2023 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Stefan Mikes]

Yesterday my neighbor, G, sent me a text.

1 or 1:30?

As laconic as Jacek!

@Prairie Dog: Good you're back! I started worrying about you. On the other hand, the Canadian winters must be really tough!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yesterday, took a late afternoon 2-beach ride -- first to meet my wife at South Ponto, and then on to Moonlight Beach at the foot of B Street in Encinitas, where I caught this moment before heading home:

Never tire of watching orange sunlight play on the water as the sun goes down.

The Pacific storms of the last few weeks moved most of the sand offshore at both beaches, leaving the underlying wave-rounded pebbles and cobbles behind. For the most part, these are hard igneous rocks from the rugged mountains of SoCal and Mexico. They look dark and uninteresting from afar, but a close look reveals a rich palette of reds, greens, blacks, browns, tans, and occasional blues with fascinating crystalline textures. To a trained eye, each pebble tells a story.

Like the seashells, the much softer sedimentary rocks eroded from local seacliffs can't take the punishment the waves and their entrained pebbles dole out and quickly turn to much more mobile sand and silt. The sand will wash back onto the beaches by summer.

 

[Taylor57]

Yesterday, took a late afternoon 2-beach ride -- first to meet my wife at South Ponto, and then on to Moonlight Beach at the foot of B Street in Encinitas, where I caught this moment before heading home:

View attachment 145069

Never tire of watching orange sunlight play on the water as the sun goes down.

The Pacific storms of the last few weeks moved most of the sand offshore at both beaches, leaving the underlying wave-rounded pebbles and cobbles behind. For the most part, these are hard igneous rocks from the rugged mountains of SoCal and Mexico. They look dark and uninteresting from afar, but a close look reveals a rich palette of reds, greens, blacks, browns, tans, and occasional blues with fascinating crystalline textures. To a trained eye, each pebble tells a story.

Like the seashells, the much softer sedimentary rocks eroded from local seacliffs can't take the punishment the waves and their entrained pebbles dole out and quickly turn to much more mobile sand and silt. The sand will wash back onto the beaches by summer.

Love Encinitas and stopping by Juanitas for a taco!

Juanitas Taco Shop. - Google Search

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Love Encinitas and stopping by Juanitas for a taco!

Juanitas Taco Shop. - Google Search

So many enticing shops and restaurants we have yet to try in Encinitas. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Chargeride]

Congratulations on getting your Vado repaired to better-than-new and back to operation. Hope your new motor didn't cost the arm and a leg that my imploded motor cost me.

I left my Vado at home today when I headed out with the Gazelle for a 20 mile tour of the very wet countryside (yeah, it rained in the morning which was a surprise). This was a solo ride as my neighbor G was busy with her builder and architect on her house renovation, otherwise she would have joined me. I decided to stick to the few paved roads we have because our gravel roads had turned into muddy quagmires with swimming pool sized puddles in all the wrong places.

I hadn't been on these roads since the summer, so it was a nice change of scenery.

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I was barely a mile from home and stopped to snap a picture of the adorable pony in his very expensive turnout with his two horse companions. I had just taken the picture when a big truck pulling a massive horse trailer rolled up to me and stopped, windows cranked down so that my neighbors within could call out a hello. They were just coming back from foxhunting with a hunt whose territory was on the other side of the mountain, so we chatted about the hunt, the hounds (who had run a coyote right off the bat which exhausted everyone by the time the hounds lost the scent - coyotes run a straight line at blistering speeds while foxes run in a big circle, the scent often bringing the hounds right back where they started), the footing ("very deep" my neighbors both said at the same time together), and my cycling. They made me promise I'd drop in at their farm, soon, for a glass of wine and a visit. We said our goodbyes - them to trailer home, unload the horses at the barn, and retire to their house with their feet up, tired from a long day in the saddle, while I threw a leg over my Gazelle and settled in my saddle for a 20 mile ride through the countryside, sans hounds, foxes, or coyotes.

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The roads were still wet from the morning drenching, my tires sounding exactly like sizzling bacon in a pan on that wet tarmac, greatly amusing me.

