Partly cloudy, cool, and calm. There was snow at the Summit Thursday evening but it was melted by Friday morning.
First poppies of the season at Wildcat Terrace - I think that's the first place I saw them last year too.
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| Oh I gotta stop for poppy photos. |
Oh yeah - first ride of the year without a jacket - I had tights and arm warmers and a thermal T under my jersey... it was wonderful. Also - last day of Daylight Wasting Time!
I thought I was feeling good, but I got passed by a lot of folks.
I was hoping to see poppies, and I did, but they were outside of The Park in the residential area on Blackhawk Road. Apparently they're all over NorthGateRoad, where they usually make their first appearance.
JB decided to ride down SouthGateRoad with me to get in some extra miles for his weekly sum.
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| This rider had no trouble dusting me. |
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| This rider had no trouble dusting me. |
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| This rider had no trouble dusting me, but he has white shoes. |
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| This rider had no trouble dusting me, but he has an Assos jersey. |
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| This rider had no trouble dusting me... but he has Rapha tights. |
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| I could've maybe outsprinted this guy to Junction, but I didn't know he was there until it was too late. We both sang along to my Little Richard song on the Diablo MP3 player. |
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| Tuck! |
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| JB forgot about this steep bit on the way out. |
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| Poppies! |
Gorgeous day. I was over-dressed with tights and jacket.
Hoping to see the first poppies of the year - weren't any.
Wildlife Encounter: usual turkeys.
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| All things considered - I'd rather deal with eBikes than SUVs on these winding roads. |
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| I stayed with this rider for a while and she was doing a good pace for me, but then she pulled off. |
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| Hey - a Diablo Cyclist jersey - don't recognize him though. |
Gorgeous day after a long spell of cold and rain.
Wildlife Encounter: two coyotes on the hiking path just above the helicopter pad. I was descending and saw them crossing the road like they owned the place, so I stopped and turned around for a photo but didn't get a close-up shot of them.
The creeks are full and the mellifluent sounds of gurgling brooks filled the air - I also stopped to get some video of that - it'll make a good screen saver.
I had a dream last night that I bought my dream bike - and I was so excited because I wanted a super pro quality bike but when I tried to ride it I couldn't because it was too much for me to handle... when I woke up, I realized my next REAL purchase would be a "relaxed fit" bike.
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| Two Coyotes |
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| Gurgling brook at Bridal Nook. There's a picnic area in here that I've never seen anyone use - and now it's roped off because mud slides. |
Bright and clear and calm this morning - just beautiful. It was a little cold, but I just got a new jacket with some Christmas money my dad sent and it's very comfortable and good-looking.
Wildlife Encounter: a pack of deer lying down in a clearing just above the Tire Poppers. Interesting that they weren't trying to hide and it looked like they were keeping a wary eye out for predators.
