Parked at Pico Golf Course (people be talkin')

People talking about Pico Golf course not allowing cyclists to park in the lot any longer. Not true! I guess some people saw some new signs then ass-umed it pertained to cyclists. No fact checking, just spreading false info on facebook cycling groups. Hmmm!

So anyway, somebody posted on Sept 1st that the golf course banned cyclists from using the parking lot. On Sept 4th, I arrived and some dude was there, said he had been using the lot for 30 years. He noticed some signs and was worried it meant cyclists. He cut his ride short, 15 instead of 30 because he got nervous on the bike. So I arrived and he pointed out the signs. Hmmm, in my opinion, it didn't mean cyclists, more like vagrants, mobile home street dwellers, people smoking dope etc. 

After he packed up, and I was getting ready, he said he was going to ask. Said he talked to someone who he thought might be the manager and he said it was fine for cyclists. They had problems with people parking there who would leave their cars there after hours. The employees would lock the gates but the people would come back to get their cars and even cut the chains and/or locks. The GF would have to spend money replacing several locks and chains.

So we got the story. Then I saw the posts on a group page. Then the original post some lady posted back on Sept 1st stating false info. Matter of fact, as I went in this morning to verify once again, there were a couple of cyclists who seemed to have met a wife, parked their bikes on the outside and had a beer while I was in there inquiring. I don't think the GF would want to lose the cycling world business in the bar. 

SO anyway, the info spread around about the golf course prohibiting cyclists from parking in their lot is FALSE.!!!

 PARKED at Pico Rivera golf ⛳️ course then rode to the SF Nature Center and back. Solo 25 miles. Nice smooth ride after vacay. Road trips are more work and more tiring than riding my bike. 😆😄😆 New GPS sucked so I had to do some work and swap out parts with old stuff I ha I order to get it to work. Ebay refunded my money thank goodness. More work than I paid for it. 🤨 nice day not feeling hot but my salty glove tells a different story but sure was a nice day.

Parked !!!

A nice pace but nothing strenuous other than The Damn Dam climb

Removed a glove to rinse my eye with water. Seems the sweat that doesn't show on the bike really shows once you remove the glove from the hand and allow the salt to dry. Then it really shows ha ha ha! But the ride didn't feel any kind of hot today, very nice!

Boy, this mount SUCKED !!! I contacted the seller and told them it sucked and I was requesting a refund. They must have known it sucks because they asked me to refrain from posting negative feedback, they would be happy to refund my money and keep the mount.

I did not think about the design in the image seeing it has one screw in the center. I engaged my unit and had a heck of a time trying to get it out as the entire base fixture would spin. Then the camera holder on the lower section required 2 screw holes in order to fit on with the unit base leaving only one hole for the unit. It sucked! If I tried to attach the screws in holes simultaneously, there was not enough room for all screws to seat so using the camera mount, one has no choice but to go with the one center hole and you all know I use my recorders.

They didn't even want it back, what does that tell you? Ha, so I ended up going through my boxes, drawers of go pro mounts and stuff that I have, and I got a lot ha ha ha! I found a different design camera mount to attach on the lower side to make it work. This kept the inline 3 holes free to mount the base for the unit. So I actually have 5 screws now, all lock tite'ened into place. Not sure how you would say that ha ha ha!

But I got it to work after like an hour and a half trying other fixtures and mounts I found. It works now but I think I put more time and spare parts into what I paid for it.  But it works though not as purty or slick as the one that broke and only $10. This one was $17 and the only reason I went for it was because of that two hole design holding the arm out. That is where my other one snapped. I figure that little gap area would absorb some of the pressure I place on it while connecting the gopro into place.

This is the image I sent with an explanation to the seller. 

Sant Fe Nature Center

On the dam

Anniversary Weekend in Laughlin

Weekend in Laughlin with Cecee the Head Banger. 😂🤣😂 One tough cookie! For the record, in Laughlin 2 minutes, first stop at the River Lodge to look around before checking into The Edgewater having arrived early. Walking from the Parking lot to the casino, Cecee tripped on uneven pavement, fell hitting her knees hard, then forward onto her hands, then her face hitting the curb. I myself would have turned and went home but after being checked out by paramedics and casino personnel, Cecee said, "aim me towards the casino!" refusing to make any less of the weekend than a good time!

The Video

         Gina and I out admiring the fresh air. Was very nice on Friday, didn't feel hot, just nice.

Geeze, 2 minutes in Laughlin,  stopped at The Lodge to check it out having arrived early before check in time at this  Edgewater,  Cecee takes a dive in the parking lot.  Uneven broken pavement catches her foot then boom. Fell hitting her knee then rolls down to her hands and face  face plant. Ouch. Checked out by security,  casino employees,  paramedics but she insists she is OK. Cut eye as well. That's going to hurt in the morning.  I offered to drive right back home,  another 2 and a half hours but she's determined to hit the slots. 🤣 One tough cookie! Gina must get it from her.

