2020 SMR 07

JB is back from Iowa, where he reports he drank too much Busch Lite and did a lot of sitting on his butt with out of shape relatives.

It was just a wee bit chilly at 07:30 but warmed up nicely by The Ranches.

Wildlife Encounter:  turkeys at the Ranger House.

Talked to some nice guys at Junction about old bikes and such.  One guy told me he once had a top end Colnago that had been stolen from his garage years ago and he missed having a classic bike.

Dramatic Sunrise over Diabolical Mountain.

JB told this rider to slow down and enjoy the day.  He's such a geezer.

Buuglglglglglulululu.

This guy gets the DiabloScott award for DUCT TAPE ON HIS SHOES!!!

This new fence is presumably part of the Border Wall misplaced due to a Trump Sharpie mark on the map of North America. 

These yellow flowers are spreading all over The Mountain like Corona Virus on a cruise ship.

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Special Addendum:  Blog-Reader Deadhead Mike is signed up for RAGBRAI this year, so I dug out some old photos of when I did it in 1988... so he can properly prepare.  I only had one of those cardboard disposable cameras so the picture quality is pretty bad.  Also, I just scanned the prints after having  been in a paper sack for 32 years.

Here is everybody dunking their tires in the Missouri River at the start of Day 1 in Sioux City.

Here is ME dunking my tires in the Missouri River in front of the Sioux City TV station camera person.  I *think* I made the news.

This is the campground at Sioux City.

They called this "Mount RAGBRAI", a pile of old bikes in the middle of the street with a stage that you could pose on at the top.  I think this was in Fairfield, Iowa.

Best place for porta-potties is in front of the grain silos.  Long lines were part of the experience.

2020 WNR 05

Damn, I missed two Winter Wednesday Junctions in a row!  Once for work, and once for family. So I was READY for today and I felt good.  Charlie and Justin met me at The Church.  We talked about political debates, corona viruses, and bicycle chains.  JB is still out of town but should do the Saturday Morning Ride with me. Charlie is signed up to do the Tour de Cure diabetes charity ride in Santa Rosa on May 3, so he's in serious training.

Good February weather - just a little cool and breezy.  

FIRST POPPIES OF THE YEAR!  It was just a couple weeks ago that I was telling Charlie that I usually see the first poppies near Son of Chainbuster and TODAY - there they were.

On the descent, Charlie did a fishtail going too fast into a corner and pulled a good recovery move to stay upright that Justin said was pretty impressive.  I was too far behind to see it, because I don't enjoy the thrill of fast descents the way I used to.

Diablo Shoutout to Deadhead Mike who was killing it in preparation for the Davis Double.

This guy passed us like he was on record pace - he had all the bling-bling equipment and kit too.

But then he stopped at Diablo Ranch and we didn't see him again.

POPPIES!  The Mountain is a little extra pretty today.

Mike - future Davis Double doer.

2020 SMR 06

Started a little late today and not a lot of motivation since JB is out of town.  And as I round the roundabout "Steve" rides up next to me and said "hi" and we hit it right off and started a conversation that lasted for the whole of North Gate Road.

We knew a few of the same people, and we talked about bikes and houses and life. 

Weather is nice and I've missed a few rides recently for work and other reasons.  I'm getting itchy for some serious Spring Training.

2020 SMR 05

Fog as thick as it comes this morning, cold but not too bad.  I joked that now that January is over, we're finally getting January weather.  After a couple miles it turned bright and sunny... even a little too warm.

JB and I talked about high school football, Star Wars, and civil rights.

Saw Colonel Al at Junction - we talked about veteran's benefits, e-bikes, and ID cards.

Wildlife Encounter:  Monarch Butterfly.

No poppies yet, but there were a few other wildflowers.

#bikemaintenance : new chain on Eddy

This impatient wanker passed me on The Wall.  I pulled over to let him do it because I sensed he was an impatient wanker and I didn't know how big his vehicle was.  He drove one lap around the Upper Lot and went back down; no idea what he was thinking.

2020 WNR 04

Justin's daughter had an appendectomy last night and needed her dad. So Charlie and JB and I discussed appendix stories under beautiful blue skies, with just a bit of chill in the air, and a little breeze.  Charlie saw a bobcat on The Bump while descending, but I was a ways back and didn't see it.  Seeing one bobcat per year is about average - two in the same month is rare indeed...even if it was the same one twice.

Next week Charlie and I will both be no-shows.

No poppies yet, but I'll let you know.