My Bicycle Musings

Wednesday Morning

2009-07-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

I watched the start of the Tour program this morning, this went out for a little ride.

I rode down the Fletcher to El Cajon, then turned around and rode back up. Picked up a few rocks along the way.

You've pretty much heard this before!

My right hip is a little sore, and it feels like a lump in there, oddly, but I wasn't too troubled on the ride.

Made it home with no incidents, no problemos.

There is a quarter in the Fletcher Parkway/Grossmont Center Drive intersection with my name on it. Leave it!

Right now I'm giving up learning to use wget to snag my web pages off of Geocities (which is shutting down in October) to stash them somewhere else. I nearly downloaded the entire internet on to my hard drive, so I may have some more to learn about this sucker. I find I am not entirely comfortable using the command-line interface anymore. Too much typing, not enough clicking! Maybe I will investiagate downloading a GUI for it.

At any rate, I transferred the Bicycle web pages from Geocities to their new location. It was rather time consuming. I THINK it is all wokring korrectly.

I am going to go read now.

Monday

2009-07-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

It is still warm, but they CLAIM it will be cooling a bit.

Let us check the Weather Underground:

Yesterday at 9:00 ante meridiem --76.0 °F 58% humidity.
Today at 9:00 ante meridiem -- 75.0 °F 68% humidity.

Does not seem much cooler to me!

Flakes and five minutes of le Tour, then off on the bike.

I rode over to Fletcher, and down the hill to El Cajohn. I saw several cyclists along the way. I did not see this guy.

I picked up a BIG ROCK, the largest I ever have, and most likely the largest I ever will!

After several false starts I made my way up the hill. Balance was a bit of a problem. BIG ROCKS in the handlebar basket kind of moves the center of gravity up, not to mention aggravating the floppiness of the steering. I do not know how M. managed that drill press he fetch home on bike!

A surprise flower on a cactus in the yard.

Just over ten miles on the trip'o'meter today.

Time to lube the chain on Jamis, it has been one hundred miles.

Sunday Roundup

2009-07-12T10:23:00.001-07:00

I really miss the the early morning cloud cover.

The guy on the radio (KPBS) said there were clouds, but then again, he said it was seven am, and it was only six. I ate my flakes, read a few minutes (Road Dogs, by Elmore Leonard), dressed up and took off.

I saw a ~~fellow cyclist~~ guy on a bicycle riding erratically, on the sidewalk, so on impulse I followed him for a bit, then passed him. That's one!

I turned a left at the big street, riding on the sidewalk for a hundred feet to get around incongruent intersections. Near the top of the slant I caught and passed a couple out for their Sunday morning spin. Since I was going 9 mph, I figure they were going around 4.5 mph, so how could they even stay upright? That's two and three!

I made a right on Navajo, then a left on Fletcher, winging it the whole time. I coasted down the big hill, made a u-turn at the light, headed back up. Collected a few rocks, too. I should sneak the vehicle over here one weekend morning to get the BIG rocks. Or borrow a bike trailer.

I wandered around the streets near the Beef'n'Bun to gain a bit of mileage. Boy, that place smells good!

I turned right on Dallas to gain a bit more distance. Passed that couple coming the other way. Does that count for anything?

Wandered around the area for a bit, then headed home.

Mileage for the week tops out at 80.29, so I probably did twelve miles today. That's not a lot!
The odometer reading on Jamis is 7,921 miles.

Probably should oil the chain.

Phil says (and he should know!) that the vehicle in question is definitely an MG TD with wire wheels, not a TC.

Saturday Morning

2009-07-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

I got up at six, watched a few minutes of the Tour, then headed out on Jamis for a Dam bike Ride.

The sun was already up, there were not any clouds in the sky. The temperature was around 65° F, and I see now that the humidity was 90%. Well, that explains THAT! Kinda sweaty!

I got up to 40 mph for a few seconds going down the recently repaved Swallow Drive before I hit the brakes. It is smooth sailing now, maybe I'll work up the nerve to NOT hit the brakes.

Saw some antennas I never noticed before.

And not a cloud in the sky.

Saw this woodie in the parking lot of Pinacle Peak in Santee. Seems to be some sort of old-car swap meet thing going on.

Is that a Ford woodie, or what? Illuminate me!

Instead of going through Mission Trails on the Father Serra Trail, I climbed up the hill on Mission Gorge Road. I got passed just past the top of grade by some silent fellow in full kit.

