Saturday, March 16, 2024

2024 Diablo Day 07 - Saturday Morning Junction

Spring!  Poppies! Still not warm enough for shorts though.

Wildlife Encounter: dozens of turkeys everywhere.

Happened upon my old Club Sport ride leader Glenda on Blackhawk Road. She recognized my wind breaker and I recognized her voice and then we reminisced a little. She said she already did her Diablo day this week so wasn't going up The Mountain today.

Lots of hikers this morning too - appeared to be some kind of club.

At Junction I talked to a guy who had never seen downtube shifters before. He asked how they worked.


Glenda






From this spot you can see a lot of North Gate Road - 1: The Retaining Wall,  2: Coyote Flats, 3: Chainbuster.

First poppy of the season.




Famous Pink Lady cyclist Alison.



Saturday, March 09, 2024

2024 Diablo Day 06 - Saturday Morning Junction

I was prepped for drizzle, but it was clear and dry this morning. I took off my gloves and unzipped my jacket at the Tire Poppers.

Roadkill Report:  A small deer or a big jackrabbit or something on the sidewalk near Blackhawk Road- the vultures were all over it.  Also a big rat a little farther up the road.

I have lost a lot of fitness this winter - I had no reserves for intervals or power climbing or fast spinning... pretty much just twiddled the whole way and I was wiped out by the time I got back home. I hope I'm in better shape by summer.


Buzzard Bunny Brunch













Saturday, February 24, 2024

2024 Diablo Day 05 - Saturday Morning Junction

Incredible weather. First ride of the year in my shorts, but I did wear arm-warmers.

Met up with JB at Junction. While we were there suddenly a ranger ran out of the shack and drove his pickup up Summit Road with lights and sirens on. Then the other ranger ran out and did the same thing. A few minutes later we heard ambulance sirens coming up South Gate Road, and then saw a medical helicopter. Nobody knew what was going on, but it got a lot of attention.

Roadkill Report: large raccoon just before MDSB. This warm weather made him extra smelly.

Wildlife Encounter: small herd of turkeys at one of the hairpins. In the shadows so I didn't get a good photo.







Buzzard

Buzzard Slide

Buzzard Slide from above








Saturday, February 10, 2024

2024 Diablo Day 04 - Saturday Morning Junction

Good weather, not too much traffic, met JB at Junction. He said Ed Litton called about his bike repair (a Tom Teesdale custom touring frame from the '70s) and said it needed so much work it would barely be a Teesdale when he got done. Reminded me of an old joke about George Washington's hatchet in a museum - the blade had been replaced twice and the handle had been replaced four times, but it was definitely the same hatchet that chopped down the cherry tree.