Snowbirds 12-31-10

Today's ride: quick 18 mile out-and-back to Hermit's Bench.  Pic is of Canadian Geese enjoying a mountain stream in the desert: Tahquitz Wash through Mesquite Country Club just off of Farrell Dr.

View From Varner Road, 12-26-10

Today's ride: 25 miles, Varner - Monterey Rd. Loop.

Christmas Morning Ride to Andreas Canyon, 2010

Day After the Rains, 12-23-10

Today's ride: 35 mile loop visiting the local washes that are usually dry, but today are flowing nicely.  Pictured is Tahquitz Creek cutting through the Mesquite Country Club with new snow on Mt. San Jacinto down to about 7,000 feet.  It was blue skies, clear sunshine and wet roads... another beautiful morning.  http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2808272026/a=4688175026_4688175026/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Days of Rain, 12-21-10

There has been a nice steady rain falling for the past few days keeping my bike in the garage and me off of the roads.  Once the rain lets up, I am interested in checking out the washes.  They should be flowing pretty good.

30+ mph on my favorite downhill run, Andreas Canyon Hill, 10-26-08

I attached my camera to my bicycle when I made this 1/2 mile downhill run.  The bounching around wrecked the battery in my camera, but worth it.  Enjoy!

Palm Springs Indian Canyons, 12-18-10

Today's ride: 18 miles out and back to Hermit's Bench in the PS Indian Canyons.  Just missed being rained on.  The road was wet putting a mud stripe up my back, it was a beautiful day with the mountains shrouded in clouds and the pleasant sweet smell of wet creosote in the air.  http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2814145026/a=4688175026_4688175026/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Crispy Palms Oasis 12-05-10

Ride of the day: 37 1/2 miles, 1,000 Palms Loop, Ramon to Washington.  These palms, lining the infamous San Andreas Earthquake Fault,  burned a few weeks ago.  They are west of 1,000 Palms Rd. and north of Ramon.

Dinosaurs at Cabazon, 12-10-10

This day's ride was an out and back to Cabazon for a ride of about 35 miles.  The winds were favorable and the temperature was pleasant.

Raccoon, 12-07-10, Rancho Mirage

This animal's life came to an end on Dinah Shore Rd. just west of Portola.

Dos Coyotes, Palm Dr where it crosses the San Andreas Earthquake Faultline 11-16-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop to Desert Hot Springs.  Both these once beautiful animals' lives came to an end where Palm Dr. crosses the San Andreas Fault.  There is a chain link fence that parallels the road on the east side of Palm Dr.  The fence may have contributed to why both of these coyotes lost their lives so close together and at obviously different times?  Theresa and Keith, these photos are dedicated to you.

Palm Springs Indian Canyons 11-14-10

A Redtailed Hawk circling overhead.  It was one of  a pair, but I couldn't get both in my viewfinder at the same time before they disappeared onto the other side of the ridgeline.

Today's ride: 26 miles, never left the City of Palm Springs.  This photo is looking down into Palm Canyon from the Trading Post at the end of the road at Hermit's Bench.

County Dump, 11-12-10

Today's ride: 35 miles.  Hill climb with great vistas and the pungent aroma of rotting garbage to the county dump, approximately 500 feet elevation gain over the 1.7 miles up Edom Hill, then out to the Indian Canyons.  Seems like there were headwinds in every direction that I rode.  My bike went into a speedwobble on the downhill from the dump, scared the heck out of me.

Patriot Park's Healing Field, Cathedral City 11-08-10

A flag honoring each of the Americans "Killed in Action" (KIA) in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. 

As of today: 4,427 KIAs from Iraq and 1,371 KIAs from Afghanistan.

Today's Sunrise from the Whitewater Wash at Vista Chino 11-08-10

Today's ride: 31 1/2 miles.  DaVall loop and out to the Indian Canyons.  A beautiful cool, clear  morning with clouds streaming across the mountains.

Tim & Jan at the College of the Desert Street Fair 11-06-10

I was on my way to stop by my friends' house, Tim & Jan, unannounced, when we had a chance meet-up on the road as they were on their way to the COD Street Fair.  Normally they would be riding the southern California surf, but today they are spending some time in the desert.  See you later Tim and Jan....