I coasted down the hill, waited for the light at the bottom, which did not turn, so I snuck across when no one was looking. I stopped for a minute to put on my sunglasses. Those overglasses that press on my temples, slice into my ears, and cause great pain. By the way, I made an appointment to get my eyes checked the other day, but it is not until the end of August. Lack of planning on my part... but the epoxy is still holding the hinge! But I digress...

I climbed up the hill in granny gear. Did I mention I picked up some rocks on Fletcher Parkway? Well, I did. I climbed and climbed. And climbed. I kept trying to relax my shoulders and arms, as I tend to lock them. Can't be good. I looked in my mirror, I saw a couple of guys slowly catching me. It took them a few minutes, but finally I saw them just behind me, gauging the situation.

I said to them, "Come ON, guys!"
One of them said, "And the peleton catches the breakaway!"
"Aaargh," said I.
I thought, Phil Ligget shouts, "Fedderini has broken on Alpe d' Jackson!"

Perhaps if I had some motivation like this I might have performed more spectacularly.

Finally I reached the crest, those guys were long gone. I hung a left and headed down Navajo to the smoke shop. It was closed, so I continued to Fletcher, turned right, and headed on home.

Rocks and all.

It looks like I got around 23 miles today. The trip meter is up to 68.20 miles for the week. The average speed is 11.66 mph, isn't that interesting. And the odometer is 7,908 miles.

Now for some flower pics, by popular request!

The rock thing is coming along. Needs more DG, though.

There ARE sunflowers, not so many as last year. The one BIG one has not bloomed yet, though.

Macro close-up of sunflower. Click the pic to goto zooomr to see a BIG version.

I see a lot of snail trails, but no snails, and they don't seem to be bothering the sunflowers.

Here's a joke I don't get. I don't understand the pun. Explain it to me.

There were three son's who decided their beef cattle operation needed a name. They were stumped. Then one son said, "I've got it! We'll call it Focus."
"Why Focus?"
Because that where the "sun's rays meet."

Up In The Mountains

2009-07-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

No, not me, I didn't even ride today. But, I did watch the Tour de France this morning. Almost all of it! The last hour was the best, climbing the final mountain. But it was real purty seeing Andorra. I must confess, I though Andorra was some backward little country of sheep herders. Boy, was I wrong. Again. It looks like any other developed European country. With some very spectacular scenery, too. If I traveled, I certainly want to go there. But maybe I would read up on the place first, so as to not look the fool. Again.

After a very courageous interaction with the U.S. Treasury, and then activating a rebate card, I walked up to the library to return a book, and get a couple more. Then I walked up to the Farmer's Market. I've never been to one before. They had lots of purty food and fragrant flowers. And chips, yah, the chips looked good. I guess if you like to eat, and are allowed to, you could get some good stuff there. Me, I can exist on frozen pizza.

I needed a picture of an MG T-model, and conveniently there was one parked across the street from the Farmer's Market, so I took a couple snaps of it.

Hey, is that the hole for hand-cranking the engine? Why, yes it is!

In researching this puppy I found I was confused about the differences between the TC, TD, and TF. This one is definitely a TC. LATER: Maybe not. Now the fenders look like a TD with wire wheels. I wonder if it is a replica? MUCH LATER: I consulted an expert, it's a TD.

I continued along to Performance bicycle shop. I played with the light display till I could favour them with my custom. I purchased a three-pack of ProLink Chain Lube.

I then headed home, secure in the knowledge that my chain lube needs are satisfied for the rest of the year.

Thursday Morning

2009-07-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

No ride yesterday, went for a little ride today. Checked out the prices at the u-warsh-it. I'm thinking about warshing the vehicle. It is $2.50 to warsh, a buck to vacuum. Seems reasonable.

Wandered around the L.M. and F.H. area. Picked up some rocks over by Grossmont High. Lots of cars driving around there. Seems like the busiest part of the town. Summer school in session?

Took the short cut through the Harry ~~Griffin~~ Griffen (Harry Griffin park is in Georgia), up to Fletcher, almost, then home again.

The rock thing is looking pretty rocky, but I need some D.G.

The odometer, it says 45 miles for the week.

I have to go to the dentist now, for some DEEP CLEANING.

Checking It Out

2009-07-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

I virtuously arose at six and hit the road a bit later, after a breakfast of flakes and my morning ablutions (which I find are not the same as ablations, the word I used first.).

I started out on a Dam Ride In Reverse, Sort Of. I stayed away from the Lake. Less traffic in the bike lane, don't cha know?