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The paved roads followed the profile of many exquisite estates, most bordered by the ubiquitous black painted post and board fencing so familiar to Virginia while other boundaries were earmarked by endless lines of perfectly erected stone fences. You have to admire the artistry and dedication portrayed in these precisely stacked monuments to human endeavor.

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The back gate to this estate framed a beautiful vista. I know the lady that owns this property, and had hoped she would make an appearance as I paused at the crossroad next to her farm, debating which way I wanted to go. Left on the paved road, or right onto the gravel road. It would have been lovely to see her and stop for chat. Alas, it was not to be, and so I turned left and pedaled on.

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My direction of travel took me on a loop that encompassed some of the most impressive rolling terrain we had in our area. These were some serious rolling hills which got me almost to 40mph racing down each slope hoping to slingshot up as much of the following climb as I could manage. The rolls were endless, one after another. This picture was taken from the top of the very steep, final roll before I hit the small enclave of Philomont, about 13 miles from home. I was already drenched in sweat from the constant up and down, my legs tiring even as I kept the Gazelle in Turbo mode.

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Just outside of Philomont Fire House is a Smokey the Bear sign with the current fire hazard. The "Burning Permitted" addendum was for the brush pile burns that each farm was allowed to conduct during the winter months. Come summer a ban would be in effect until the following winter, and the building of the yearly brush piles would begin all over again. Our farm usually accumulated enough brush for two piles which we would light afire on the first calm day after the ban was lifted. It was a yearly tradition for the most part. If and when the brush got to be too much to pile in the field, usually after a wind storm, we would just pile it all on the flatbed and truck it to the landfill to be chipped into free mulch.

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I whipped downhill past this house, then turned around and slogged back up the hill to take a picture as this was the sole place I've seen that was still fully dressed in Christmas attire. They certainly are getting their money out of those decorations. I suspect January will have given away to February before the decorarions are retired.

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The road I was cycling had been a turnpike a century prior with much history to call its own. At one time, years ago, the white pump had stood at the end of a junction about a quarter of a mile north of this sign. I noticed a while back that the pump had disappeared from the original site, but hadn't known until today that it had been moved to reside next to the historical marker.

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The pump looked a bit sad and downtrodden, as if stuck in the ground as an afterthought. In its prior life it had perched atop a very nice pedestal, proud of its heritage. I hope whoever stuck the pump in this new location takes the time to recreate the pedestal. I suppose time will tell if that happens.

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The older, still existing houses on this route are uniformly farm houses set close to the road. Well built and impressive in their day, many are still maintained as residences, a testimony to quality construction that easily spans a century.

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Others are not so lucky. I have watched over the years as this abandoned house on this busy road has slowly settled from something that could have been saved into something now a complete ruin.

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In 1957, according to the county archives of aerial photographs, the house (the square black dot pretty much dead center) was a sturdy residence, proudly positioned along the road, unencumbered by trees and commanding beautiful pastorial views out every window. Time and human neglect would mark its slow fall from grace over the next 70 years.

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I parked my bike off the road and struggled through the tangle of thick vines and pricker encrusted underbrush to the sagging front door for a peek inside. The remnants of human habitation were in a suspended free fall into piles of old broken and rotted wood. A bed spring on its side formed a fence blocking the interior. Whether on purpose or by accident, it served it's purpose.
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I didn't go inside, but remained outside where the only hazard was the undergrowth which threatened to trip me at ever step. I backed away carefully after taking my photographs, almost stepping on a broken ancient artifact disguised among the leaf litter underfoot. I had no idea what it was. A radio, judging by the pieces? A small reminder of someone's past life. I wondered what they listened to on it. News of WWI, the Great Depression, Roosevelt's speeches for the New Deal, the battles of WWII. All that is left now is rusted pieces, the transistors forever silent.


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Behind the house a new electric utility box had been erected on a construction frame. Someone had purchased the property (for $5,350,000 I would find out later) and was in the permit process of building a new home. A million dollar home, like the gated property across the road, which will probably be the death knell for the dilapidated ruin near the road .

