A Ride with a View

Start of today's club ride. Hard to see perhaps, but, walk the plank, duck.  Walk it.

Thanks to Miss P. for discovering Country View, a climb I managed to do today, though I did walk a bit of it.

Yes, I like looking dorky.  Omg, I was so overdressed today.  No wind, and temperatures clearly close to 80.  Well, let's re-phrase shall we, I am so hot hot hot atop Country View.

And they're off, my fellow club members, onward to tackle Croy because we haven't had enough pain.  Adieu.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed the view and our poppies.  And wished I was home in a bathtub of icecubes.

The reservoir teases me.

The giant fan teases me.  Did I mention that I am a hottie.

Oh lookey, after returning to the start (43 miles later), dinner awaits.

Or perhaps, duck for dinner.  Omg, these critters followed me all over the park.  As usual, I managed to finish last but I had a blast with Miss P. 

Adventure in LB

Sunday, March 1 - Wedneday, March 4

Rarely do I fly out of my home airport (San Jose).  Love the Southwest terminal.  Some turbulence prompting flight attendant to say, "Now's a good time to make sure your seat is fastened."  I felt reassured.... but my colleagues and I landed safely in Los Angeles.   Thought we were flying over San Diego but apparently it was the lovely harbor of Long Beach.  Clearly, I could do with a geography lesson or two.

Lobby of overpriced hotel in Long Beach.  No free Internet access either.  First stop of the evening -- the bar before discovering the Promenade, a street of fantastic restaurants. 

After each long day of my business trip, I had some free time to explore.  No, not the London Eye, people.  Long Beach was quite lovely to my surprise. 

No people, we're not in Venice, like it has palm trees.  No time though to explore the waterways, unfortunately.

No people, we are not in Sausalito.  Look at the skyline.  We're in Long Beach. 

Must say, this is quite a walkable and bicycle friendly city.  Plus the city provides a free bus called The Passport.   I was pleasantly surprised staying in Long Beach.

Found some time to visit The Queen Mary with colleagues, hello my friends from Sonoma.  It's now a hotel.  Below it is a russian submarine. 

a view.

Inside the Queen Mary.  Can we say, redrum redrum, The Shining....  Loved that they re-purposed this historic vessel.  Charming.  I'm glad that I had some time to be a tourist.

Back at LAX, ready to go home.  And the Oscar goes to .... yes, The Boyfriend, while on his own business trip in another state, still found time to make me feel special and put up with my babbling.

The Blue Balls Ride

Been a long time since I've done the Blue Balls ride, aka Donny's Corralitos club ride.  The ride started from Lexington Dam, over to Old Santa Cruz Hwy, Summit Road, down San Jose Soquel, and into Soquel, Aptos, Corralitos and back up Eureka Canyon.  Donny has varied the route a bit and that was a pleasant surprise (White Road). 

Miss P was my companion on this ride and she kept me on my toes.  The Boyfriend did not join us because he was out riding with his new bike buddy.  We shall refer to him as The Other Man. 

Meanwhile, let's discuss what The Boyfriend missed, shall we, much to my delight. 

Steaming down San Jose Soquel road, my silk scarf blowing wildly along with me, a male cyclist and his team caught up to me and he said, "Love the scarf.  It's pretty."  Note to BF:  That's code for "I'm pretty."  I think I must have been exuding phermones because boy I sure caught the fancy of a few men, cyclists, motorcyclists, etc.

I arrived at the park with the blue balls only to discover that half of our Eastern Sierras gang was also on the ride!  Another thing The BF missed out on.   Miss P. chatted with a nice looking cyclist who was wearing the same jersey as hers.  Too bad he had other plans....

We lost the sun (not be found until the climb into Eurkea Canyon) after the rest stop in the park with the blue balls.  It was somewhat chilly today.  Good thing, wait, wait for it, note to The BF, that I was wearing wool.  Here I am in Corralitos before the climb up Eureka Canyon. A male cyclist said to me, "You're pretty."  Sweet.  Take note Boyfriend. 

Flowers everywhere today, here as Miss P. and I began the climb up Eureka Canyon.  The photo doesn't do justice to the beauty we experienced.  We also saw daffodils, a few poppies, and some other lovely flowers, making our ride just swell.  I learned by the way that you can get water from the, wait, wait for it, fire station on Eureka Canyon.  I was worried that I'd bonk climbing the canyon but Miss P. and I hammered up it despite the less than desired road surface.  I do believe the mountain bikers enjoyed my singing. 

As I came into the home stretch at Old Santa Cruz Hwy., my favorite frenchman was waiting to escort me back to the car.  Note to BF:  what a nice finish, eh.

I am, of course, delighted that The BF has a new biking buddy and I hope he enjoyed his ride.  We enjoyed ours. 

Just the stats:

4868 feet of climbing
57.67 miles
10.2 avg mph
31.5 fastest speed
5 hr  37 minutes (not bad)