No one at the Gate. Plan for today was a PB on the Washout split, so I started easy, also thinking JB might catch me.
Passed'em-Passed'me ratio: 4 to 3.
Wildlife Encounter: turkeys near the loading dock - see video:
Washout split went OK but I didn't have as much energy as I hoped for.
At the Junction you always see the people who passed you on the way up, and then you see the people you passed coming in too... everybody's always friendly though. JB came in a few minutes later.
On up Summit Road and an Alameda Whipsnake crosses my path - 21 years of riding The Mountain and that's the first one I've ever seen. Booger was fast too. See video:
The Alameda Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis), aka Striped Racer, is a colubrid snake of the California coast and foothills. It is 90–120 cm long, slender, with two yellowish stripes along its back, set against a dark brown or black back. It is fast-moving, diurnal, and an active forager. It is nonvenomous, but likely to strike if captured.
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
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| Not My Photo |
Wildlife Encounter: Alameda Whipsnake.
At Juniper, there were signs for a Catholic Mass and nature hike going on and the parking lot was full. I heard a bunch of liturgical mumblings coming from somewhere in the camping area.
Nice ride today, nice weather.
Something happened at the bottom though. You know those Botts Dots right at the exit? Well I usually slow way down, approach from the left and try to cut between the dots at an angle to the right; and today just as I was doing that, two guys in racing kit yelled at me - they were going to pass me (on my right) at the bottle neck there by the kiosk.
So I did change my line but for a good reason at a spot that's posted 5 MPH and I think those two guys were wrong. They are obviously good riders but that was just dumb. What say you blog readers?
2 comments:
I've seen Alameda Whipsnakes in Redwood Regional Park here in Oakland (Alameda County of course). Interesting place to spot one.
Sounds like you just startled the riders. Not your fault, though maybe look around or signal before making a turn like that? Seems like they reacted pretty poorly!
You can never yell at someone when you are passing on the wrong side. Faster riders are responsible for avoiding slower ones. Cyclists never pay attention to speed limits, so I wont fault them for that.
My captcha is USALice. (Go fighting Louses?!)
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