On a whim I reconnoitered Rondel Ct., a very steep street. I have an idea of riding up it someday.

Saw some antennas.

It's a gray morning, ain't it?

When I got home I measured the rise and run of the hill on a topographic map from
Phil Erdelsky's Maps Of San Diego , an excellent resource. I came up with 110 feet rise in 1,000 foot run. I used The Slope Of A Road to calculate the grade. It came up with 11%. According to a Matthew Alice column in the San Diego Reader, the steepest streets are in the 20% range. So this is a piker, not even worthy of my time. But I'm going to take the Schwinn over there one of these fine mornings and do it anyway.

Not too many people on the Fr. Serra Trail, and the gates were not open yet. Not even a lot of people going to work.

On Prospect I noticed a flagpole and its finial, a flying car. I've ridden past this spot a zillion times, never noticed it before. P'raps because there is a fireman helmet mail box below it...

I bit farther down the road is this choo-choo mailbox. This could be a repost. And I'll keep on reposting it until that guy moves his truck and I can get a decent photo!

I collected more rocks on Fletcher Parkway, then headed home.

No swarthy fellows followed me today.

Added twenty miles to the odometer, after a bit of higgledy piggledy wandering around the neighborhood.

A Monday In July

2009-07-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

I started watching the tour, then I decided to go for a ride. I rode out Fletcher Parkway, looped around Grossmont High School, down Travelodge Drive, jog (and nearly got hit) over to El Monte Road (El Cajon, not Lakeside), and thence to Petree. West on Petree to N. Cuayamaca, which turned out to be a false lead. You can't cross Fletcher there. Up the hill west on Petree to Buena Terrace (Good hill street), over to Fletcher, down Fletcher to the light at Cuyamaca. Saw a swarthy guy pushing his ten speed up Fletcher on the sidewalk, carrying a plastic bag.

I made a u-turn at the light, and starte up FPH. I stopped for rocks, then continued up the hill. In granny, nosey! I crested the hill, saw a cyclist way down yonder, ahead of me. Caught up while he (and I) were negotiating the Navajo/Fletcher intersection, which is teh sux0r. It was swarthy guy! I passed him, but he caught me at the next light. And it went on like that! I would get way ahead, and he would almost catch up with me at the traffic lights. Most of the time he was in the bike lane, but near the end of our mutual journey he was going up Baltimore Drive on the wrong side of the road. Puzzling.

You want pictures? I got no pictures!

I got eleven miles, though!

Day 1

2009-07-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to the first stage of the Tour, they say it is six p.m. in France, well, Monaco, right now.

I did a little Dam Ride In Reverse this morning. It was really overcast, although the sun started peeking out towards the end.

There were a lot more people out on the Fr. Serra Trail than I expected. Several parties of joggers and walkers, and several bicyclists. I was followed out of the park by a fellow in red kit. When we got to the light, I said, "Is it going to change?", and just then, it did! I had good luck with traffic signals the whole ride, in fact.

I saw a sign at strip mall that said there was a bike shop located there. I pulled in to check it out, as the businesses are hidden from the street. I did not see any bike shops there, but I saw this Karmann Ghia. I always thought they were kind of dorky, but now I think they are kinda cool. I must be maturing Or something.

I really must stop in at the Omelette Factory some time.

I did not see the lady, from last week, the one with the golf cart. But over on Prospect I did see a cyclist coming the other way. I nodded at him, then he called out, "Mr. Squeakycyclist!" Or something of akin. Hey, it is Steve the L.! He was heading over to Grantville for the Saturday morning Chili's ride. I was blinded by the glare from his legs.

An uneventful passage through El Cajon, then up the FPH. I collected more rocks from the ditch, and took a shot of the pink shoe I mentioned the other day. If your very small kid threw their shoe out the window on Fletcher Parkway, this could be it!

Near the top of the hill an old MG T-something, red in color, zoomed passed. Oh, for a picture! It could have been Phil and I, back in the day!

LATER (10July2009) -- What a red MG TC might look like:

I forgotted to check, but I must have ridden pretty darn close to twenty miles today, so that would make pretty darn close to fifty miles for the week, which is pretty much my goal.

Friday?

2009-07-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

The first week of summer is gone, what have I accomplished? Zip!

But I did ride another ten miles this morning!

The overcast seems to be clearing up a little earlier each morning. I shall have to rise earlier!

I saw four other cyclists out today. Some sort of record there.

I noticed yesterday a little pink plastic shoe on Fletcher Parkway Hill (up). Today I stopped and stuck it on a fence post. Perhaps tomorrow I'll take a picture of it, if no one has claimed it by then.

