So Kitty, do I bike a century today?
Or work on my hills?
I'm on
Phoenix today.
That flat I changed yesterday?
Flat again today.
:(
A black cat
crosses my path
Dark clouds hover in the west.
Things look ominous today.
I'm going for the
Geist Hills again.
Last time I got lost and didn't finish the route.
I plan on doing better today.
Sargent Road curves
through the forest...
This ride
will be gorgeous in a few weeks
when the leaves
all turn color.
Unless the drought drains the color
and they all just turn brown and fall.
That would be a shame.
Must be lots
of oak trees...
Look at
all the acorns
by the side of the road.
And look
who's munching
those acorns!
I pick up a handful of nuts.
So sad
to leave them on the road
to get crunched
by cars.
I'll take them home
and scatter them
at my Land
to grow oak trees
or feed deer
squirrels
 |
| Photo by Eric Begin |
blue jays...
I read once that after the glaciers left
and the land was bare of trees
it was the
blue jays
that brought back the oak trees.
Makes me glad
Al named
her bike
Blue Jay.
Bike on up through Indian Hills.
Down to Granny gear
and
standing on the pedals.
I make it up the first big hill...
past the old plane...
But the next hill
Ka-bump!
I have to clip out
before I topple over.
I lamely walk the hill.
I had two more gears lighter I could've used.
But by the time I knew that
there was too much pedal pressure
to change gears.
Dumb Helen.
I spin down the hill
past Halloween ghosts
and Jack O'Lanterns.
I've always told KC -
- No Halloween decorations
until October.
These people
don't know the rules.
Look!
See that acorn
with the silly cap?
What kind of
oak tree
is this?
I wouldn't mind
having a tree like this
on
my Land!
And the acorns
look positively
Medusa-like
on the trees!
I pick up a few more nuts.
So many acorns!
Must be a
mast year.
You see, those clever oak trees put out few nuts most years.
Keeps the number of squirrels low.
Then one year
all the oaks get together and decide
to Mast.
They makes
tons of acorns.
Too many for the few squirrels to eat.
So, many get buried
not eaten
and grow into new oaks.
Tell me those trees aren't smart.
Turn on 75th Street.
Biking the flats to Old Oakland.
But what is that?!
An
Osage orange!
My kids called them brains
when they found them in the woods
on our Halloween walks.
I read once that Osage oranges were spread by woolly mammoths
who ate the fruits
and spread the seeds.
My kids say
I read too much.
Oh, yeah!
I'm supposed to be training...
Hills slow my biking
but my head keeps spinning
with random thoughts.
Here it is!
The road I missed last week
Florida Road.
I always see bikers turn this way.
And here's why!
Major hill climb!
I make it.
But I'm winded.
Time for some flats.
Lots of other bikers on this route today.
We smile and wave.
- See ya at
The Hilly!
I take a break
by this scary guy.
I think about acorns
and hills
and Halloween walks.
Spin over
Geist
Enter Spyglass Hills
and look!
Blue skies!
Brief stop home
to check on
TJ and Kitty.
Then back on the road
to conquer the hills
again!
Buzz past
Sargent Woods...
Hello, Deer.
No time to talk.
I do better on the hills this round.
Gear down.
Top that Indian Hill
like a pro.
Take a break
at the top
and wave at the
passing bikers.
I love biking and taking photos!
I love being outdoors all day.
Seeing a variety of landscapes...
...a variety of skies.
A family
playing football...
A family
of Black-eyed Susans.
Is this a teacher's house
with the pencil statue?
How ironic...
a blind sign
with such a lovely sky.
How could I live
with no sight?
No biking.
No photos.
Books only by touch.
I can't imagine.
Someone is starting
a vineyard!
I wonder...
What do
grape flowers look like?
Who pollinates the grapes?
Better read more...
Bright red - Christmas colors.
Too bad it's evil.
Honeysuckle...
choking out our woodlands.
I'd cut it down
if I had my clippers.
Spinning back home
on my last round.
I see the sun
spinning to its
horizon.
TJ wants a place
to watch the sunset
and eat his ice cream
I'll have to send him
to the Geist bridge.
I pause to chat
with fellow bikers...
...before they, too,
bike
into the sunset.
I stop to rescue
a few more acorns...
...before they're smashed
in the road...
....by heedless cars.
Almost home
I pass Walnut Creek...
and what do I see?
Walnuts!
Sorry, guys.
No more room
in the bag.
It's been
a great day
biking.
I don't know if my legs are trained.
But my camera eye feels well-trained
for taking photos
at the Hilly Hundred.
