Southern California - So Cal needs a long thread "What's Up?" type thread!

On TV, an estimate of 340,000 homes evacuated. That's a lot of people! :( At least the wind conditions are much improved today.

Inside, fine. Good enough I even turned off the A/C and it's still fine. Outside, I haven't been outside for over 24 hours. :o I think I'll go find some lunch just so that I can get out and stretch.

Believe it or not, when I stepped outside my apartment in Sherman Oaks today, I could easily smell the fires (as could my neighbor who hollered out of her window that the air was smoky). In Sherman Oaks! That's how big the Malibu and surrounding fires are. Plus, riding toward the east (101 and 134 to Glendale), I could see the smoke from what I guess is the OC fire. The skies were a purpleish haze in my rearview mirror. It just struck me how enormous all of these fires have truly become.

I only had a light whiff of smoke riding to work this morning.

It's pretty smokey looking to the south, but to the west I could just see a little between the mountains.

Believe it or not, when I stepped outside my apartment in Sherman Oaks today, I could easily smell the fires (as could my neighbor who hollered out of her window that the air was smoky). In Sherman Oaks! That's how big the Malibu and surrounding fires are. Plus, riding toward the east (101 and 134 to Glendale), I could see the smoke from what I guess is the OC fire. The skies were a purpleish haze in my rearview mirror. It just struck me how enormous all of these fires have truly become.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/images/071022terra.jpg

We are supposed to be saving electricity as much as possible today in San Diego. A number of the major transmission lines bringing power into the area are de-activated because of the fires.

I just confirmed by telephone that RB is open. I need to get out and stretch, so I'm going to go over for lunch.

That's a heckuva map, Mark. I was wondering where all the smoke in the South Bay was coming from. Now I can see it's the Arrowhead fire. Your pic shows the PV Peninsula completely obscured from the satellite's view. :eek:

We're getting the edge of all that smoke above Hollywood. The northern half of the sky is completely clear.

Back home from lunch. There's a small bit of ash in the air here, and it smells pretty bad outside, but it's far worse a bit north.

The winds seem to have shifted late morning and we're getting some smoke in pasadena now, but it's still not to bad. Just a little gritty to breathe-- I'll probably run the filter when I get home.

Yeah, it depends on the wind whether it's smoky or not. Glendale is hazy but no smoky smell. I'm still sneezing up a storm and my eyes are all red. I read on Knbc.com that the air will be affected for the next few weeks all over so cal. I'll be riding with my inhaler for sure this coming weekend.

Yeah, it depends on the wind whether it's smoky or not. Glendale is hazy but no smoky smell. I'm still sneezing up a storm and my eyes are all red. I read on Knbc.com that the air will be affected for the next few weeks all over so cal. I'll be riding with my inhaler for sure this coming weekend.

Had lunch in Pasadena...was a bit smelly....up here in No Glendale, Montrose, it is starting to get a bit smokey...but not too bad yet...

In SD-UTC (where Jschen also lives) the air seems to be pretty good. To me it has less of a burnt smell although the sky is not clear; but perhaps because I'm used to it. BTW, the air in Clairemont Mesa seems to be a little fresher.

The winds seem to have shifted late morning and we're getting some smoke in pasadena now, but it's still not to bad. Just a little gritty to breathe-- I'll probably run the filter when I get home.

Yeah, it's not too bad but riding in it really irritated my eyes. Hopefully, it won't get much worse.

you aren't very bright.

you dont need to remind me

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/2007295-1022/California.A2007295.2100.1km.jpg

Argh... one more day of being told to stay away from work. They anticipate reopening on Thursday, though.

yah I have tomorrow off as well, I hate being cooped up. I'm tempted to go drive to riverside so I can ride my damn bike!!!

My wife says dinner is ready. I gotta go.

I keep telling you guys....come up to Auburn and I'll put you up and you can ride some really great rides ...from aggressive to recreational....bring the sleeping bags...it's a slumber party!

I keep telling you guys....come up to Auburn and I'll put you up and you can ride some really great rides ...from aggressive to recreational....bring the sleeping bags...it's a slumber party!

Iowa Hill Time Trial! Get all those billy goats out there!!!!

One of these weekends, I HAVE to ride Norcal!!!

Damnit, the gym's still closed.

Yes, Frank, those spindly stems of yours could use the work. :p ;)

I'm getting ready to head out for a ride. I'm hoping the fog is laying some of the smoke down... :(

It's still smoky here. The moon looks red.

