WOW! Gorgeous morning!
Pics later … have to rush off to work now.
OK, back home …
I got to see the full moonset this morning…
Full Moonset off the Russell Bike Path
Sunrise on the Russell Bike Path
… and the sunrise …
I am so ready for the weekend!
Wah hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That was FABULOUS! 47 minutes of pure joy – perfect temperature, very little breeze, no bugs … I am especially glad I could enjoy this tonight because I heard there is a big storm rolling in this Sunday. The forecast is for 3 to 6 inches of rain between Sunday and Thursday, and “several feet” of snow in the mountains. We need it!
No pictures from the ride; I wanted to get back while there was still enough light to be safe. Pics of dinner will have to do …
Arugula & Spinach with Persian Cucumbers, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Basil & Thyme, Drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a grind of TJs Everyday Seasoning.
I rode up Cantelow Road on Sunday! Sorry … no pictures. I got so excited I forgot! It’s been about 2 years since I have ridden this hill. I have on several occasions ridden out to the bottom and thought … next time. But Sunday, I had a riding partner who was very encouraging and I was inspired. We rode out together to the bottom, then he took the long way around and I went the short way. Our plan was to meet at the top and then ride back to Winters together.
I made it almost all the way to the top, but I did have to push my bike up the last little bit. I just love cyclists! There was a group of guys at the top yelling to me, “You can do it! Come on!” but there was no way I could get restarted on that incline. Next time. I was relieved to arrive first so my riding partner didn’t see me walk that last little bit, my head hanging in shame and defeat. When I got up there, the guys asked if I was riding alone. I told them no, and they said, “Are you riding with that guy who just flew over the hill? Did he ditch you?!” “No, we’re meeting at the top. When he gets here, pleeeeeeeeeeeease don’t tell him I had to walk to the top!” They assured me my secret was safe with them.
I confessed when he got there about a minute later. We rode down to Pleasants Valley Road and headed back to Winters. Then, we stopped in Winters for lunch at Steady Eddies.
All in all, it was a wonderful ride with lots of great views and I am looking forward to doing this again!
2012 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (http://2012.handmadebicycleshow.com/) … oh, so like kids in a candy store!!!
But first, Old Soul Coffee (http://www.oldsoulco.com/) for a post-ride, pre-show latte.
Old Soul Co. latte
That’s all for now … this thing called work is requesting the pleasure of my company. Some really cool bike pics will be posted soon.
It would have been Saturday, March 3rd.
Putah Creek Road, heading out of Davis towards Winters
Putah Creek Road, heading out of Davis towards Winters
I decided to take on a little extra today and ventured out Pleasants Valley Road towards Cantelow. That added about 10 miles total. Cantelow is quite steep from this direction, and I haven’t been doing many hills lately, so I wasn’t ready to venture up. Besides, I had many things to do in the afternoon, so I headed back home.
Pleasants Valley Road & Cantelow Road
Pleasants Valley Road & Cantelow Road
I made a quick stop at Lake Solano Park. FYI – the water fountains at the park are set so low right now that it’s impossible to fill a cycling water bottle.
I stopped a moment at the bridge in Winters and captured a few photos of these lovely ladies … look for the subtle differences in these photos. Click on the image to see it full screen.
Nonfat Greek yogurt, banana, blackberry, strawberry drizzled with honey.
Home for lunch …
Then, off to the 2012 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (http://2012.handmadebicycleshow.com/) … oh, so like a kid in a candy store!!! Photos coming soon…
That was awesome! I was chomping at the bit to get on the road today. I thought the group ride started at 9am, but it didn’t start until 10am. So, I got this brilliant idea to ride to Lake Solano first, then meet the group in Winters. It was pretty windy when I started out this morning, so I am amazed that I made it in time to meet the group.
I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to keep up, but there were different levels of riders and I connected with a couple of riders who were doing the same pace I was. I am looking forward to many more rides with the group.
I didn’t stop for any pictures today, but I got some nice photos on my ride yesterday. I did pretty much the same ride yesterday. Here are some photos from yesterday, which was a gorgeous day, just windy as heck.
Some of these photos are similar, but there are subtle differences.
Have an awesome day! I need to go do some laundry and then I think I want to play with some food tonight. I’m thinking salmon for dinner sounds pretty yummy!
After 2 weeks of being off the road, it felt so good to ride today! It was pretty windy and my average MPH was too embarrassing to post, but I did it.
I got some fun pictures today … I’ll have to post more later.
Say hello to one of the newest Davis Bike Club members!
I really need to find a new ride. I’ve been doing the same ride for about a year now. Today I wanted a change, but didn’t want to load my bike into my car and drive to the ART (American River Trail) in Sacramento, so I did my 40 mile ride with the center loop in reverse. It’s amazing what a difference that can make! It was invigorating to see a different perspective.
Winters Bike Bridge
Today was a beautiful day for a ride, but not a great day for photos. I bought a new camera in the past few months and I am not that thrilled with it. It’s a Canon PowerShot SX150IS. My first digital camera was the Canon PowerShot SX 120IS, the earlier model, and I loved it. It took pretty consistently great photos. It was not a great nighttime camera, but, certainly better than this new one. The new one is supposed to be so much better – 12x optical zoom vs. 10x, 14.1 megapixels vs. 10.0, and it’s supposed to have a processor that will handle the 14.1 MP. I’ve found that every once in a while (maybe 10% of the time) this new camera will take a great photo, but for the most part, they’re not in focus, the macro doesn’t work as well, the aperture does not open as wide, and blah blah blah. It’s not worth the extra $50 I spent on it, and I don’t use it as much because it is pretty frustrating to take so many crappy pictures. Just goes to show you that “new and improved” is not always better.
However, sometimes “new and improved” can be better. For months, the town of Winters (or County of Solano ?) worked on the “new and improved” Putah Creek where it runs through town, under the cycling bridge. They dammed it and restricted the water through a pipeline for months. They reworked the bottom, sides, and bank. Over the past year, I have stopped to chat with other cyclists, locals, and others who were on the bridge watching the work. One man told me that “the people of Winters are very excited for this!” People say it is “new and improved” and “like nature intended” or “how it used to be before people screwed it up.” People have also said that it was necessary to prevent flooding in Winters. After many months of moving dirt, etc., there is a distinct bank, and the water is restricted to a narrow stream under the bridge.
I had only known Putah Creek to take up most of this area, and to not have much of a bank at all. I think it will look better after the grass starts to grow. One thing I have noticed, though, is that I have yet to see any evidence of any life (fish, otters, beavers, etc..) in the water again. I guess it will take time, and at some point the Creek will be stocked with trout, bass, and whatever else is considered appropriate. I used to see otters in this part of the Creek, but have not seen any lately. Poor little things were pretty displaced for months. I assume they’ll eventually come back, or new ones will move in.
Time will tell if this “new and improved” version really is better. I’m pretty optimistic about it. The creek does open up again after this narrow portion, just past the curve on the second picture, and it does look good. They’ve put in an island, which is pretty cute. It’s pretty tall and straight-sided, so I’m not sure how anyone will get to the top, but I’m sure someone will figure it out. It will be interesting to see how all of this changes over the course of the next few months when the rains start. Hopefully they’ll be starting soon. This coming year, I’d like to request rain during the week (M-F) and nice weather on Saturday and Sunday so I can get some good training rides in. LOL! If only it was that easy!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
That was a lovely ride. No pictures today, sorry. I got out late and there wasn’t much time before dark to safely get home.
Tomorrow, weather willing, I’ll ride again in the morning.
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