Me, Then Mike, Then Ron & Dixie

45 miles at 17.4 average speed today. I did the first 12 or so alone because left his shoes at home ha ha! He had to drive back home, get them then meet me on the trail somewhere. Around Kraemer after I hit Weir Cyn alone. I did run into Alex at Yorba Park and had a 20 minute chat thinking Mike might show up there, close.

Then we ran into Ron and Dixie at the coast. Had a little chat then headed back together. I was kind of worried after 2 Thanksgiving celebrations, 2 days, 2 separate dinners. First was a 14 pound turkey, ham, and all the fixings, desserts for just Gina, her Mom and me! Then another complete dinner, actually bigger on Friday, another complete dinner! Probably a good thing I got to do the first section alone, in case I had to throw up or something ha ha!

Mike looked strong but Ron & Dixie really kicked up so I was hoping my turkey wouldn't hold me back today. Thank goodness I was able to hold on, then even took a turn at the front after we settled in. Mike did a pretty good pull on the way back too! He was looking pretty strong but I told him to let me at the front for a while. Figure I could hold a slightly lower steady pace so all could recover. Yeah, so they could punish me again ha ha!

I have to say, WOW, some people are ass hats. I was at the front heading south when we rolled by some lady, yes I know who she is, real ass hat and has been for years. I remember one time years ago she told me that I looked like I was a really good descender because I was heavy but that she bet I was not a very good climber. Luckily a month or so after that I had a chance to ride with her on a forum ride on GMR to the village. Yeah, it was nice kicking the crap out of her on the climb ha ha!

Also on Ride Around the Bear too ha ha! Yeah, good descender lady but I kicked your ass on major climbs too he he he!

Anyway, Mike was on my wheel when we passed her. Politely went around as usual, shout out and my bell. I've been told that I am too polite at times, per The Legend Greg.

We go around, so I thought, I glance back with my peripheral and see a different color jersey. Not Mike! I look back and it't the lady. I guess Mike was going around when she cut him off and shouted, "I'M HERE!".  Mike was somewhat upset so he backed off. Later we stopped at Edna Park for a short break. Forgot to mention we caught this lady from a mile behind.

At the park she asks how far we are riding, 45 or so. She starts talking saying she doesn't want to brag but she has done like 80 double centuries. I was able to be pleasant though I knew she was an ass hat from long ago but Mike had a hard time being polite  ha ha! I listened to her ramble on about herself but didn't remind her how I knew her and our past encounters. Let her think she is something special ha ha!

We let her head out so that she had a good head start. As soon as we got on the trail, Mike said if we catch her again, she might interfere. Heck, Mike took the front like a man on a mission so I knew he wanted to pass her again. Few miles later there she is! He moves over and tells me to pass her ha ha! We were close to the 405 underpass downhill so I slowed the pace and said we ought to pass her on the little steep climb/ramp at the end of the section. Heck, we tried to slow down but at this point, she was not rolling well at all. So we just stepped on it to make sure she couldn't latch back on ha ha!

She upset Mike bumping him off then even more boasting about her accomplishments at the park. I'm a double century rider blah blah blah, I did this and that blah blah blah! In her own words today, "it ain't bragging if it really happened!".

So, yeah, I can see that! You said some stuff you shouldn't have then I kicked your ass. You acted like hot stuff today then we kicked your ass again! Hey, it ain't bragging if it really happened right? Ha ha ha!

So anyway, turns out she's just as much an ass hat today as she was 10 years ago! :-P

Jose R going off road trying to make his way thru the homeless section. :-P

Look at the rocks on Dixie's legs! :-O

I used to think Ron carried Dixie on the tandem but now I'm having to rethink that!

Just kidding Ron! Nice pace out there today!

Then the trash on the trail, Aye! No words to even describe it anymore. They cleaned out Fountain Valley but seems they all moved to Anaheim!

                                                                    TRASH

                      Just a few pics I took last night, practice. Upland gazebo and the Claremont train depot,                                                              no flash night photography.

Another 34 on SART

Mike and I set out to do an easy ride the day after the long 60. Yeah right! 34 miles at 15.8 average speed.

We set out for an easy pace but man what a headwind to the coast! Gave it everything we had to maintain 15, actually 15.1 to the coast. So aiming easy but it wasn't easy and our average would appear to be easy but it wasn't easy ha ha!