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I looked at the surrounding properties, all sporting million dollar mansions that may well tell their own stories a century or more from now, just like the old abandoned house behind me.

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I left the old place to its memories, and headed down the road towards the mountains in the distance. I wasn't going that far, at least today. Maybe another time when it was warmer. I was getting a touch chilled having stopped to photograph the house, and now all I wanted to do was turn in the direction of home.

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My adopted road intersected the turnpike road, so I turned and headed south. I was about 5 miles from home, but chilled from the cool air sneaking into my parka onto my damp sweatshirt. Despite my personal discomfort the views of my less populated countryside did not fail to bring a smile to my face. It was nice to see the farm ponds filled to the brim with sparking clear water after a precipitously steep decline in the water levels this past summer when most ponds were little more than banks of dried mud anxiously surrounding a sad foot or two of algae choked water.

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The rain, now long gone, had dropped enough moisture to form an inversion layer in the valley at the foot of the mountain chain where the warm air below met the cooler air midway up the slopes. A paint brush swipe of ethereal white across the intense blue of the mountain. Very artistic and quite enchanting if you ask me.

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In the farm across the road from mine, someone had driven along the end of the field on the old farm road leaving a mud track to mark their passage.

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I parked my bike for a final picture as the sky cleared itself to present the most amazing palate of blue I'd ever seen. It was a fitting end to a lovely ride.

A few seconds later I was headed up my driveway towards home.

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Thats a lovely post and the main thing I actually took from it is those beautiful roadside signs that havent been slightly vandalised, it says everything about your part of the world.

 

[Chargeride]

I remember the condition you have, heated socks next I think.
The wife has a winter problem with her right heel.
I have to make a hot water bottle every night and of course she sits there watching TV with her foot carefully balanced on it and I have get everything for her then.

I should show her your ride, good old Polish grit.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I remember the condition you have, heated socks next I think.
The wife has a winter problem with her right heel.
I have to make a hot water bottle every night and of course she sits there watching TV with her foot carefully balanced on it and I have get everything for her then.

I should show her your ride, good old Polish grit.

No heating would work if your socks are soaked with water... The only way for a longer Winter ride on raining is just to put a pair of waterproof trousers with shoe protectors on. Such trousers are very uncomfortable but that's the only way. Protecting the feet is crucial!

 

[Prairie Dog]

@Prairie Dog: Good you're back! I started worrying about you. On the other hand, the Canadian winters must be really tough!

The month of December was one which I think most of the locals here would like to put behind them. The temperatures were so brutal it was dampening my spirit to ride. Now that the course of the weather has altered with more favorable conditions, I hope to ride outdoors on a more consistent basis. There is still some way to go before we can welcome the spring equinox but until then, days like this are a blessing during this time of the season.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It looks @Prairie Dog there should be a snowy forest ride here on Saturday. I'm scared!

 

[Readytoride]

No heating would work if your socks are soaked with water.

What we used to do endurance riding (horses) was use plastic kitchen storage baggies on our feet (over the socks inside the shoes) to keep the feet dry. At times when you had to get off your horse to run/walk alongside due to bad trail conditions or to do on-trail emergency repairs and you had to stand in rough conditions (deep mud, puddles, etc), those plastic baggies were a life saver.

Years ago but still forever fresh in my mind, I rode a two day 100 mile endurance ride on my horse during a nor'easter where it rained, snowed, sleeted, iced, and blew winds that were bitterly cold both days of competition. Plastic bags on my feet inside my tennis shoes were a life saver. It helped that I also had a relatively cheap set of sole inserts that were sold at the local pharmacy and hardware stores for hunters and contractors that wanted warm feet in the winter. These inserts incorporated inert chemicals that had an instant reaction to one's own body warmth to cause the inserts to heat up - sometimes to a "foot in the fire" level of heat, especially if you slipped just a bare foot inside the shoe. Because it was a chemical reaction, rather than a battery, the inserts continued to work for multiple uses without any effort other than contact. I could use them over the entire winter before they tired out.

