Monday, December 26, 2011

Shoreline, WA


I'm currently in Shoreline, Washington helping my wife and hospice deal with my 96 year old mother-in-law.  She's getting to be a handful!!   

I brought my bicycle and to help preserve mental health and physical well being I have been doing some riding.  Today I found a way to get to and ride the new Aurora Bicycle path.  There was light drizzle coming down, the temperature was 41 degrees but in less than one hour and a 14 mile round trip I was invigorated and ready to carry on.

Bicycling, even on a crappy day......  
Good!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

But not this morning!


I set my alarm so I will be up in time for this mornings eclipse.
When the alarm went off I discovered our town wrapped in fog.  Nothing for it but to roll over and go back to sleep.

Later, up and awake, I rooted through my files and found this image.  It is a photo I took August 28, at 4:30 in the morning, 2007;  our town clock in the foreground.

Good enough.
Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Let's see if I have this right.

Approaching the Simpson Lane Crop Circle on bicycle.
What to do? What to do?

Two lanes for cars.  No bike lane.  
In order to safely negotiate this "crop circle" it is best to take to the sidewalk.

Now here is the Noyo Bridge.
The sign says, "No bicycle riding on the walkway".

In Fort Bragg it is, "NO bicycles on the walkways (sidewalks)".
Tricky bidness riding bicycles round here!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Riding Ukiah

Did another thing this "Septuagenarian decade" I had never done before.  Loaded my bike on the CC Rider for a trip to Ukiah.  $5.00 round trip!

 I rode around Ukiah looking at and photographing fall color and oddities.





Ah California!!
December 2nd.  "What a beautiful day!"

I'm going to have to explore Willits, Hopland, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa with my bike via local transit.  Way cool!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Lookie here!


A new used book store on Franklin!


Use to be on Redwood Avenue but they moved to this building.


 As you can see by the clock, you have plenty of time to peruse titles!


Wonderful!  Just wonderful!
Thanks!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Well done!!

Our county voted favorably, by over 75%, to support our libraries!!

And,



Phase two of Fort Bragg's skateboard park is becoming very impressive!
  A work of art, I'd say!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Biking to Elk.

I use to live in Elk.  The weather was perfect for a bicycle ride.  My friends Ben and Tawny said they would put me up for the night so it turned into a wonderful two day round trip.


Yippee!


Crossing the Navaro Bridge.



I visited my rug weaving friend at the Elk Community Cemetery.


 Then, on into Elk.
I noticed the population sign didn't change whether I lived there or not!
Something very "Greenwoodian" about that!!


 Arrived at the Elk Store where I visited with Mr. Ben, had some snackage, then walked around town to visit Prue, Charlie, Mary and Jerry and Not Bob. (Mr. Bob was on vacation!)!


Next, the two mile push up Greenwood/Philo Road... Uff Da!!,
 to visit Bill and Lydia!


Followed by three more miles out Philo/Greenwood to visit Eduardo and see the new house he is building!


Back to Ben and Tawny's for a shower, pizza, beer, and catching up on our respective lives.
Wonderful!

Next morning a quick breakfast and down Cameron, across the Navarro Bridge and...


the Navarro Grade.


Actually, as is my want, I worried about this grade more than it was worth.
I stopped and posed this shot part way up but was actually able to pedal the whole thing with just a couple of rest stops waiting for a clear shot around blind curves between cars.


Being retired and all, I stopped by Van Damme beach for a wee rest. :-)


Passing through Mendocino I spotted this hawk


and even caught it just as it "flew the coop"!  Pretty bird!

Sixty-three miles round trip including "up" Greenwood/Philo and "down" Cameron.


Traffic wasn't too bad this time of year and, did I mention, the weather was perfect!

It was wonderful to finally catch up with all my old friends, see our beautiful coast up close and personal.
A special "Thank You" to Ben and Tawny for their great hospitality.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lost Coast Culture Machine


I was highly entertained by this installation at the North Coast Culture Machine.
The artist made a bunch of small red boxes of various shapes and sizes and attached them to the wall, put a dish of various colored "Play-doh" like clay on a table and turned us visitors loose!!







Cool!!

Hard to find?  Not really...

Click to enbiggen.