Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[PatriciaK]

Yup, just me and my friend and about 10 million others, both day hikers and backpackers. For those who bike ride gravel roads, this is one rather intense 20 or so miles of gravel but you would not want to bike it - the dust would fill your lungs as the 5 million cars and pickup truck pass. And I don't know the ultimate grade but it is very steep the last few miles. Using the Crosstrek's manual 1, 2 and 3 gears to climb and descend the steep curves. Seriously, its a long way in on a dirt road but that did not stop National Park seekers. The lot was filled and cars lined both sides of the road below the parking lot. Views from the parking lot are actually quite rewarding. And you can hear the ice falls off of Johannesburg Mt. But I apparently missed the mountain goats that the tourist scared away!

Yep, every time we've done that hike it's been like a giant procession . Views are totally worth it, though!

Our goal in the olden days was to hike over the pass all the way to Stehekin, take the boat down the lake, and somehow return (there was going to be another party involved, coming the other way and exchanging car keys). Never got around to it, though... And our knees couldn't do it today .

 

[Prairie Dog]

We had to defer our morning ride on the account of an unexpected overnight guest who decided to drop by last evening during a rainstorm. We couldn’t say goodbye without first entertaining our visitor with a relaxing drive to the countryside before parting ways.

 

[Djangodog]

A day off the bike and on the trail. Cascade Pass in the North Cascades National Park, Washington State.

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Spectacular scenery. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Djangodog]

We met these nice women on our morning ride today. The woman in the light blue owns that pasture.

Her horse wanted to meet Sparky. Took a little taste of my grip. No damage. Beautiful beast. We’ve met some very nice people on the backroads.

 

[kahn]

Yep, every time we've done that hike it's been like a giant procession . Views are totally worth it, though!

Our goal in the olden days was to hike over the pass all the way to Stehekin, take the boat down the lake, and somehow return (there was going to be another party involved, coming the other way and exchanging car keys). Never got around to it, though... And our knees couldn't do it today .

I literally dragged my body to the pass yesterday. Boy am I out of shape. I've actually climbed Sahale and been up Sahale Arm three or four times - an endless climbing meadow with little rills and flowers and marmots that stops at the glacier. And a toilet with a view to end all views!

 

[kahn]

We had to defer our morning ride on the account of an unexpected overnight guest who decided to drop by last evening during a rainstorm. We couldn’t say goodbye without first entertaining our visitor with a relaxing drive to the countryside before parting ways.

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And you weren't skunked!!! I was once - 60 years later and I will can't forget the odor.

 

[Mulezen]

Billy Joe Shaver calls them ‘country kitties’

 

[Prairie Dog]

And you weren't skunked!!! I was once - 60 years later and I will can't forget the odor.

This one was a bit skiddish but thankfully didn’t release any of its malodorous perfume our way at any time at capture, during the drive out or its ultimate release. We’ve used tarps in the past to cover the trap but they just shred them to bits hence the plywood box. Live trapped six of the buggers in our backyard last year.

BTW, those images of the Cascades rock…literally!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

A cliche-ridden tree…

Tingira Park
Scarborough, Moreton Bay​

Ten years ago this cottonwood was a respectable straight-up sort of tree. The bikeway ran between it and a rock wall erected to provide a public recreational space—nothing to do with protecting valuable real estate from the onslaught of the Pacific.

Cottonwoods, however, are anything but upright and trustworthy in the sense respected by other trees. Cottonwoods lean over, curve over, fall down: that's there speciality! That's what this tree did and, for a half-dozen years, the Moreton Bay Cycleway that had once bypassed the tree went straight through it, and we cyclists rode through a leafy tunnel.

In January of this year, with the cottonwood's lean approaching 40º from the vertical and the main branches already braced against the ground to support the tree from toppling further, council workers—directed by legal rather than 'sentimental' public opinion?—wrapped the tree in yellow danger tape and put up a demolition sign. (Who's ever heard of a demolition notice for a short-lived tree of a species known to self-destruct?)