I picked up a ~~gaggle~~ pile of rocks in various places, mostly on the FPH.

As I passed this fellow in the bike lane I just wanted to say, "Sidewalk not working for you?", but I daren't.

About five seconds after I took the pic he moved his little rolling suitcase, and himself, on to the sidewalk.

Mileage for the week is just over 30. I oiled the chain on Jamis after the ride. I think I shall take advantage of my 10% card from Performance and purchase some more chain lube. ProLink, of course!

This'n'That

Ran across this link on fark.com, clicked and read same. Girl falls TWO MILES into the jungle (in 1971) and lives, walks TEN DAYS through jungle till some Peruvian lumberjacks run across her and take her to safety.

I found a library book card this morning that I had written something on and thought was important enough to put in the pannier and take home. It said "wax-flowers". I hadn't a clue what it meant. Was it a password I was trying to remember? What could it be? And as I'm typing this fascinating entry I remembered! At the retirement party I was wondering kind of flowers were in the centerpieces. I asked what's-her-name (Sally, darn it!)what they were. She said, "wax flowers." There you go!

Today's Post Is...

2009-07-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

Went for a little ride this morning in the June/July Gloom. The sun was just breaking out by the time I got home. I put just over twelve miles on the odometer.

There was not too much going on out there, except:

Plodding up Fletcher Parkway hill there was an SUV stopped on the side of the road just past the turn-off to the A-frame houses. This is just before the place I pick up rocks, you understand. I passed the fellow, for there was a fellow in the driver's seat. I gathered a couple of rocks, then continued up the hill. After a bit he came slowly up the hill, then stopped again, a couple of hundred yards in front of me. I was thinkin', when I pass him I'm going to say something like, "I'm going to get to the top before you!" Well, before I could pass him, he started up again, and that was the last I saw of him.

The other interestin' thing I saw was this big ol' bird, a Scarlet Macaw I finds out later, jest a sittin' on the fence, so pretty!

Since I totally fail at in-camera composition, I had to gimp out the basketball backboard that was behind the bird. Also, we see the results of not-being-close-enough and the limits of the telephoto lens. I guess that is why they use those giant lens to photograph birds!

I took another picture of that motorcycle I am so enamored of...

I think this will be the final picture of this particular bike, as I have reach the limit of megapixels with my camera. I was right next to this baby, and it still is not all that detailed.

And so to home.

--------------------------------------------------------

This'n'That

Saw this nifty bike on Wonderland, a KPBS television show, last night. A fellow was riding one in the Torrey Pines area, and the host talked to him for a bit. Two grand is a bit much for me, but it might be fun to borrow one. Where would I hang my basket, though? Gotta pick up the rocks!

from a thread on fark.com discussing a fellow riding his bike across Pennsylvania:

There's worse ways to spend your time. Out in Amish land it's really pleasant but it pisses you off when a 12 year old Amish kid on a fixed gear bike blows you out of the water on a hill so steep you're in danger of scraping the skin off your nose. Then he waves at you.--SockMonkeyHolocaust 2009-07-01 11:13:59 PM

from Mr. Punch Awheel

Nearly 90 years later we are hearing the same old complaint!
Ken Keiffer's take on bicycles and taxes.

Faintly Wednesday

2009-07-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's not as warm as I feared it would be, but it is warm enough. Sunday put a big summer scare into me.

I did not ride Monday or Tuesday. I did not do anything.

Today? Today I got on the bike to accomplish four things:

Mail bill payments & birthday cards. (a day late)
Do labs.
Get cigarettes
Pick up Rolodex from work. (forgot my login stuff for work email, already!)

At the lab the tech stuck me, then nothing was coming out, so she called another tech over to advise her what to do. I fainted. It was very embarrassing. After I woke up they put me on the bed, then did the lab. Then they told me I had to do a urine sample, too. I kind of wish they had told me that YESTERDAY when I called to see what I had to do labs for, since maybe I would have drunken some more liquids before I got there! Well!

I put 9.91 miles on the bike, Jamis, which sorely needs to have its worn-out chain oiled.

I watched Perry Mason movies from the 30s the rest of the day. They were quite entertaining. Frank Faylen(It's A Wonderful Life, The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis) was in one of them, The Case Of The Stuttering Bishop. All the Perry Mason movies I saw today were filmed in the 1930s, and it occurs to me that my mother may have seen them when she was a girl, perhaps at the Del Rey Theatrer in Seaside, although Cinema Tresures implies it is not quite that old. I see the The Case Of The Howling Dog was published in 1934, for example, and made into a movie in 1934. That is fast work!