**Incidentally, my horse did great both days. Weather didn't bother him one bit because he had a warm full body fur coat, lots of warm waterproof blankets, and got to sleep in the cozy horse trailer with me at night while the storm howled and rocked my big gooseneck trailer keeping me awake. As did my horse's endless chewing of his hay. All. Night. Long. Except when he dozed off to cat nap, a luxury I struggled (but failed) to share. I was beyond exhausted at the end of the ride. He was all chipper and happy. The little bugger. RIP his opinionated contentious talented little soul!

Photo of us (taken 2008 during yet another ice/rain storm at a different ride in) and used by the national endurance organization for a full page ad in an equestrian magazine. I was only a few miles into the trail heading along a ridge trail in the mountains, highly amused at the ping-ping-ping sound of ice pellets bouncing off my helmet, so gave the photographer a big grin. My horse was plotting something nefarious at the time to make me yell at him. You could see it in his eyes. He delighted in driving me nuts. Notice there is no bit in his mouth. I rode him in just a halter because that made him very happy, plus he could eat enroute without an annoying piece of metal in the way. Another photo of me "tailing" him up a very difficult mountain path that caused more than one horse in the competitions over the years to quit and say "no way", so much so that in later years the treacherous rocks had to be laboriously removed for the trail to be safer. It was safer for the two of us if he pulled me behind him rather than me being on his back affecting his balance. He was a former carriage horse so he didn't mind towing me. He also liked that he was in front and in charge for this bit of nasty trail navigation. Hence his concentration and bold climbing. He'd have been happy if I'd trotted behind him holding his tail the entire 50 miles. I wouldn't have lasted a mile.

And now I ride bikes that also have no need for a bit, nor do they plot against me - except for the Specialized which left me on the side of the road last year with a blown motor 6 miles from the charity ride finish in a mountainous area. I'm still mad at that...although I did win at that same ride the drawing for dinner for two at the 3 Michelin star restaurant at the Inn at Little Washington, so it all balanced out in the end. (The dinner cost far more than the new $700 motor for the bike. I figure it was the universe's way of apologizing for having bit of fun. I'm sure my horse, in spirit, was behind the whole thing, looking down (or up) with a smirk on his face. Little bugger!)

Sorry about the diversion onto a different sport. All the talk of riding in the snow and ice and rain brought back a lot of old great memories.

 

[Readytoride]

Cold weather shoe inserts

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you for sharing your memories Flora!

I once bought a big pack of those chemical inserts to never use them Now I use electrically heated boot insoles as well as electrically heated socks. The lesson I've just learnt is the shoes/boots must be kept dry. I own a pair of waterproof overalls. They include shoe/boot protectors that are indeed effective. Only the feeling when wearing those overalls is you wear... a prophylactic These trousers are uncomfortable and they produce unpleasant rustle as you ride.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It snowed last night. Heavily. It's going to be a very interesting riding day today...

I knew it could not work out for me...

12 people reported for the ride, including Jacek on his e-MTB. I wasted an hour of driving just 36 km because of tragically bad road conditions in the area. It was snowing all the time. After having had ridden for 750 m, I said good-bye to the group and returned to my car. I had no traction with my Vado in the snow, especially at the rear wheel!

Jacek sent me a message from a restaurant 40 km away. His Giant succumbed to the moisture (a known thing!), so his e-bike lost the assistance. It looks my brother could be returning on asphalt!

A wrong day for riding.

P.S. Several riders (including Jacek) have completed the ride. 80 km at average speed of 16 km/h. Jacek's Trance E+ recovered the assistance when the group had a lunch at the ride midpoint. My heroes!

 

[Prairie Dog]

It snowed last night. Heavily. It's going to be a very interesting riding day today...

View attachment 145200
I knew it could not work out for me...

12 people reported for the ride, including Jacek on his e-MTB. I wasted an hour of driving just 36 km because of tragically bad road conditions in the area. It was snowing all the time. After having had ridden for 750 m, I said good-bye to the group and returned to my car. I had no traction with my Vado in the snow, especially at the rear wheel!

Jacek sent me a message from a restaurant 40 km away. His Giant succumbed to the moisture (a known thing!), so his e-bike lost the assistance. It looks my brother could be returning on asphalt!