The Living Desert 11-06-10

Today's ride: 43 1/2 miles.  To the Living Desert in Palm Desert and then out to Bermuda Dunes and home.

Cabot's Lodge, a.k.a The Cabot Museum, Desert Hot Springs, 11-04-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop.  Indian to Pearson to Cabot's Lodge to Mountain View, 30th to Palm Dr. and home.

Western Grebe, Cathedral City, 11-02-10

This bird's life came to an end on Dinah Shore Dr. in Cathedral City between DaVall and Date Palm Dr.

This is Date, one of the hardest working men in the Coachella Valley, 11-02-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop, Vista Chino, Monterey, Country Club, home.  Photo is of Date who can be seen on Monterey Ave on the I-10 overpass in the hot summer sun, in the rain and in the the cold of winter working his sign energetically and with smiling enthusiasm.  Way to go Date....

Moorten's Botanical Garden 10-31-10

 Clark Moorten, son of Chester "Cactus Slim" and Patricia Moorten of Palm Springs, CA http://www.moortengarden.com/

 The Moorten's beautiful home, part of the Moorten Botanical Garden

Looking down one of the pathways in the Moorten Botanical Garden.  There are over 3,000 species of cacti and succulents from all over the world.  I had the luck to work for Cactus Slim and his wife Patricia, 1971 - 1972, when I first moved to the desert.  They were two unique individuals and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to know them both.  Cactus Slim is the only man I have ever met who could say, "Phooey!" and have it sound like a dirty word.  I can tell Cactus Slim stories for hours because my year with him was so amazing.

Tipton Rd. RR Crossing 10-29-10

Today's ride: 33 miles out and back to the Whitewater Preserve.  Beautiful morning, with little to no wind and light clouds.  Got another flat tire... two flats for the last three rides.  I did much better this time with my repairing the tire on the road and I didn't need to call for a ride home this time.  It turns out the flat was caused by the same small piece of wire that got me last time.  I thought I had dug all the wire out of the tire, but it turns out I missed a piece and it got me again.  All in all, a good ride.

Dillon Rd. looking west from 1,000 Palms Canyon Rd. 10-23-10

I've been getting some nice rides in lately, but have been waiting for the summer heat to end before taking on the Sky Valley Loop. Yesterday the weather was cool enough, but there was a stronger wind than I would like, but I figured how bad could it be? I'd do the largely downhill portion into the wind. Bad call! The wind was fierce, the uphill portions were brutal and even downhill was tough. After battling the wind for about 17 miles I turned toward home with a bit of a tailwind and all was good until my rear tire went flat. I pulled the tire, changed the tube, inflated it with air with my CO2 inflator and found out I had the tube pinched between the rim and the tire. Pow! After 35 miles I finished with a $20 cab ride home, though it was one heck of a workout.

Rain Clouds over Tahquitz Canyon, 10-20-10

Beautiful Autumn day ride out to Hermit's Bench and back.  Rain and wet streets with a mud stripe up my back and muddy water dripping from my bike... doesn't get much better than that.

Rancho Mirage Mushrooms, 10-18-10

Today's ride: 37 mile loop... Vista Chino, Bob Hope, Country Club to Indian Canyons.  Cooler temperatures with some clouds brought multiple mushroom rings up all over the golf course in the wash off of Country Club near Highway 111.

Hole in the Wall Spider

Indian Ave & I-10, North Palm Springs

Mt. San Gorgonio from Indian Ave. north of Palm Springs, 10-14-10

Today's ride: 37 miles.  Indian Ave., Dillon, Mountain View, Varner, Bob Hope, Country Club, home.  Morning clouds created some beautiful light this morning

Train on Siding, Ramon Rd. Crossing, 10-12-10

Today's ride: 40 1/2 miles.  Vista Chino, Varner, Ramon, Washington, Varner, Ramon... another hot morning, but virtually windless.  Note construction of new on and off ramps in background.  Something about a train in the desert that captivates me.... must be something leftover from my childhood?

Trout, Whitewater Preserve, 10-09-10

Today's ride: 33 miles out and back to the Whitewater Preserve north of Palm Springs.  The preserve used to be a privately owned trout farm.  Today it is a protected preserve and a beautiful little park and the trout are not fished.  They have got to be some happy fish.  The preserve sits atop the Pacfic Crest Trail between two 10,000+ foot mountains.