'Outraged' locals vented their anger, ‘consultation between stake holders' led to 'compromise'.

This cottonwood tree, oblivious to the furore, was permitted to live out its life in the way that its kind are accustomed to. The bikeway would have to move!

Everyone was 'satisfied': city councillors received 'kudos' for their achievement and the council's legal counsel (groan), one assumes, was suitably recompensed; the concreting company—in no way connected with anyone in local politics, of course—pocketed ten or twenty or whatever thousand dollars; and the local press ran a 'heart-warming' story on the 'saving' of a 'much-loved local landmark'.

 

[Djangodog]

A cliche-ridden tree…

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Tingira Park
Scarborough, Moreton Bay​

Ten years ago this cottonwood was a respectable straight-up sort of tree. The bikeway ran between it and a rock wall erected to provide a public recreational space—nothing to do with protecting valuable real estate from the onslaught of the Pacific.

Cottonwoods, however, are anything but upright and trustworthy in the sense respected by other trees. Cottonwoods lean over, curve over, fall down: that's there speciality! That's what this tree did and, for a half-dozen years, the Moreton Bay Cycleway that had once bypassed the tree went straight through it, and we cyclists rode through a leafy tunnel.

In January of this year, with the cottonwood's lean approaching 40º from the vertical and the main branches already braced against the ground to support the tree from toppling further, council workers—directed by legal rather than 'sentimental' public opinion?—wrapped the tree in yellow danger tape and put up a demolition sign. (Who's ever heard of a demolition notice for a short-lived tree of a species known to self-destruct?)

'Outraged' locals vented their anger, ‘consultation between stake holders' led to 'compromise'.

This cottonwood tree, oblivious to the furore, was permitted to live out its life in the way that its kind are accustomed to. The bikeway would have to move!

Everyone was 'satisfied': city councillors received 'kudos' for their achievement and the council's legal counsel (groan), one assumes, was suitably recompensed; the concreting company—in no way connected with anyone in local politics, of course—pocketed ten or twenty or whatever thousand dollars; and the local press ran a 'heart-warming' story on the 'saving' of a 'much-loved local landmark'.

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Good story telling.

 

[dodgeman]

Skunks at my house get a ride to the train station. If you’ve watched Yellowstone you know what that means.

 

[Djangodog]

I put together a more complete video showing scenes from the ride back to Burlington from Grand Isle. A good portion is on the causeway. It was a beautiful day and the trail is in very good condition.

The people that operate the bike and people ferry across the 200’ gap are very friendly. The ferry operates on donations.

You can also get a nice roadside meal at a surprisingly reasonable price or ice cream on Grand Isle.

The Adirondacks are to the west and the Greens to the east.

Lake Champlain was a “Great Lake” for a short time and it is the sixth largest lake in the US.

I am new to GoPro and video editing, so any constructive criticism or suggestions would be appreciated.

Please set the video to HD, (SD is pretty crude).

 

[RabH]

Another lovely day for a bike ride, 14C at 7.30am and very little wind to speak of! Thunderstorms were forecast for later in the day so thankfully we will be able to get a sleep at night again, 20C during the night is not something we are used to in Scotland...heck we are usually lucky to get that during the day! Temps will be back to 16C for the remainder of the week but the much needed rain is coming, even Scotland is having a drought...

It was time to return to the Clyde Valley today, its still a nice shade of green thankfully! This is just as you approach the climb up to Lanark looking down into the valley!

I timed it perfect today to avoid the Sunday traffic and enjoyed a lovely ride down into the valley, on my way down I had to stop for more pictures of course!

The River Clyde at Kirkfieldbank is as low as I have seen it, I hope the coming rain will change that for the better! In normal times all those rocks are completely hidden...

Riding through the valley always makes me smile, the scenery is just fanatastic!

I was now climbing out of the valley and the views part way up are just gorgeous, you just have to stop and take it in!

After I left the valley I was heading for Strathaven, passing farm after farm and I spotted these 3 beauties! Mom was the only one standing, she was so tall!