A wrong day for riding.

P.S. Several riders (including Jacek) have completed the ride. 80 km at average speed of 16 km/h. Jacek's Trance E+ recovered the assistance when the group had a lunch at the ride midpoint. My heroes!

Kudos for getting out and giving it your best, Stefan as the riding conditions look pretty miserable. The guy clad in knickers is a reminder of how not to dress for Canadian winters.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Kudos for getting out and giving it your best, Stefan as the riding conditions look pretty miserable. The guy clad in knickers is a reminder of how not to dress for Canadian winters.

I've heard stories of that ride... The leading rider of that group, a strong competing cyclist did not want to give any comment just post-ride; he gave the ride the title of "The biggest BONK ever" on Strava. Several riders asked their friends for a lift from the 37th kilometre restaurant. The organizer together with an activist and my brother formed the "slow" group and finished the ride last. Unusually for him, Jacek was using a plenty of assistance for his Trance E+; he completed the ride with 11% of the 625 Wh battery (as you know Art that meant "riding on fumes" for a Giant e-bike).

I knew what I was doing to give up very early. Only I could drive my car to the restaurant to give Jacek a lift

 

[Chargeride]

The wife dragged me out of bed at 8am for a bike ride on the beach.
It was -2C, but cloudless and strangely bright feeling for no reason, we took the van simply because the roads were lethal, a thin layer of solid ice across the entire surface.
Crawled to beach car parks with the traction control cutting in at every takeoff.
I was in no mood for it, but once I was on the bike I started to get enthused for a blast.
Fingers numb, wooly hat over my ears, nose running.

I was amazed to find a lot of people there, I guess this was the first day that didnt feel January dank, but seeing families walking at 8am at these temperatures was quite a surprise.

Long shadows, constantly testing the grip, but moments of sheer simple beauty as that fleeting feeling of something special flashes into your mind, the one that for a split second alters your perception of familiarity.

With a bit of creative path choosing, you can ride for 10 miles though this elevated terrain, constantly choosing a path though the trees and calculating the steepness of the next descent.
With the added assurance no bears are going to join in the fun or that getting lost is always just a half hour walk to a coffee stand.

The weather guys have told us this was the last cold day...waves to the gulf stream....we never got any proper snow up here, but springs coming and I'm looking forward not back.

All the coffee shops were full to the brim, so we rode to our local Garden centre after the roads thawed out ,which is mostly used by local retirees.
Its recently had a makeover and the cafe is very pleasant indeed.
Ive just discovered its part of the Klondyke and Strike brand, which seems such an odd name for a British company.

But sat there it suddenly dawned on me that Im 60 this year and here I am sat in a garden centre, and worst of all I walked around admiring the displays and nearly bough a body warmer.

Next I'll be walking about holding my hands behind my back.

I asked the lovely old ladies if I could bring the bike in, no problem at all they said.
But as I wheeled my fatbike in their faces dropped, I might as well been bringing in a Hells Angel Harley Davidson.
Probably get discussed at Bridge club.

 

[Readytoride]

Probably get discussed at Bridge club.

This comment just made my day! Thanks for the fun writeup. It was a great read (you young whippersnapper you).

 

[RabH]

After 9 days off the bike due to freezing temps we finally got a thaw today, it was very windy but that wasn't stopping me! It was a bit murky and threatening to rain but when I set off it was dry so I wasn't bothered about some precipitation after 9 days with no cycling! It was a very murky morning with a chilly SW wind, the first 5 miles were directly into the wind so I decided to turn east and I was so glad I did! I decided to use quite a few cycle paths which is unlike me but they were ice free and car free so it was a joy to ride on them, some are pretty new so they were in great condition

I wasn't going to bother with photos due to the conditions but it actually improved at my turning point near Linlithgow, where it was time to face that wind again! This is the road that leads to Beecraigs Country Park but the crosswinds were crazy here so I turned off towards Kingscavil where I freewheeled down the huge hill at 43.3mph I didn't have the bottle to pedal...well it was wet and lots of loose stones so I wasn't chancing my luck! This was looking back at the huge descent after I climbed out of the valley!

