Holy Cow, Explosion!!!

 Wow! I heard a loud rumble, a thump in the ground and thought we were having an earthquake. I looked out the window and saw a puff of smoke. oh no, looked about 1 block away on Euclid Ave. Turns out it was 2 or 3 blocks away in distance.

Looking out the window and 2 minutes later, BOOOOOM! A series of loud explosions made me think that houses were blowing up like dominoes in a disaster movie. Another series of explosions later but not stop popping for 45 minutes. Lots of smoke in the sky. 3 helicopters, sirens and more sirens.

I thought maybe a terrorist attack and a gun fight till I noticed some decorative lights in the sky. Holy shit, fireworks. Turns out a home on San Antonio and Maple exploded due to fireworks. Wow, I can imagine what the neighbors felt if it was that strong here.

I can't imagine damaging my neighbors' homes over something stupid like fireworks. Had to be storage because there were a ton of explosions. I have to think somebody died because if somebody was home at the time, they went up in a puff of smoke during one of the huge explosions.

All for what, 4th of July celebration, make a few bucks on the side?

Just waiting for a body count!

Saturday Ride Video - Few People out on the Trail

 The ride video from Saturday the 13th. Some with a group, some with Herb & Alyce, some with Tony, some solo ha ha ha! Just a video!

Just felt Herb deserved his own video ha ha ha!

31 Chilly with Gina

 31 miles at 15.8 with Gina. Ran into Herb and Alyce at the start. They rolled up as we were getting ready. Started chatting about Herb's new trike. He offered to let us ride it trying it out. Gina did but I'm to heavy. I hate to sit on anybody's bike because if something happens, I'd feel bad ha ha ha! But Gina hopped on and took it for a spin. She liked it and had some fun. She had mentioned before about getting one of those fast recumbent bikes. But no way, she'd drop me like a bad habit ha ha ha!

We started later than usual. Which I did not mind because it was chilly. I did decide to ride without leg cover and the windbreaker. Heck man, just getting tired of being covered up. It was chilly but I survived. It was sunny at the beach though. Wow, like a half mile before the coast, we ran into some sun and it sure felt good!

Ran into Jesus at the beach stop. Had all kinds of chat ha ha ha! But it's good to have conversation with people. Especially right now seeing everyone has been locked up for so long. So chatting with Jesus, was good, new material. We had met several times before but never really had a good long talk.

We did a steady pace back. Saw Jesus ahead, left a couple minutes earlier. Seems he waited for us at the wooden bridge. So we rode close together for most of the way back and I was just holding a steady pace for Gina. Then a little fast group went by so Jesus hopped on and pulled away. I just kept the steady pace. I don't like to make Gina race too much right now. When she has a chance to get in more mileage, I'll lift the pace on her and she probably won't even notice ha ha ha!

                                                          Gina testing out Herb's Cat Trike

I think she may be having a little too much fun!

Herb and Alyce

Gina on another round!

The trike

Good to see Herb getting in some miles after his injury last year.

Tired of being covered up. Went chilly today. Tired of these white man legs ha ha ha!

Jesus. He asked mask or no mask? I said whatever makes you look better ha ha ha!

I figured if I wore my bones jersey, I'd look skinny and weigh less ha ha!

Group, Social, Leisure, Solo ??? I really don't know!

50 miles at 15.0 average speed.

So, Tony, Gabe and I started out for couple miles, headed back to meet Gabe's buddies, headed to the coast, across the beach to the pier. I saw Herb & Alyce at the beach stop so I stopped as the others continued back. Good to see Herb back on the road after his injuries. Didn't notice Tony had waited for me. So we rolled back some with H & A, then lifted the pace back. Tony was tearing it up with his new wheels, burnt my legs out. But when we got back, had 37 miles. I headed off alone to Imperial looking for 50. So turned it into a longer ride and not really knowing what kind of ride it was ha ha ha!

                              Tony's version of The Sprinkler Dance on the bike ha ha ha!

Some of the guys we rode with. Rick, a SART regular on the right passing us. Didn't realize he was there when I turned on the recorder.

Alyce and Tony meeting for the first time.

Good to see Herb doing some mileage again. He got hurt  some time ago in a bike crash on the trail. Damaged vertebrae and bunch of pins and screws in his shoulder.  Paralyzed for a bit and couldn't walk for the longest. If there is a will, there is a way!

SART with Gina

 31 miles at 15.8 average speed. Nice ride, cool and a little breezy but still a good ride. Thought after GMR yesterday, my legs would be toast but they felt great. I guess all the hard work climbing makes the flats easier for big guys like me ha ha ha!

Gina did really well. A bit breezy to the coast but a tailwind ALL THE WAY BACK!!!! Not sure I remember a ride where we actually had a tailwind all the way back so I'll take it. Actually enjoyed it.  Probably could have flown back today but didn't want to kill Gina ha ha ha! Though she did really well and kept a decent pace on the return.

Ran into Jordan and had some good conversation. Hadn't seen the guy in a couple of years. Also Rheo, the fast guy. Tony and Thai rolled up for a potty stop but left rather quickly.  I think Tony is shy around other people ha ha ha! 

GMR for 4,000 Please

 22.6 miles today with 4,049 ft of gain. Rode to the shack and thought about the high point 17 miles up. But I hate to ride back there alone and not really feeling it. So I rode down to the fork, back up, down, back up again. When I got to the bottom, I saw I had 3,100 ft gain. Heck, might as well go back up again for another 900 to get 4k. Always have to do a bit more so Strava doesn't rip me off the gain total ha ha ha!

I did see Eduardo and his buddies up there. Tried to snap a quick pic of Ed and his new bike but his buddies were talking off so I missed a bit but hey, better than nothing!

Very nice day though. A bit warm the first time up. Felt nice going down then nice heading up the final climb. But once in the sun again, it got warm. Thankfully I was done ha ha ha!

I did see Ron on my way home. He was stopped at the top of a hill by Live Oak. Wasn't sure if it was him at first but yup, was him as I rolled by. So I doubled back to make sure he got back on the road. I rolled by a second time and gave him a thumbs up. He returned it so I figured he must be OK so I headed out.

                   I like this view while climbing up. I didn't say it was fun but it is a cool view.

You know how hard it is to climb this section, reach back, get the camera out of the case, take a pic and try to smile riding with one hand? Looks more like I'm trying not to fall off my bike ha ha ha!

Ran into Eduardo at the top

Tried to get a new bike shot but his buddies headed down so he was in a rush to head out. Rush photography ha ha!

My bike up there. They say pics or it didn't happen! :-P

Just digging this little red stuff on my bike.

Beanz enjoying a Clif Bar in the wilderness wondering if he should head back up for the final grand.

I tried to get this shot riding up the first time. Missed like 3 times so second time up, I just stopped to take it ha ha ha!

Ahhhh haaaa! Ron caught me rolling by with his recorders. An image from his video.

Solo Night Ride for 1,100.

 Rode from Claremont to Glendora, up Lorraine, Sierra Madre and back. 24 mile with 1100 ft. Just and easy ride to keep the legs loose since I was too lazy on Tuesday, to go out. Very nice evening as I was expecting to be cold. 

When I was done with the ride, I was so close to a grand that I figured I'd go up Mills for a little more gain. Wow, dark and spooky on the upper section. The road really narrows there so I turned around before getting in too deep. Wish it was wider like the lower section.

But a nice ride! Love riding at night!

                          Descending San Dimas Cyn. Pretty dark around here ha ha ha!

A quick pic on the bike before the descent gets too fast! :-P