1,000 Palms Oasis, Coachella Valley Preserve, 07-30-10

Today's Ride: 35 miles out and back, Date Palm/Varner to Ramon Rd. to 1,000 Palms Canyon Rd. to the preserve and back by way of Ramon Rd.  Ramon Rd. in Cathedral City between Date Palm and Landau is a scary ride: traffic, uneven and hazardous road conditions and no bike lane, and it happens to be a major thoroughfare into and out of Palm Springs for the eastern end of our valley.

Joel's Bicycle Shop, 1,000 Palms

Just want to give a good word for Joel's Bike Shop (http://www.joelsbikeshop.com/) on Varner Rd. in 1,000 Palms near the Ramon Rd., I-10 intersection.  I have never spent one penny at Joel's, though I am happy to say that my son once bought a bicycle there.  I have tried to spend some money there, having stopped on two separate occasions to buy water bottles.  Both times the water bottles were given to me, filled with nice cool water.  They said it was good advertising.  This post is in support of their good will to passing cyclists.  Thanks Joel and staff. Well done and wish you the best.

Remembering Cooler Days, 03-12-06

The Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road....

Facing north, Date Palm Dr. & I-10 Overpass 07-24-10

Today's ride: 37 mile loop from Palm Springs; Varner, Washington, Country Club, Whitewater Channel Trail, home to Palm Springs.  Each of the I-10 overpasses offer their own unique challenges on a bicycle with traffic and especially at the west end of the valley with wind.  The Date Palm overpass north is particularly challenging when a strong wind out of the north-north-west is blowing.  Date Palm Dr. is a connector to Varner Rd. which parallels the Freeway and provides a fast ride east.  North of I-10 on Date Palm there is no shoulder and the road surface is uneven and the north bound lane is narrow and there is ofetn a lot of truck traffic to and from the County Waste Reclamation site.  On this one stretch of road I recommend riding against traffic where there is a wide shoulder and the road surface is smooth.  It is protected from traffic and the passing trucks are on the down-wind side making this part of the ride safe rather than frightening.

Class 2 Bike Lane Temporarily Becomes a Class 1 Bike Lane, 07-21-10

Today's ride: 29 miles.  This photo is proof that a city can easily turn a Class 2 Bike Lane into a Class 1 Bike Lane.  Pic was taken on Country Club Dr. facing west.

Neighborhood Roadrunner

This roadrunner shares my neighborhood with me.  It ocassionally collects lizzards from my yard.  Photo is of a neighbor's front yard.

Trail Ride North of Indio, 05-08-10

Rode a trail ride with a cycling group hosted by the Coachella Valley Community Trails Alliance (CVCTA) http://www.cvcta.org/.  This photo is looking down on a local housing community north of the City of Indio where water skiing is possible right outside their doors and is overlooked by Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio forming a beautiful backdrop.

American Kestrel, Indian Canyons, 06-21-09

You have to look closely to see this bird at center of the photo.  The kestrel was calm enough to sit still for me, but until I start carrying a telephoto lens (it'll never happen), this is the best I can do with this kind of shot.

The Dukester and Bill on the road again, 07-17-10

On today's ride, a 28 mile loop with side trip to the Indian Canyons, I met up with Duke (left) and Bill.  Through cycling I get to meet interesting and nice people out on the road.  It was getting pretty darn hot out there again today.

Cotton Tail 07-17-10

This litle bunny's life came to an end on Da Vall Road between Ramon and Dinah Shore.  Today is going to probably be 115 degrees, give or take a degree or two, so if the ravens don't get to it, it will probably be bunny jerky by tonight.

Pops Carter followed by Bill Nessel, Palm Springs Bike to Work Week, 05-03-10

Pops Carter and Bill Nessel , both amputees, propelling their handcycles from downtown Palm Springs to PS City Hall in celebration of Bike to Work Week 2010.  If you want a superior upper body workout, try a handcycle.  It is fun and you can go places at the same time.

Raccoon Remains, Windy Point, 07-15-10

Hardly recognizable leathery raccoon remains just north of Windy Point on Highway 111.

Windy Point 07-15-10

Todays ride: 18 miles out and back; 60 minutes out, uphill and into a headwind and 30 minutes back downhill and with a tailwind.  Went out just past Tipton Rd. on Highway 111 north of Palm Springs on a very hot morning with a slightly elevated, for the desert, humidity.  Was glad to get into my swimming pool after the ride.  As you can see from the photo there was a lot of Colorado River water going to the percolation ponds this morning.

Ken and the Dukesteh 07-11-10

Ken on the left and Duke on the right.  Two strong cyclists who I have the pleasure to meet out on the roads and ride with on occasion.  See you out there....

Remnants of Hurricane Alex in the Coachella Valley 07-11-10 ?

Today's ride: 22 miles out and back.  Nice cloud cover this morning holding the temperature down and even delivering a few fat drops of cooling rain.  I believe these clouds may be remnants from Hurricane Alex that hit Mexico and Texas a week or so ago.

Stimulus Dollars @ work. Palm Dr. @ I-10, 07-09-10

Today's ride: 31 1/3 miles, Palm Dr, to Varner, to Monterey, to Frank Sinatra, to Whitewater Channel Trail into Palm Springs.

Dolly Sinatra's Rose Garden 07-09-10

This photo shows what is left of Dolly Sinatra's Rose Garden.  1971-1972 I worked for Cactus Slim Moorten and part of my job was to occasionally trim Mrs. Sinatra's Roses.  They look like they need some care today.  I had the opportunity to get to know Mrs. Sinatra and to drink her beer.  That was a long time ago.

Smoke Tree Blossoms 07-07-10

Today's ride 27 1/2 miles.  This year was a good season for Smoke Tree Blossoms.  Here are some pooled together in gutter water.  Even then they are still beautiful.

Self-Portrait

Having fun chasing my shadow down the road.

Shaded Bike Parking @ Split Rock

Indian Canyons 06-17-10

Casualty on Vista Chino, 07-03-10

I came across this snake on today's ride at the wash crossing on Vista Chino.  Today's 34 mile ride: Vista Chino, Varner, Ramon to Indian Canyons and home.

Baby Sidewinder 09-10-07

This little snake made the mistake of slithering from the sand onto Ramon Rd., top of the hill west of I-10.

Bad Day in a Parking Lot 03-21-10

This little amphibiam came to a grim end in a beautiful locale, the parking lot at the mouth of Andreas Canyon, south of Palm Springs in the Indian Canyons, one of my favorite places to ride in the Coachella Valley.  If it wasn't for this photo this little guy never existed.

North Face Mt. San Jacinto 03-20-10

Photo taken from Snow Creek Rd. north of PalmSprings near the Highway 111 and I-10 connection.  A very nice ride with great vistas in every direction.  This mountain north face is one of the highest and steepest in the continental U.S.