I'm calling in sick to work today. I'm getting my chest X-rayed today. I've needed the x-ray for awhile but I'm hoping my pulmonary dude can see me today after I get the x-ray. I coughed so hard last night, I kept waking myself up. Damnit. :mad: Fortunately, I got a run in last night at the gym, but the air is definitely getting to me. I have the worst headache and a sore throat. :cry:

I'm just a pathetic, whining mess, aren't I? :p

I'm calling in sick to work today. I'm getting my chest X-rayed today. I've needed the x-ray for awhile but I'm hoping my pulmonary dude can see me today after I get the x-ray. I coughed so hard last night, I kept waking myself up. Damnit. :mad: Fortunately, I got a run in last night at the gym, but the air is definitely getting to me. I have the worst headache and a sore throat. :cry:

I'm just a pathetic, whining mess, aren't I? :p

Yikes Mary, I hope everything checks out OK

Thanks, Jim. I'm fairly sure it's the air. This happened to me when I visited my folks in July and stayed in my aunt's house for two days completely submerged in cigarette smoke. I came back to CA sick as a dog with a terrible cough, sinus gunk and a sore throat. I saw my primary then, and she wasn't the least bit suprised. I'm susceptible to smoke of any kind and it manifests into lung/sinus stuff when I'm affected.

Hi All,

I was just reading the paper regarding air quality and besides the soot (that you can see) there are a lot of toxins in the air that you can't see or smell. Air quality along the coast in LA (and Orange) County is very unhealthful.

I guess I'm saying that you may be doing yourselves more harm by riding than by not riding and unfortunately, your noses are not good air quality meters. :(

Thanks, Cleave. I can't imagine riding out there right now. My lungs are my meter, unfortunately, and I can promise everyone that the air is NOT healthy right now. I feel so badly for those in San Diego and other fire areas where they have no way to get away from the air.

Yup, I would minimize breathing right now. Can't avoid it altogether without nasty side effects, but can minimize activity in order to minimize breathing.

Is it any better down there?

I just got back from a ride. My light beam was catching all sorts of soot and ash floating in the air. I thought I was going to drop a lung on the bike path in El Segundo. My eyes were smarting, too.

Fortunately, there seems to be the start of a westerly wind coming in off the ocean. By 6:30am I was feeling noticeably cooler/cleaner sea breezes, especially down by the peninsula. Hopefully, this means the beginning of the end of the Santa Ana conditions!

Getting better... where I am (and where DaveSANYYZ, Indolent58, markg, and some others are), life is slowly returning to normal. I should be at work tomorrow. :)

I just got back from a ride. My light beam was catching all sorts of soot and ash floating in the air. I thought I was going to drop a lung on the bike path in El Segundo. My eyes were smarting, too.

Fortunately, there seems to be the start of a westerly wind coming in off the ocean. By 6:30am I was feeling noticeably cooler/cleaner sea breezes, especially down by the peninsula. Hopefully, this means the beginning of the end of the Santa Ana conditions!

Unfortunately that means all the bad air that got blown out over the ocean the last few days will now get blown back in on us!!

Also I suspect air down here in San Diego will be bad for at least another week - the Harris fire down south is not forecast to be contained until Oct 31! And the Witch Creek fire is now headed out towards Julian. Plus a new fire that has closed I5 in Camp Pendleton :(

I just got back from a ride. My light beam was catching all sorts of soot and ash floating in the air. I thought I was going to drop a lung on the bike path in El Segundo. My eyes were smarting, too.


What is wrong with you? :rolleyes: Tsk, tsk...you know you shouldn't ride in this!

The ride to work this AM was pretty nice, not having to battle 30 mph headwinds...
The air quality in west SFV at 7 oclock was OK but any onshore breeze will bring all
that smoke right back to us.
I'll probably go easy on the way home.

The ride to work this AM was pretty nice, not having to battle 30 mph headwinds...
The air quality in west SFV at 7 oclock was OK but any onshore breeze will bring all
that smoke right back to us.
I'll probably go easy on the way home.
Look, Clint, your lungs could go kapoot too, you know! As for Sherman oaks, it's hazy air, but I don't smell anything. My throat is so sore today, though, and I'm sure it's the air.

Look, Clint, your lungs could go kapoot too, you know! As for Sherman oaks, it's hazy air, but I don't smell anything. My throat is so sore today, though, and I'm sure it's the air.

Ride into the smoke, and you'll ride through the smoke.
Got it? Punk?

Ride into the smoke, and you'll ride through the smoke.
Got it? Punk?

:lol: very good

Anyone wanna ride in N. Carolina in December (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=356445)? :)

good morning all, its pretty clear here, debating going on a short ride up the 395

More database errors .... this is ridiculous

the site is baaaaaaaaaaaad today....must be the smoke...

More database errors .... this is ridiculous

It seems worse after the "NEW" server upgrade!

<refresh> <refresh> <refresh> ahhhh <refresh> <refresh> ahhh

f5 is my friend today....

'Sup. It's hot. A/C is b0rk3d in the office today. I'm sleep deprived. I wanna go home.

<refresh> <refresh> <refresh> ahhhh <refresh> <refresh> ahhh

Addict.

pot, kettle.....kettle, pot.