I cashed in the cans after the Perry Mason movies were finished, then I drove to two libraries (El Cajon and La Mesa) to stock up on books for the holiday weekend. Six mysteries, and one science fiction. I just hope my eyes hold out!

Sunny Sunday

2009-06-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

There was not even ONE cloud in the sky this morning when I took off, and yet I did, anyway. But I DID later on the sunscreen goop.

The sun had not risen yet, it was around six a.m. (On checking, I see that the official sunrise was 5:42 this morning. But it had not peeked over the mountains yet.) The temperature was 61.0 °F.

I headed east, and just kept going.

The first thing I came across was this shattered guitar. Reminded me of my musical dreams, SHATTERED by my own laziness... It is First Act brand guitar. Not terribly expensive, as guitars go.

Ignoring the portent of doom, I kept to the eastern path.

Biking through El Cajon can be excruciatingly boring. It's a flat little city, laid out in a grid pattern. Some of the road have bike lanes, and I applaud that. But Fletcher Parkway has NO accommodation (bike route is a couple blocks to the north.) for cyclists. And it's a booger on a business day. But on Sunday morning? Not a problem.

On East Main I noticed this sad little purple bear. He lost his stuffing! I know the feeling!
I picked him up and took him home.

I felt pretty good, for a change, and I HAD gooped on the sunscreen, so I kept going to the east. I traveled out Olde Highway 80 till I got to the top of the grade on "Alpine Blvd.", then I turned around and started back.

I had not seen any bicyclists on the way out, but now I saw several as I headed back. Several waved as we passed. When I stopped to take this antennas picture (this is Field Day weekend!) on Greenfield Drive, an older gentleman laboring up the little hill from the other side asked how I was doing, and remarked, in passing, that going downhill seemed so much easier. I made some inane comment about the sunny sun.

So, this guy has quite a stack of antennas!

This is the right side (my right!) of the house. It looks like there is a beam antenna sitting on the roof, not mounted on anything. Wire antennas are in evidence, too.

I refilled the water bottle at Van Zanten Park, then headed on Greenfield across the freeway, then slicing over to Fletcher Parkway. Climbed the hill in granny gear, stopping for a couple rocks along the way. There was a request for rock pictures, but instead of individual pictures, here is a shot of the ditch I am geting them from.

See, this will save much time and bandwidth!

By this time the temperature was in the high 70s, although it felt much warmer. It is 87.0 °F outside right now. I predict: mid-nineties for today!

I feel that the rocks in the ditch are collectably valid, as the ditch is connected to the gutter. Cemented, as it were. And in fact drains into the gutter farther down the hill. So there!

So what are the damages for the week?

Just for Jamis, I'm too lazy to go get the Schwinn odometer!

Ride Stats

Trip Mileage 33.00 miles

Week Stats

Schwinn: 00.00 miles
Jamis: 118.71 miles

Week Total: 118.71 miles

Odometer

Jamis: 7,789 miles YTD 1,298 miles (YStart 6,491)

First Day of Vacation

2009-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

No work today, so, after stalling a bit (reading The Clan Corporate, by Charles Stross. ), I suited up, epoxied my glasses back together, and headed out for a Dam Ride In Reverse™.

I went around the lake, mostly, coasted down Jackson hill, then along the Father Junipero Serra Trail. The (automobile) road portion is closed to cars (for maintenance), which makes it perfect for bikes! I almost ate a bug, but managed to spit it out. I distinctly felt a buggy abdomen...

A lady in an electric four-wheel golf cart type of vehicle, with a large dog riding shotgun, turned onto Mesa Road from the mobile home park. I actually was able to gradually catch up, and PASS her! As I passed her she yelled out, "This is embarrassing, you're passing me!" I shouted back, "You're the first person I've been able to pass all day!" She shouted something else, something humorous, but I've forgotten what it was.

While on the Forester Creek bike path I spied something brightly yellow in Forester Creek. I took a picture, so as to zoom in and see what it was. It turns out to be most of a flashlight. It is yours, if you want it!

I also learned something about copyin'n'pastin' in Irfanview!

I saw this airplane as I cruised past Gillespie Field. Silly me, I thought it was an Otter, but it turns out to be a Cessna 208B Caravan. I posted this pic on airport-data.com for this particular aircraft, since I think my pic was more better.

