One of the First

One of the first California poppies of the season.

Punta Olimpica

I had planned to set off from Huaraz and do an epic couple day loop. Though, some master of stunning wit and cunning repertoire decided to walk around the night before devouring street food with reckless abandon. The last few months of not getting sick made him feel impervious and immune. Yea... that was silly. On the way my stomach was doing Dance Dance Revolution and recreating 80's Jazzercise. Many times I had to dash from the bike and shotgun blast the bushes. I'll stop now, you get the idea. So the loop became an out and back. Unfortunately the road is paved now but the views were no less fantastic.

A little higher than usual. Though if that mileage was true after 10 months? I'd be moving pretty slowly.

Directions: Go up the valley, hang a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left etc. etc. etc.

The first picture of me the timer did not take in a long time.

Cuz I made some friends on the way up. I'm the tall skinny one.

This is Howard A.K.A Trouble Maker. The most unbashful young bull I have ever met. I turned my back on him a for a minute and he ate my uncooked oatmeal, bag and all. So I hid all the food and went back to packing up. Then I notice he is chewing on something again. I said "Howard, what are you eating? Spit it out!" and as if on command, out plopped a slimy lighter.

A new angle on Red Hook and the Point

Here's a new angle on an old favorite... The town of Red Hook, and the point near the Ritz. The yellow building in the front is the High School...



That's the same point a little higher up the hill (walking hills gets so much easier the more you do em... Just ask Becky). In the background is St John, one of the "other" US Virgin isles.

Back in Iowa

It was a good trip to Little Rock. Two rides on paved trails and one in the dirt. Thanks to my friends to putting me up and putting up with me. I got home just in time to enjoy the day today (actually got home Thursday evening).
Little windy this afternoon, but with the warm weather, couple not pass up the chance of a good ride. The trail from Wabash Trailhead to the Trail Center was in pretty good shape. A couple short sections with some snow still on the trail. There is the section under Hyw 92 - that was a mess with mud. Finally, wish they would do something at the access to the crosswalk switch S 24th at Penny's.
Hope I can get in a ride tomorrow before the cold front comes through.

Spring's A Comin'

This is what I saw this morning looking out my dining room window. The apple and pear trees are in full bloom. I LOVE springtime in Georgia.
I love how the fog is in layers below the treetops. I can always count on foggy mornings when the temps get high in the day and stay cool at night. Then I get to take my favorite kind of photos in fog and mist.

New Orleans, LA

THE BIG EASY

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Sneaky Moose on the Pigeon River

This morning I had the good fortune to spend about 45 minutes in the company of this very curious Moose on the Pigeon River at Grand Portage State Park. We watched each other for a while from a distance, then I decided to head back to the park visitor center. As I made my way back to the trail, she followed me cautiously from a distance. At one point I turned around to see her peeking around this corner of the river, which made for a terrific shot.