This is looking towards Beecraigs Country Park which is way up at the top of the hill in amongst the trees!

I was now heading for Linlithgow which was the best way to go today to get some shelter from the relentless wind, I think I did manage to pick the best route today! The weather decided to give me a break and it actually got a little brighter...

My steed is closing in on 24000 miles and was in top form as always, what a bike!

I continued on into the wind towards Standburn, passing over the canal near to the Avon Aqueduct! The ice can still be seen despite the rising temps today...

Me and the bike stopped here for a break from the wind! Time to grab a well earned snack...

I passed through Standburn where the twisty road rises and falls all the way to Avonbridge where I would have to make a decision about which road to take to avoid the strong crosswinds, I decided to turn north up the big climb towards Shieldhill where I would have the wind behind me for a bit! It was a great choice and meant I would miss out the exposed roads towards Caldercruix, the next decision was whether to chance the quiet back roads which may still be icy in parts! I reached Slamannan and turned off the main road on to the back road I use a lot, I passed a farm on a tight bend and the road was covered in thick ice and hard packed snow but thankfully it was only part way across the road so I decided to chance it! My luck was in, the road just past the farm was ice free and I had it all to myself!

One final picture of my steed and I enjoyed a lovely ride back home to a very welcome hot shower, what a brilliant ride despite the wind!

As i was getting near home it was threatening to rain but my luck was in and I only got a few sprinkles, it was so good to get out on the bike again and hopefully there will be more riding to come this week! 207 miles so far which isn't too shabby for January!

 

[Twin Valley]

The wife dragged me out of bed at 8am for a bike ride on the beach.
It was -2C, but cloudless and strangely bright feeling for no reason, we took the van simply because the roads were lethal, a thin layer of solid ice across the entire surface.
Crawled to beach car parks with the traction control cutting in at every takeoff.
I was in no mood for it, but once I was on the bike I started to get enthused for a blast.
Fingers numb, wooly hat over my ears, nose running.
View attachment 145286

I was amazed to find a lot of people there, I guess this was the first day that didnt feel January dank, but seeing families walking at 8am at these temperatures was quite a surprise.

View attachment 145287
Long shadows, constantly testing the grip, but moments of sheer simple beauty as that fleeting feeling of something special flashes into your mind, the one that for a split second alters your perception of familiarity.

View attachment 145288
With a bit of creative path choosing, you can ride for 10 miles though this elevated terrain, constantly choosing a path though the trees and calculating the steepness of the next descent.
With the added assurance no bears are going to join in the fun or that getting lost is always just a half hour walk to a coffee stand.


View attachment 145290

The weather guys have told us this was the last cold day...waves to the gulf stream....we never got any proper snow up here, but springs coming and I'm looking forward not back.

All the coffee shops were full to the brim, so we rode to our local Garden centre after the roads thawed out ,which is mostly used by local retirees.
Its recently had a makeover and the cafe is very pleasant indeed.
Ive just discovered its part of the Klondyke and Strike brand, which seems such an odd name for a British company.

View attachment 145291
But sat there it suddenly dawned on me that Im 60 this year and here I am sat in a garden centre, and worst of all I walked around admiring the displays and nearly bough a body warmer.

Next I'll be walking about holding my hands behind my back.

I asked the lovely old ladies if I could bring the bike in, no problem at all they said.
But as I wheeled my fatbike in their faces dropped, I might as well been bringing in a Hells Angel Harley Davidson.
Probably get discussed at Bridge club.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep

except Robert Frost was riding a horse not a bike but the bike would work - and for those of us reaching the end of our 60's that suddenly dawning thing really jumps out - seems the weather man is confused - Brits are enjoying the snow flakes and in Western Canada I spent an hour trying to clean the mud that clogged my derailleur as I sank out of site in the mud in our plus 12 degree weather but ended up pushing the bike home ...

 

[Chargeride]

Its very strange, but Im binge watching snowmobile videos and they are saying its the best snow in decades.
Absolutely incredible mountain footage.