I started up Fletcher Parkway hill, and the sun came out. Pretty sneaky of Our Mr. Sun! I took off my jacket while waiting for the light at Fletcher Parkway and Cuyamaca. I pedaled up the hill in the 30-32 ultimate granny gear (at least on this bike!). Since I was on Jamis, I picked up a couple of large rocks along the way.

I headed home, with my big rocks, and that was about THAT!

The odometer read just over 85 miles for the week. Yippee!

Free Stuff

2009-06-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

I know when I put stuff out on the street that it is usually something I'm too lazy to haul over to the dumpster behind the medical building.

But these two things looked to be in pretty good shape!

A nice brass lamp!

And a probably-not-real-wood desk!

You know you want it!

Got to just over 65 miles commuting this week!

I was sort-of-watching/listening to a PBS television show last night about the brain (it was The Music Instinct: Science and Song, you dolt!), and specifically about effect of music on the brain. They got a couple of rock musicians (Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley) , hooked one of them (Cocker) up to a cat scanner, had the other one (Hawley) played (unplugged) some music, and examined the effect on the first one's brain. Hawley played Sunday Morning, by Lou Reed and John Cale. The review in the L.A. Times said that Cocker sang along while in the MRI, but I thought it was the guitar player singing. Maybe I need a MRI scan!

Wednesday!

2009-06-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Not being entirely sure which way the wind blows, I was charmed to see this nifty weather vane.

Intending to get another ten miles this morning, I went back and forth along the Lake streets.

Saw this GMC panel truck, probably a 1963 or thereabouts. And it certainly looks its age!

Is that some kind of urban camouflage paint job?

I do not know why there is foil in one rear window.

A pretty pink kite, caught in a telephone line. It's Strawberry Shortcake!!

I ran across the Sleeveface movement the other day. Here is my attempt:

I Irfanview-ed it in because it was too hard to get the angles correct, all by myself. The album is King Crimson -- In The Court Of The Crimson King. The pose reflects the pain of lifting the 37-pound box of books. The last box of two pallets worth!

I had a minor success today reinstalling Photo Booth on a Macintosh, using Pacifist to extract the files from the install DVDs, since it did not seem to install using the DVD installer. So that was good!

Did I mention I got another 15 miles today? That brings me to 49 miles of commuting in three days. W00t!

The bike (Jamis) is running well, but it needs a new chain, chainwheels, and cassette. And the freehub slips sometimes, so that needs some work, probably cleaning.

Tuesday

2009-06-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Another fifteen miles today (I was a bit optimistic yesterday) put me at 32 miles for the week, 10 miles ahead of the ball, or the curve, or something.

Yes, none of those figures add up. Deal.

Wonderfully cloudy in the morning, and delightfully warm in the afternoon, makes a pleasant ride to and fro.

I observed an adult cyclist (street clothes/helmet) run straight through a stop sign. I turned right and followed him. As we approached my turn he start windmilling his left arm, wanting me to pass. I hung back, waited for the car coming up from behind to pass, then I pull on around the bicyclist and turned left. I observed him in my mirror, he turned left behind me, then onto the sidewalk.

Takes all kinds, I guess.

Hey, check out the blog links over there somewhere, there's a lot of interesting stuff out there. I'd start with the Fat Cyclist, if I were you.

A Day Of Repeats

2009-06-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

I rode Jamis to work, picking up rocks both ways. Riding a convoluted path, I put 17 miles on the trusty odometer. Not feeling that I have to get to work early helps, too. Can't get in if the gates are locked!

I took another picture of those lizards on the wall of some house, in case you missed them the first time.

I also took another pic of those motorcycles outside the paint shop. I have identified them as Yamahas. The tuning fork emblem on the white one kind of gives it away. I think the water-cooled red bike is a RZ350, and the air-cooled white bike as a RD250. But I could be wrong...

And that's about it.

Birdys

2009-06-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting muscle cramp in the middle of the night, Friday night it was. I managed not to scream, this time, but it was a near thing. So, with that and a bit on ennui, I did not ride the bike Saturday. The leg was sore, even walking was a bit uneven. I did have to go to the grocery, so I took the opportunity to revisit the site of the switch stand photo. But you can't even tell where the siding was. If you are interested in railroad roadbed, you might like this picture. But I doubt it!

On Sunday my leg felt unsore, so I went for a little ride out to the east. As I passed the Petco store I saw a couple of red-tail hawks. One of them was eating something. I took fifteen or so pics, getting closer and closer to the pair. Eventually they took umbrage with my shenanigans and flew off. Dropping the bloody dead thing into the bushes. I'm sorry I disturbed them.

