2026 Diablo Day 47 - Wednesday Morning Juniper

Today's the hottest day of a little heat wave we're having, and everybody knew it. Charlie suggested an early start to escape the worst of it, and I agreed.  

I offered a fast Junction or a slow Juniper and he opted for the latter. I suggested a 50 minute Junction pace and that worked out perfectly.

By the time we got to the 1,000 elevation sign, we could feel the cloak of oppression over us... the air was thick and warm and still. Somewhere in the distance, a carcass was putrefying.

Wildlife Encounter:  two deers at Bridal Nook. Didn't get a photo.

Saw a bunch of squished tarantulas, but I only Tally the crawlers after the first one.

Early start for us, late start for schools... I passed a lot of cars.

When I take a photo with Charlie, I try to make myself look taller.

Charlie has no such objective.

2026 Diablo Day 46 - Saturday Morning Juniper

First live tarantula spotting for the year - a few switchbacks before Junction.  I stopped for a close-up.

Didn't see anybody I knew today, but near Tank Road a guy descending yelled "Hey Scott!" and I yelled "Hey!" like I knew who he was.

There were a lot of signs about a trail run, especially near the road crossings; but I didn't see anybody running.  Lots more hikers than usual... maybe it's the tarantulas.

The Junction Ranger Station is all boarded up like they don't even use it anymore. The display window is empty, the door is papered over, nobody is ever there. 

I gave this guy the thumb-extension salutation. He replied with a chin nod.

HEY SCOTT!

2026 Diablo Day 45 - Wednesday Morning Junction

After a short ride Monday I decided I had to fix my squealy brake, so I watched some videos and took a good look at the mechanisms and for the first time in my life I centered hydraulic disk brake calipers. Took me 5 or 6 times to get it right, but when I did they were just perfect.

At St. Tim's I saw a guy with a Trek Travel jersey and told him that I was signed up for the New Zealand package in November. He said he had been on at least three of their deals and was really impressed.

Charlie said he wasn't feeling well enough for a Juniper, so we just did a fast ride to Junction. I did a normal pace until mile 3 when I went hard the rest of the way for a pretty fast time.

At Junction a guy rode up from the North on a Peugeot fixed gear conversion, he was seriously into fixed gears and told us about his setup and his other bikes. He had on the biggest gear I've ever seen on a road fixie. We watched him start up Summit Road with a smooth style and slow cadence covering a lot of ground with every stroke.

I told Garmin my max heart rate was 175.
Then Garmin tells me "This ride was of no fitness benefit"
150 bpm today felt pretty hard.