Cycling Foodie

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… well, we did ask for it … beg for it … and here it is.

I would post a picture, but WordPress is telling me it’s full. Wait … what?

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A little bit of Spring is in the air already …

A splash of color caught my eye today.

We’ve got more rain coming. I was hoping to get some cycling in this weekend, but it’s not looking like a definite at this point. A hopeful, but we shall see.

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Today is the first day of my vacation that I’m feeling up to riding. I picked up a cold and have had a bit of a residual cough. Bah humbug!

It was a lovely day for a ride and much warmer than I anticipated. I rode (slowly!) out to Winters and logged just over 53 miles.

Pleasants Valley Road

Lake Solano Park

Lagoon Valley Park

I am looking forward to riding again tomorrow!

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I had a really nice day yesterday – hiking in Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa, California and a late lunch that turned into an early dinner at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa. I was like a kid in a candy store! There were some fun shops there that I hope to explore in more detail another visit.

Skyline Wilderness Park

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

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It’s a chilly night here, and clouding up again for some more rain.

Full Moon & Clouds

I can’t believe that Christmas is less that 2 weeks away. I better start some baking and menu planning and getting my house ready. The tree is up and I have a few things here and there. This will be my first Christmas without Mom. I might have to raise a toast of her special Glenlivet Scotch in her honor.

I’m not sure what to bake. I think I’ll open up Mom’s recipe box for some inspiration.

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… a very nice weekend indeed. I got to spend time with old friends and new. A little foodie retail therapy. A little cycling. Lunch and some chocolate cake at Konditorei Austrian Pastry Cafe. A stroll through the UC Davis Arboretum with some nice company.

Chocolate cake …

A view from the Arboretum …

My first Christmas tree in my first house.

I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow at work, so I really should be finishing up my chores and heading to bed soon.

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WOW! It is glorious outside this morning. The weather forecast for today is cool, sunny, with light winds. It’s time to bundle up, slather with sunscreen, and get out on the bike. I’ve just got to figure out how to get to where I want to go without going through the park – it’s “Run to Feed the Hungry” day and they’re starting at 8:15 am and the park will be filled with runners and other participants.

From yesterday’s ride – along Pleasants Valley Road.

Here’s hoping for polite traffic on the surface roads.

Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with family, friends, and festivities! And … here’s hoping you get a great ride in, too!!

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Don’t you just love three-day weekends? Especially when the weather is amazing? Until you catch that dreaded cold …

I got two days of good cycling in: 50+ miles on Friday and 50+ miles on Saturday. Both days I rode out to Winters from Vacaville and back. The routes were slightly different, so I feel like I can justify that. Saturday’s ride was a late start and I probably should have cut the ride a little short, but it was just too beautiful out. I guess I thought I could sweat the cold out, or something like that. Yeah, no, not this time. My ride back to Vacaville was pretty mellow on Saturday.

By Sunday morning I still felt a bit funky, but I mustered the energy to do a very mellow ride with some lovely scenery. These pictures don’t really capture the beauty of the day; they’re taken with my phone.

Just off Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville.

A nice, quiet country road recommended by some local cyclists.

So peaceful …

Gates Canyon Road

Gates Canyon Road is a nice, mellow climb for about 2 miles. The cyclists I spoke with said it gets a bit steep after that and the pavement turns to gravel. I didn’t get to the gravel because a couple of vehicles needed to pass, so I got off my bike and got out of their way. Had I felt better, I might have restarted and gone further, but it was just right for that day.

The weather this coming weekend is supposed to be a bit stormy, so we’ll see how much cycling happens. It might be more of a hiking weekend. Perhaps it will even be a homemade bread weekend. I haven’t make homemade bread yet in my new home, so perhaps it’s time.

Oh, my … Thanksgiving is one week from tomorrow. Perhaps this weekend will be a good time to work on some recipes?! I’ll need some good, healthy food therapy to get through this holiday season. It’s the first one without Mom. She loved this time of year. Thanksgiving is supposed to be mostly sunny with about a 20% chance of rain and light wind (as of now, anyway).

Well, it’s time for Nyquil and sleep. I’ve got to kick this darn cold to the curb and soon!

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I’m told that tonight’s moon was even more full than last night’s moon …

Super Moon over Dixon, November 14, 2016

If you have the chance, go outside and check it out!