Riding on the bike path @ the beach provides all kinds of entertainment.
There's the beautiful ocean view, plenty of other cyclists to chase, catch, pass etc, an almost endless supply of fit females running in less than what most would wear to bed, and of course the birds.
We have all kinds of birds here, pigeons, seagulls, and a host of other unknown varieties; all doing thier part to make our rides more interesting.
I've been victim to numerous dive-bombs, fluttering flocks and swaggering swarms but today... I actually had a collision with a pigeon.
I was cruising @ about 20-22 mph and this pair of birds were strutting around on the path. They reminded me of that pair of birds in the cartoon movie "Bolt". Most usually fly off or scurry away long before you approach, but this one bird was clearly there to test me. I'm certain he was trying to send me into the sand, but unfortunately it was not his day....
As I approached, they started to flee toward the shoulder, but the dumb one decided to make a U-turn and head back towards the old french frys for a second helping.
I struck the bird with my right pedal and sent him whirling under the bike between my tires. I was sure it was curtains for the bird, but miraculously, he shot out the other side with little more than a damaged ego and a few bent feathers.

The 2 guys behind me were lucky to have missed him as well because it was spinning, bouncing and flipping across the entire bike path like an out of control bowling pin.

There is no moral to this story, but it was the most exciting thing that happened while cycling this week so I thought I would share.