arch. Not a rainbow but all the colours of the spectrum on an arch of shipping containers close to the port of Fremantle. Last weekend I rode east to see all … Continue reading "A most colourful arch"
I’m retired, so I no longer commute to campus by bicycle. But I still try to participate in “Bike to Work Day.” That might be a global phenomenon, or just in the US, or just around the San Francisco Bay Area. Not sure. But it happens in Santa Rosa every year, and there are always … Continue reading "Bike to Wherever Day"
Now that we live in a village to the south of Abingdon, anything we need that is not stocked in the local shop means we have to travel to either Abingdon or Didcot. Today’s trip out was to Abingdon, as the weather dry though fresh I was able to a turn a six mile return … Continue reading "A Trip to Town"
Vanishing point: the point at which receding parallel lines viewed in perspective appear to converge. This month’s theme was inspired by this striking photo from Suzanne’s latest post: I especially like this example because it shows both horizontal and vertical convergence. There are a couple of other examples below. Note that the lines don’t actually … Continue reading "Challenge of the month, October 2020: Vanishing Points"
All the fires in Sonoma County, the North Bay, and the greater Bay Area are under control, completely contained, mostly extinguished, and not putting out much smoke. On the other hand, big fires farther away to the north, east, and south continue to rage across thousands of acres. Depending on prevailing winds, some days are … Continue reading "Clear blue equinox"
With the recent good weather due to change in the near future today was selected for my third ride your age trip this month. As I’m still Questing the settlements within my home county of Oxfordshire I decided to head for a village I have never been to before, Fulbrook. Setting off in lovely clear … Continue reading "A Day in the Sun"
I looked for and couldn’t find Suzanne’s original Cycle Days Challenge, but when I saw Nancy’s post referring to it, I decided to shoot for Nancy’s 15 rides between Sept 15th and the end of the year. I will feel successful if I only do half. I’d planned two different rides for today, but due … Continue reading "Riding in the Nabe @1/15"
Oblique arches at Elizabeth Quay in front of the city. I went for another ride through the city to City Beach for a coffee and cake on my last few days of holidays, boy I think I could get used to the retired life. Think we’re safe from the smoke here until our own bushfire … Continue reading "Arch-ery. The art of looking for arches."
Did a mostly gravel ride today, and noticed that these downed trees on the trail form something of a natural arch. And, I even remembered to include the bike in the photo. On another note, smoke from the fires out west have reached the east coast. We’ve been having some really bizarre looking sunrises and … Continue reading "An arch, or at least something arch-like"
Does this count? It’s a shot taken looking up at the mirrored ceiling in the lobby of our hotel, at the end of our ride to Labin. It’s a stretch (ha, ha), but there’s nothing else archlike in this post so it will have to do. There are a few arches in the photo gallery … Continue reading "An archback selfie"
The feature photo is deficient in bicycles, but it more than makes up for it by a surfeit of arches – 12 in fact, although only 8 are visible here. We passed this stone arched bridge on our ride to Ogulin a few days ago. It’s an interesting bridge. Built two centuries ago by a … Continue reading "The Marmantov Bridge"
Hello Cyclelifers, It was the clearest of blue skies today. I went for a ride to my mothers house up the coast on the way looking for arches. The first arch is called Barracks Arch which was part of an old building which was demolished to build a freeway. After much protesting they kept … Continue reading "Looking for Arches"
I’ve been trying to get to the coast for a ride for at least a week, but the poisonous air quality around here has extended out to the ocean and beyond, which is quite unusual. Every day I look for somewhere in the Bay Area with tolerable air, figuring the breezy coast should be okay, … Continue reading "Dog Beach"
Spring has sprung. We’ve been having many perfect days since the beginning of the month. The cherry and apple blossoms are gone and those trees have leafed out now. The magpies are swooping big-time. I have at least 6 different kinds of flowers blooming in my front garden. Many other trees have started to blossom … Continue reading "The guys go look for arches"
We now have a caretaker for Jim a few days a week, so I was able to ride today. These little challenges have given me reason to ride places I’ve hesitated to venture in the four years we’ve lived here. It won’t be long before I’ve covered all the roads close enough for me to … Continue reading "A Country Ride In Search of Arches"
Quick science lesson: Smoke from distant fires rises high into the atmosphere, flattens into thick layer. Wind pushes layer of smoke hundreds of miles away above Santa Rosa and the Bay Area. High, thick layer of smoke completely blots out the sun. At lower elevations, marine layer pushes in from the Pacific Ocean and forms … Continue reading "There has to be an invisible sun"
Finally, some variety. I was beginning to despair of finding any secular arches in Croatia, but finally I found a few in the dramatic ruins of Samobor Castle. It’s unfortunately placed up on the side of a rocky hill, so there’s no bike in the photo – it was hard enough dragging ourselves up there … Continue reading "Samobor Castle"
OK. Back by popular demand, we have yet one more church/arch shot, from another day ride through the Zagorje. Thats it for a while though. I have to look for a different class of arched subject before I can post again. I sure hope I can find one!
On my 12-km ride from home to Pasing on the outskirts of Munich, where I cycle a couple of times a week, I like to try out different variations on the route. These pictures are from today’s ride. I saw many more arches that I didn’t stop for. Have to leave something for the weeks … Continue reading "More Arches"
I’m a reasonably creative sort. I’m sure if I put my half-wit to it I could find all manner of unique arches, never before contemplated as such, to present to you. But, I’m also a decidedly lazy sort; and Croatia has enough interesting churches that just keep coming along demanding to be photographed that it’s … Continue reading "Stuck on a theme"
I looked up the definitions of arches and arcs. I may have blurred the lines, but at least I did it from my bicycle. This route was through Seneca and Cherokee Parks in Louisville, a route I used often when we lived near there twenty some years ago. The last time I remember riding there … Continue reading "Arches or Arcs or Roadblocks?"
Nancy pointing out the arches in the brake cables on my previous post, got me thinking, (yes, it hurts!), how many arches might be found on a bicycle? Turns out, way more than I imagined. Some might be stretching the concept a bit, and I’m sure I missed a few as well. Here is what … Continue reading "Bicycle Arches"
Arch-like irrigation spray over a bean field Brick arch over drive in door at what once was a Porsche dealership Note how the mortar is failing in the bottom course and bricks have already fallen on the upper right wall And the efflorescence on the brick above, indicating water is seeping through the bricks and … Continue reading "Arches"
When Scott put forth this month’s Arch challenge my first thought was, “This should be easy!”, but as I’ve looked around the last few days, there seems to be a lot fewer arches in our local architecture than I thought. So, maybe not so easy. Today is a rainy day. It rained quite heavily all … Continue reading "In Search of an Arch"
I like this! The first subject of interest that I see this month has an arch or three! And, stepping a bit further back, we can bring in a veritable tunnel of arches pointing at them like a weapon. Really, there are enough arches here that I can kick back and take the rest of … Continue reading "Starting the month off right"
I can’t believe it’s the end of the month already. I have to say that the August challenge fell off the mental map for the last few weeks while we were transitioning to Croatia, but I’ll try to do better next month. Surely we’ll see an arch or two along the way here. i wasn’t … Continue reading "In Međimurje"
Well I’m glad that there are 31 days in August and I just managed to sneak a ride up to the television towers before work. I do take my monthly challenge seriously, so I just made it…Pheww. Well we don’t have any nuclear power stations or weapons anywhere around here so I googled ‘radiation’ and … Continue reading "Hooked on Radiation"