Originally Posted by
h2oxtc
I'm envious of all the amazing rides that you do all winter long. Our season is just beginning and the effects of limiting riding thru the winter is apparent. @
Eatonkd 's post and photos was enough goad me into getting out for a ride this afternoon, albeit a relatively short one. I took the single speed today. This year I'm going to try and make an effort to share the riding among all the bikes. Perhaps not equally, but enough to justify having them. Stopped for this photo along an apple orchard in bloom. Back to the single speed, I checked the brakes (twice) thinking that it had to be more than just the hill I was climbing. It felt like I was carrying a concrete block uphill - I think that would have been me.
Beautiful!
How about some food porn? First, a chorizo breakfast burrito:
That was at the Crystal Lake Cafe. Interesting story there ... Highway 39 got some serious damage due to recent fires and storms, and was closed to all but bicycle traffic for several months. We are the lifeblood of the cafe up there, and the owner was really hurting for lack of business.
Someone started a "go fund me" page for him, and in less than a week, raised over $3000. It was like a scene out of "It's a Wonderful Life." He truly appreciated it (and the fact that unlike everyone else, bicyclists were still able to ride up and visit), but turned the money down.
Anyway, this was the first weekend Highway 39 reopened, and it was a love fest. I made sure to eat extra hearty, as did a number of motorcyclists up there on Saturday.
Later in the day found us at the Mt Baldy Lodge. Oy, I love that place. All wood inside, and all kinds of personal touches about. And the owner (sweet lady) makes home made cinnamon rolls. We got there later in the day, so although there were a few left, she regarded them as "stale" and wouldn't accept money for them. Warmed up in the microwave, they were AWESOME. OMG, I think I went into sugar toxicity.
Damn, the waitresses treated us well. They always do. And we took care of them.
Then there was the guy that chatted Rick and I up at the bar. He apparently ran across one dog attacking another at the trailhead and pried them apart. This is what he got for his efforts. Uh ... can you say rabies shot?
What an amazing day. It went by so fast! We were in the Mt. Baldy lodge until 5:30, and by then, the shadows were starting to get long. OMG what a great descent back to the car, just in time before sunset.
The amazing thing is with all that distance and climbing, I wasn't the least bit tired. That's bizzare. It must be chorizo power.
If you ever find your way out to SoCal, gimme a holler and we'll take you up!