I arrived in Strathaven and was pondering which route to take and I came up with a masterplan which would take me back into the Clyde Valley at the opposite side from this morning, the plan was going swimmingly until I spotted a road closed sign heading into Hamilton! So I followed the diversion and it took me west for miles, I wanted to go north...eventually I saw some familiar signs and one said Ferniegair which I knew led into the valley! I then came across a massive descent down into Hamilton, it was pure bliss and I just freewheeled all the way down it!

Now back in the valley and it was getting busy now with all the garden centres attracting hordes of people, I knew it wouldn't be long before I reached my turnoff which would get me back on deserted roads! Some lovely scenery on the way!

I reached my turnoff and enjoyed the serene quietness again, it was now time to start the big climb! As always I had to stop on the way up, I'm never one to miss a photo opportunity!

I was now heading for home and feeling surprisingly strong so I made it into a longer ride, I was really just hoping to do 100km but why stop when you are having fun? What a brilliant day that was, still no sign of the thunderstorms yet...I could have gone for another 100 miler but I'm more than happy with 75 miles!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It will take me a couple of days to follow this thread and deal some Likes...

 

[m@Robertson]

I took the Stormtrooper out of mothballs and out for a ride along the beach yesterday. Changed to a bigger battery, which meant fitting a battery bag (success, but I need to put in some side padding) and also adjusted the rear brakes so it didn't rub (failure... I need a do-over there).

This being a tourist community where temperatures are mild and sunny, while inland temps are blistering-hot, we had a TON of visitors everywhere, including a full beach. So... hot, sunny, a packed beach full of tourists. All we need to complete the picture is a killer Great White shark on the loose.

Oh wait... we have that base covered (zoom in on the sign).

 

[Tom@WashDC]

A day off the bike and on the trail. Cascade Pass in the North Cascades National Park, Washington State.

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my jealousy knows no bounds

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Great Falls National Park, Md.
Great bike riding along the Potomac River to Washington D.C. or up the river to Harper's Ferry and beyond to Pittsburg, PA.

 

[Chargeride]

We had to defer our morning ride on the account of an unexpected overnight guest who decided to drop by last evening during a rainstorm. We couldn’t say goodbye without first entertaining our visitor with a relaxing drive to the countryside before parting ways.

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omg, I was sleeping next to an insect grill over an open door and a skunk sprayed it while I was asleep.
It woke me up, it was like a mixture of bleach and body dead for a month in the heat.

 

[PatriciaK]

Started out hooking up my Day tripper trailer for a one-mile ride to our pitiful farmers market (3 produce stalls and a couple of "artisan" offerings), where I did manage to score some nice beets, broccolini, and some of the ubiquitous zucchini. Brought it back home, unhooked the trailer, popped the veggies in the fridge, and set out with my PM for a ride over to "Big Navy" - the main jet base across town.

Stopped for a couple of pictures at the Prowler/Intruder memorial:


If you zoom in the photo with the bike, you'll see there's etched granite along the top of the wall - those are the names of those pilots/crew members who were lost to crashes, war, and one space shuttle explosion. My son's high school best friend's Dad's name is there.

Returning to a happier aspect of the ride, a view of the San Juan Islands (Orcas, specifically) and the Olympic Mountains across the Sound from from the road at the end of the runway:




And, the ride:



Mostly flat and easy today !

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Renovator's Dream*…

Karrabin, Queensland
West of Brisbane​

* Renovator's dream home: nightmares qualify as dreams, don't they? I suspect someone, before long, will use either a bulldozer or a box of matches to 'fix it'! Until then, I'll pass this old place on my near-daily rides into town to spend a few hours with my wife who is in dementia care.

Dodge, we don't do quaint red barns around these parts. Metal sheds (filled with 'stuff'), yes; barns for farm produce or livestock, generally no. So, this dilapidated home from the 1920s will have to be my contribution until I head out west to the wheat belt; however, I suspect that silos are what they have these days.