Foxen Canyon Ride

Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

BF: Wake up Missy, time to do another 60 mile ride, this time with hills!
Me: Must we?

The BF dragged me kicking and screaming out the door and it’s only day 2 of biking. He’s always so gung ho to set off and ride whereas I view sleeping as major exercise. We saw a few cyclists but mostly we were alone in the bucolic countryside amidst wineries and you guessed it, canyons that involved climbing and some nice descents.

Many of the vineyards looked like this. Lovely patterns, yes.











Yes, it's as steep as it looks.

Later we discovered the Bulldog Café, a coffee house in Solvang that has pictures of the various pro cycling teams hanging on its walls.

Sideways in Solvang

Monday, September 22, 2008.

BF: Wake up Missy, time to do the Sideways and Amgen Tour of California time trial routes. 60 miles of glorious biking.
Me: What is this Boot camp or vacation?
BF: Got to get you in shape for the 2008 Low Key Hillclimbs!
Me: Will there be SAG support today with a Chippendale male dancer driving?
BF: Sigh. What to do with you, what to do with you?
Me: Well, there's a spa down the street ....



This route took us past rolling hills, U-Pick apple farms, wineries, exotic animals, and ranches - a sense of serenity hangs in the air. Thanks to the Santa Barbara Bike Coalition for providing us with routes. The time trial route was lovely; we did it a number of times throughout our stay. No wonder the pros train here. The weather is perfect, the locals are nice, and there is little traffic, though it would be even sweeter when the hills are green.






Lookey, buffalo!





Lookey, ostrich.





Lookey, another animal. Oh wait, that's The Boyfriend. Some view, eh!





I had 2 flats. The BF noticed my rim tape needed repairing so he applied a temporary fix with electrical tape. Now you tell me, does your man carry electrical tape? Could be a defining moment in a relationship. :)

Solvang Biking Holiday

Sunday, September 21.

Hello from Solvang (Santa Barbara County/Santa Ynez Valley, California); founded in 1911 by 3 Danish educators. The Boyfriend and I learned about the founding fathers from a placemat at a restaurant.



Our biking holiday here includes cycling the Amgen Tour of California Solvang time trial route and biking along routes that showcase scenes from the movie Sideways.

A Wetland Trail

He: Let's do the Alameda Creek Trail Saturday!
Me: Let's do the CH Trail, you know the one that leads to my bedroom where I can take a long nap.
He: Bring lots of water and food.
Me: How about I bring lots of men, instead.
He: [ignoring me]. 9:30am sharp my place, Missy.

Naturally, I showed up at his pad at 10:00am.



The day began with gray skies and a chill in the air as we crossed the Dumbarton Bridge and began the 45 mile or so trail. Eventually we saw blue skies.





The Boyfriend got a flat out by Niles Canyon and later, I got a flat too despite the Specialized Armadillo tires, you know, the tank tires he bought me so that I wouldn't have flats and would always lag behind him. I told him to go get the limo. He told me to fix the flat. We really know how to communicate with one another ....




We saw lots of wildlife but no wild men. Pretty flowers, though, eh.

Next weekend, we're off on a biking holiday. Stay tuned.

Labor Day Weekend

After the 58.9 mile Watsonville ride, I expected to take the day off, to have a day of rest, to paint my nails, to eat bonbons, to lounge about -- after all, it was Labor Day weekend. But no, The Boyfriend decided to work me hard the rest of the holiday.




We spent Sunday exploring the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge on our hybrids. I want to go back when everything is green!



Photo above: Look a big hole in the ground but usually referred to as a quarry.



We ended up biking 25 miles, including going over the Dumbarton Bridge.






Monday was spent biking Sand Hill Road, Whiskey Hill and Canada Road, a 28 mile loop which we did on our road bikes in 2 hours, somewhat of a personal best for me. The Boyfriend was amazed at my speed (21-30 mph on stretches of Canada Road and Sand Hill). "I feel the need for speed" as Maverick and Goose said in Top Gun. Well not really, I usually just feel the need to lounge about and eat bonbons.