You can click the pic to go to my zooomr page and view the BIG PICS which are 700k or so!

I rode out on Hacienda Drive to Swallow, then DOWN the hill. Swallow has been repaved, it is much smoother. I shall have to do another movie! I came back up the Fletcher Parkway hill, taking a shortcut through the A-frame houses. I took a picture of the old Fletcher Parkway, just for posterity.

It was a two-lane road that snaked its way down the hill into the valley. That's how I remember it!

I tried to catch a couple of guys climbing the grade, but what with stopping to take pictures and the granny gear, they were long gone by the time I got to the top of the grade.

I pretty much coasted on home, and that was that.

Ride Stats

Trip Mileage 11.13 miles
Trip Time 0:59:17

Week Stats

Schwinn: 11.13 miles
Jamis: 20.29 miles

Week Total: 31.42 miles

Odometers

Schwinn: 7,771 miles YTD 241 miles (YStart 7,530)
Jamis: 7,670 miles YTD 1,179 miles (YStart 6,491)
Total: YTD 1,420 miles

Friday

2009-06-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Biked to work a slightly different way, just for a change.

Saw this 1967 (I hope) Pontiac Bonneville, with after-market rims. Did it COME with that green roof?

A short but rather steep climb later, I saw this 1950-ish Chevrolet station wagon. I wobbled about the road, getting in people's ways, to get just the perfect shot.

A couple of houses later were these wire antennas. You can't tell the antennas for the power lines! I been meaning to take a picture of these antennas for years. I may have, actually! Near here, back where that Chevy was, I SWEAR I saw some peacocks one morning, but I never saw them again.

Found a buck, picked it up, all the day I had good luck!

Mileage for the week is just a hair over twenty. I sure hope next week is better!

It's Thursday

2009-06-18T19:08:00.001-07:00

Yeah, all day. Did not ride today, as I stated previously, but I did take a couple pics out the window of the vehicle.

How is this for an interesting vehicle?

Vroom, vroom!

I don't know what this is, and Google did not help, but there are several them perched up there on the traffic signal poles.

I don't know why it is blue. I took it through the vehicle window, maybe it is tinted.

And for the railroad buffs, this is a switch stand in La Mesa, CA, near the static train display. I don't think the turnout nor the switch stand is (are?) there any more.

I copied that image from a 35mm slide, using a digital camera, back lighting the slide with a slide sorter.

Tomorrow I ride!

Days Of Future Past

2009-06-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

I rode the bike to work today, for the first time in a LONG time. After work I rode to the city library and checked out works by David Poyer and Jeff Lindsay.

Tomorrow it is going to be sprinkling when I get up, so I will drive to work. I'll take a picture of the Dodge truck with the BIG EYES so that you will have a frame of reference.

Wednesday I'll think I have to drive someone to an appointment, so I'll get up later, then find out it is not till Thursday. So I'll have to drive, even though it is not raining. After work I'll return the Lindsay book, and finish the Poyer. In the evening I'll drive the someone to the pharmacy. Along the way I'll notice two cyclists, in full kit, who take cuts in front of the ONLY car in their lane, forcing that car to wait on them as they cross the intersection. How rude!

And Thursday I'll certainly have to drive, as I WILL have to transport someone for an appointment.

But Friday! Aaahhh, Friday. Friday, I'll be on the bike again!

Finally Sunday

2009-06-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

I finally went for a bike ride, and now my nose is all itchy. Probably because I did not put on any sunscreen. Hey, it is completely overcast, who needs goop?

And while it was overcast, it was not cold. Cool, but the humidity is in the "not low" range, so it isn't cold, and da sweat ain't drying quite as quickly as it might.

"As God is my witness", I thought today was Father's Day. A not-so-serious miscalculation on my part.

Intending to take care of some picture-taking goals I headed over towards Lemon Grove. Snagged a shot of this rough-n-ready Chevy truck. It is ready to go with ~~it's~~ its homemade bed-cabin-thingie that I've forgotten name of.

Next I noticed the parking lot bumpers and plants at Helix High School, then I moseyed up and over ~~School Ridge~~ ~~Schoolcrest~~ Eastridge, then down into Lemon Grove. Tolley's garage is located there. It's kind of an institution, in an abstract sort-of-way. My friend worked there in the 60s, when it was located downtown, and he has a lot of great stories about the job.