One of those days you stop at the park look around and there is no wind blowing through the trees. But get on the bike and it feels like a 25 MPH headwind even though it ain't! :-/

But the way back was much nicer. Holding 17 with a soft pedal. That's what we wanted. So it was an easy ride but it wasn't, not the first half! But after the ride, then it felt like and easy ride ha ha!

                             
                                Yeah, we are smiling at this point because we have a tailwind!

Well not much going on so I figured I would practice with my camera (DLSR). Took some night pics of my hometown, Ontario California. Born and raised there since 1963. Darn I'm getting old! Gina hasn't been in my ride pics lately so I let her model for me ha ha!. Of course she is one of those models who is always cold so she's dressed like she's out skiing and it's only like 66 degrees here ha ha!

Starting to like night photography, NO FLASH! ;-)

Gina's dressed like she's going skiing and it's only like 66 degrees ha ha!

Gina thought if she stood next to the wreath, her head would be in the center. OK Gina, you're not that tall ha ha!

Pretty cool stuff. I need to find a running stream so I can use a neutral density filter. Ya know, darkens sunlight pics so you can use a slow shutter speed to blur moving bodies. Like the leaves, I actually moved the branch with a broomstick ha ha! If I can find a running body of water, I bet that would make for some cool pics with the blurred water and still surroundings. Just some practice.

Also the lights streaming on the freeway, shutter speed of about 1.25 seconds. OF course hard to get a clear shot around here cause the thugs climb out on the freeways and paint on the sings like morons so the cities have installed fences, chicken wire and barbed wire to keep the idiots out. SO that is why my photography sucks ha ha!

Green River Me & Mike

60.4 miles today (17.1 MPH average speed) heading to Green River then backtracking to the coast. I've been wanting to do longer mileage while I can. I had planned to do 60 even if I was alone but a text last night from Mike confirmed my ride today. He said he wanted to do a long ride and hold a 16.5 or so. Of course once we headed back from Green River, our average slowly climbed without too much effort. Soon we had close to a 17. Headed down PCH for a couple to make sure we got 60 miles.  On the return, it felt windier than last week so it was hard to keep 18.5. Maybe I was just tired ha ha! Mike rode strong so that helped. Did a pretty good share on the load which makes it nice!

Did run into Alex, Don, and Rick at the coast. Rick seems to get there right as we are leaving, after I put away the camera ha ha! Saw the Legend again, as well as Ron and Dixie on their tandem. At that point, my arms were too tired to reach back for the camera ha ha! I need to do this more often, get back into the swing of things.

BTW, man once we got near Green River, we got a serious headwind. You know the corridor! Doing OK once we hit the short downhill but after that little bend in the road, it was tough. I was pushing hard trying to hold 14! :-O Glad that was only a minute or two. Stopped at the trail head for a quick break, man my heart was pounding! :-P

Do did join us for a short section on PCH then continued on alone heading South. He may be in San Diego by now! :-P



                                                               Don of the Birds ! :-P

Alex modeling the new board at the coast.

Don and Mike on PCH

Hey, who took my back of the head picture? :-P

Mike pulling me into the wind.

November in California! Puffy Muffy! :-P

Setting up the Christmas deco at Montlcair Plaza. Had to take a couple of shots of Gina. I used the hanging lights as background with some Bokeh and the tree. 

She's not in the bike pics so she might as well be in the Christmas pics! :-P

Aimee in Peru

I'm letting you know that I will get all the details wrong but here goes ha ha! Aimee went on some kind of a hike/journey/camping trip in Peru. The first week consisting of daily hikes. If I recall, anywhere from 4-6 miles. The final day was  the longest and toughest climb up to the 12,500 ft elevation level. Aimee says it was the toughest day and that it was also raining for a portion of the hike. Says she was wiped out but she made it! I forget the name of the high point and she sent me a pic of it but I accidentally erased it as I clean my text messages every 2 days. I asked for a replacement but I think she may be busy on a zip line of something ha ha!

The second week she said they were zip lining. I believe they zip lined a portion of the ascent. She said it was fun but I know if it were me, I wouldn't remember because I would have fainted after looking down at that height ha ha!

So then they slept in those little capsules way up on the mountain side. Pretty scary but I would have slept well after fainting ha ha!

She sent these pics and I am not sure but I think that is her on the cables crossing the mountain. That's crazy!

She said it's fun, I say she's Cra-Cra! :-O

                                              One of the capsules used to sleep overnight!

OK, this is where I faint looking at the pictures ha ha!

I believe that is Aimee on the wire.

Capsule overlooking that big fall! 

See the capsules right near the top of the mountain! No thanks! :-O