Split Rock, Indian Canyons, Palm Springs, CA

Near the end of the best two miles of road in the local desert just before arriving at Hermit's Bench.

Cal State University SB, Palm Desert Campus 10-03-10

Today's ride: 30 mile loop, Varner, Cook, Frank Sinatra.

It appears that summer may finally be over... nice morning and it isn't supposed to be over 100 for the up coming week!

Baby Rattler, Windy Point, 09-28-10

Looked like this young snake curled up on Highway 111 north of Tipton Rd. for a quiet snooze and got squashed... a sorry end for this young rattler.

Snow Creek Village, 09-28-10

Today's Ride: 35 miles.  Cloud cover, no wind, rode out Highway 111 to Snow Creek Rd. and Snow Creek Village and back through Palm Springs to the Indian Canyons Toll gate

Hawk, 30th Ave. west of Da Vall, 09-24-10

Sad ending for a majestic creature.

Driveway Art

Finished up my ride today by bagging some limes from a friend's tree and couldn't help but admire this classic machine in their driveway as it waits for a little TLC.

Whitewater Channel Multi-Use Trail (Not), 09-23-10

This photo is of a golf cart path that parallels the Araby Wash at Mesquite Country Club in Palm Springs.  With the various city governments working together, using some imagination and accessing Green Transporation and other dollars, this could actaully be a piece of the proposed Whitewater Channel Multi-Use Trail running between Palm Springs and the Salton Sea.

End of a Patriot, Windy Point, 09-21-10

Whitewater Preserve Creek Crossing, 09-21-10

Today's ride: 35 miles out and back to the Whitewater Preserve.  Another beautiful morning ride.  There is a lot of water flowing in the creek for this time of year.  Looking south toward Mt. San Jacinto in the background.

Jackrabbit, 09-20-10

Sorry for the blood, but thought this picture worth posting.  This jackrabbit lost its life on the north side of Dianh Shore just west of the bridge over the wash in Palm Springs.  Its size was impressive, hard to tell in this photo, but probably three times as big as an average house cat.

Date Palm Dr. - I-10 Overpass, 09-20-10

Today's ride: 30 1/2 miles, Varner, Cook, Dianh Shore Loop.  Looking west straight into the eye of the wind from this overpass with Mt. San Gorgonio as a backdrop on a crystal clear day.  I recommend riding on the shoulder against traffic on Date Palm between the overpass and Varner when riding north.  There is no shoulder on the right side of the road and the surface is rough and traffic is fast and close.

Susan of the Indian Canyons

Susan, a local cyclist who frequently enjoys a rolling meditation on the best and safest two miles of road in the desert: the Palm Springs Indian Canyons.

Hat That Was, 09-19-10

Today's Ride: 31 miles.  Another beautiful morning ride.

Eisenhower Medical Center Pond, 09-14-10

Today's ride: 38 1/2 mile loop, Varner to Cook to Fred Waring.  Rode through the Eisenhower Med Canter Campus and stopped at this pond.  Fish started coming over to me as if they were expecting to be fed.  Not sure what type they were, maybe some kind of bass?  A few were large enough to be interesting to the fisherman within me.

Dragonfly 09-12-10

A beautiful and delicate casualty of the roadway.

Today's Rest Stop

Today's Ride: 36 1/2 mile Da Vall loop with side trip out to the Indian Canyons.  Met up with Ken and the Dukester and rode one time around the Canyon Loop.

Paul, 86 years old and been riding since 1927

Today's ride: 28 mile loop.  I met Paul at Dinah Shore & Portola.  He is 86 years old and has been riding since he was three.  If my math is correct that means he has been riding since 1927.  He has been on a bike in 36 countries and tries to go out everyday.  This bike is a fairly new ride for him and it's a bit tougher climbing the hills. so he is doing some climbs today to build up his legs.  The faring is new and he thinks it gets him another 2-3 mph.  He has inspired me to keep pushing my pedals as long as I can....

Hermit's Bench Parking Lot

Today's ride and today's post is dedicated to Milen Demitrov, aged 36, a cyclist I never knew, who died last Saturday, September 4 on Highway 111 near Windy Point, when hit by a "full sized pick up."  May he Rest in Peace....