There area number of moldering vehicles behind the fence, several of which are interesting, and even one of which I could identify!

From left to right"

The color says "MG", the door moldings say "Mercury Capri". I do not know.

I got this one, it's a Renault R10!

It's old, but it is not foreign. It is a Chevy, but what model?

This is definitely a Ford truck

If I could only read the "F" number badge I would know the model! Then maybe I could figure out the year!

After Lemon Grove I headed to the EAST, around Mt. Helix.

Near the dome house I saw this screened opening to the underworld. What could it be?

In Eastern El Cajon I came upon a person riding their bike on the sidewalk. We approached a traffic light that had JUST turned green. I continued through the intersection, they stopped and pushed the pedistrian button. Strange.

Made my way through El Cajon, and out Olde Highway 80, to the Johnstown area. I'm sure you know where that is. I didn't. Saw this old out building, I guess one would call it, in a field, with a flower.

And the porpoise of the ride, the goal, the raison d'etre, as it were, the antennas.

Well.

So much for that.

I headed back, stopping at the little roadside memorial to straighten it up a bit.

(Image from 2006)

I slowly climbed the hill up to Grossmont High School, then realized I needed some more miles, so I turned north on Severin Drive to Fletcher Hills. I stopped once to take a picture of this Suzuki Samuri. It MADE me stop!

I looped around Fletcher Hills Elementary, sort of, and headed back down the bike lane on Fletcher Parkway; home again home again.

But before I got there, I found another addition to my collection in the Jamis basket (oh, BTW, I was on the Schwinn today), a widdle doggie!

Ride Stats

Trip Mileage 30.15 miles
Trip Time 2:39:06
Avg. Speed 11.39 mph

Week Stats

Schwinn: 30.15 miles
Jamis: 0 miles

Week Total: 30.15 miles

Odometers

Schwinn: 7,760 miles YTD 230 miles (YStart 7,530)

On Thursday

2009-06-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

While I have not been riding for a couple of weeks, for no particular reason outside of terminal ennui, it does not mean I have not been thinking about bikes and such.

What can we learn from observing our fellow vehicle operators?

Always leave a car-length between vehicles at a stop light. They might roll back on you!

I'm not exactly sure which lane this fellow is in.

Turned out he was turning left, just like me! I, personally, would have taken the lane.

In Part Two of what would have been a four-part series, we see that our intrepid cyclist has caught us at a four-way intersection, and is crossing said intersection. I, personally, would have waited for the white car to pull out for shielding porpoises.

By the by, his pedals have toe-clips, but he is pedaling "on the bottoms". I just made that expression up!

In Part Three the cyclist would have caught up at the next light, which has a rather interesting narrowing-function the road designers installed last year. But, he missed the green by a hundred feet, and I had to proceed or risk getting honked at by the SUV behind me.

And, after that, there was just no way that Part Four was going to take place.

Steve the L. had an interesting tale about mountain biking with a gruppo of likely lads in the Syacamore Canyon area. A few hills were mounted, a few snakes were seen, and at least one tire was flatted.

I've been looking for a place to stash the word "modicum", but I haven't found it yet.

Speaking of work, this is what the math kids were up to last week: Polyhedraville!

Math is fun!

And speaking of kids, one of them was telling me about her trip to Germany, and all about the Autobahn, which reminded of the song of that title, which I could not play because YouTube is blocked at work, for some reason, which lead me to Kraftwerk's Tour de France, which I found on an unblocked site, but the link is to a better one on YouTube.

Later!

Zero Week

2009-06-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

So far this week I have ridden zero miles.

Just because I could.

On the other hand, I found a bunch of old slides and digitized them using a Caramate rear-projection screen projector/viewer and my digital camera. You can see that I have a lot to learn about camera settings. These pictures look a LOT better as slides!

This image is Shay #3 on a siding in La Mesa, California, at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum display.

From Railroad Slides Copied

You can click the image to to my Picasa Web Albums and see the 30-odd images, if you dare.

I WILL further my education by larnin' up how to do this slide copyin' thing PROPERLY!

And in case you missed it last year, I took this pic of Shay #3 back in 1967.

I saw another interesting vehicle today, a Jeep Rubicon. While not an OLD vehicle, it was outfitted with all the utilities need for some off-road brush- bashing, so I thought it is pretty cool. Including poor Kermit with an antenna up his posterior!

Bumper snicker seen nearby: MY KID AND ALL MY MONEY GO TO UCSD (Link goes to the Urban Dictionary definition of UCSD. Not safe for kids. You have been warned!)