On the way before the face plant. Breakfast stop in Barstow.  

Just before heading home, had breakfast at the Aquarius River Cafe. Great deals at times when we go there lately. This time, my dish was $4.99. 2 eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy, including the drink. Gina and Cecee having ham and eggs $7.99, including the drink. Of course showing off her war wounds.

Gina and I playing slots together. I rarely play but figured what the heck this time. We got up to $80 really quick. I stopped so sat down for a mocha latta and a pastry, being bad ha ha ha! Gina got my stuff for me then walked aways saying she was going to play a little more but not all 80. Of course she returned a few minutes later saying she lost all 80 bucks ha ha ha! Just not my thing, sitting down throwing away $20 in like 2 minutes. I'd rather buy something for my bike, like a computer mount ha ha ha! Of course, I'm guessing Cecee lost 5 hundred, I gave her 3 to play. Gina might have lost 2 to 3 hundred, oh, and my $80. Just not my thing, gimme something for my bike and money.

Again the cafe Sat nite, a $6 burger with fries and a drink, nice.

Casa Serrano. Man the stuff is good. Tamales very tasty and the huevos rancheros my favorite. We keep talking about trying the buffet at the Riverside but can't seem to break away from CS.

Solo 35 Thursday Before Heading Out of Town (video) & Poor Puente Hills Mall Ghost Town

 Solo 35, pretty warm ride. But the wind made sure that it was not an easy ride as always. Another one of those, don't be a sissy rides ha ha ha! I wanted to ride the previous days but boy, it has been hot, 100+ So I sat a couple days out that I had really wanted to ride. Heading out of town this weekend, I really wanted to ride so I did. Figured at least 20 to the dam and back but once there, to the nature center, then to Encanto Park, then to the top. Watching the temp rise more and more as I climbed to the base of the mountains. Sure enough, it was 98 when I hit the top. Average 93 and high of 100, good enough for me. 

Knowing it was going to be hot, I thought about heading south to the flatter section of the trail but once at the trailhead, I opted to head north, crazy me. About 5 miles into the ride, I could feel the fatiguing type of heat in my hips wondering what the heck I was doing out there. Again knowing it was hot, I tried to go as easy as possible to get in my ride. Made it little by little while taking in a couple extra bottles of Liquid IV. Also, one of those Wally World Z bars. Boy those things are sweet but tasty and easy to eat, if I hadn't mentioned that before. So doing what I needed to do, I made it back ok. I was good! No real symptoms of feeling exhausted other than feeling the heat but at 100, I had the right to feel hot ha ha ha! Some day, I'm going to start early but .......

I figure getting out there in the heat makes it easier on any other day so when others think it's hot at 80, I'm feeling cool ha ha ha! Pretty sure though, by the time I'm heat acclimated, the weather will cool down. Oh well, part of the cycle.

I did pick up another couple pair of Black Bib shorts and the $10 socks to qualify for the free shipping. $85 for 2 pair of shorts and a pair of really good quality supportive socks, not bad. I ordered a couple pair about 2 months ago so I'm good for a good long while now.

The previous 2 pair I picked up just about 2 years ago are actually in good shape as far as the material, still strong. I hate to trash them but a couple of the fore pads came loose inside the padded area. I did get a needle and some thread to tack the pad back in place from the outside of the shorts. From the material to the center of the pad in order to avoid getting thread on the surface of the pad to avoid skin contact. Did one and seemed to work so I will more than likely  do both pair just because I hate to waste the shorts. I'm the dude who can't throw away a toothpaste tube till I've wrenched that sucker dry. Not cheap, just feel I want what I got coming to me ha ha ha!

So now I have 4 new pair, another older good pair that I rarely use to preserve being an upper model of BB's, and some Aerotech shorts that I have still in great shape not having used them much. Heck, 6 good pair and if I fixe these other 2, they will be good to go for another long while. I just might have enough shorts to last me for the next 40 years ha ha ha!

Couple more pair of shorts and Black Bib socks. Should be set for a while having bought the same a little over a month ago.  

Now for the Puente Hills Mall, wow what a ghost town! Huge 2 level multi wing mall with about only 10 open stores in the entire structure now. Once used in the Back to the Future movie, it's gone down hill and almost empty now. Few stores with some merchandise left behind, few with eviction notices that have been abandoned, and some with merchandise the looks as if the store might be open, but not. Some of the stores still operating have different hours. Like Friday from 5 to 7 pm then Sat and Sunday, 11 to 6. Pretty sad to see the mall go down like that.

But I have read that it is because most of the local population now is Asian and they don't go for the American stores like Sears, Macy's, and other big names. They prefer their Asian boutique type stores. I believe it, looking down the road and very visible from the 60 freeway, one can see shopping center after shopping center with Asian symbols all over  advertising their Asian stores. Just sad to see the mall go down though there is still some life due to the restaurants around there, Golden Coral, Chilli's and a few others.