Today's Ride, 08-28-2015

 Selfie...

Natividad riding east on Vista Chino to get today's newspaper.
Today's ride: 24 miles, Da Vall Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/880426400 .

Morning Chat with Bond, 08-28-2015

(Bond Shands riding the Cathedral City section of bike trail along the Whitewater River, 05-17-2013: photo by Rothblatt)

Today on my morning ride I had a chance opportunity for a Jenkin’s Trail bikeway chat with avid cyclist Bond Shands.  As a cycling advocate, Bond deserves kudos for his efforts that led to the City of Palm Springs and the City of Cathedral City installing the bicycle and pedestrian crossing on Cathedral Canyon Road at the Whitewater Channel.  

Today’s chat was a nice coincidence for me since his concerns regarding CV/Link were in today’s The Desert Sun.  It has perplexed me that he seems to be so publicly against this project when I so often see him riding his bike on what may eventually become sections of CV/Link.  Like Rancho Mirage Mayor Hobart, he says he isn’t against CV/Link in general, just the process… not enough “transparency” and not enough “independent” research on the value and cost of this project.

He told me that he supports everything Mayor Dana Hobart, says with regard to opposing the CV/Link.  Bond described CVAG Director, Tom Kirk, and County Supervisor, John Benoit, as “obstructionists.”  That makes no sense to me.  I told him I thought it was Mayor Hobart who is the obstructionist and that it seems to me Hobart loves the sound of his own voice and that it must even bore Bond when Hobart starts to publicly read his 35 minute objections to CV/Link. It was Bond’s response to this comment that made his CV/Link objections clear to me. My comment obviously upset Bond. He immediately ended the conversation by taking off on his bike and snapping back to me that he and Mayor Hobart are “close friends.”  Aww, I am no longer perplexed at his stance against CV/Link. 

I-10 @ Whitewater River, 08-26-2015

Interstate 10 bridge over the Whitewater River with the north face of Mt. San Jacinto as a backdrop. Photo take from the Whitewater bridge at Whitewater.
Today's ride: 25 1/2 miles, Whitewater Cut-Off, out-and-back, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/878327532 .

Palm Springs' Riders, 08-23-2015

 Tom, a new rider, recently moved to Palm Springs from Kansas.  Here he is on his first ride to Hermit's Bench in the PS Indian Canyons.

7:30 this morning riders making a left turn onto west-bound Tahquitz Way from Caballeros. Looks like a coffee run to me.
Today's ride: 18 miles, Hermit's Bench, out-and-back, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/875160142 .

New Bicycle Friendly Roads, 08-18-2015

 El Cielo Rd. south of Ramon Rd. in Palm Springs gets new bicycle lane striping.  Alejo Rd. looks like it will soon have the same striping.

 Date Palm Rd. north of I-10 has been redone with what looks to be a wide and smooth striped shoulder on both sides of the road.  Note the median is unpaved.  Ir will be interesting to see what, if anything, is done with that.

Algae bloom next to the bike path at Tahquitz Creek Golf Course.
Today's ride: 28 1/2 miles, Bob Hope Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/869829203 .

Summer Morning Riders, 08-10-2015

 John rides 10-12 miles every day in Cathedral City or Desert Hot Springs.

Cliff heading north on Sunrise Way in Palm Springs.
Today's ride: 21 miles, Da Vall Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/861265442 .

From Weapon of War to Ash Tray, 08-06-2015

Multi-ton ashtray adorns DHS VFW Post.
Today's ride: 31 miles, Mountain View-Bob Hope Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/856967476 .

Worst to Good, 08-06-2015

Cyclist's worst section of roadway in the western Coachella Valley is being rebuilt and will have to be something better than it was - Date Palm Dr. between I-10 and Varner Rd.

Bill's New Ride, 08-04-2015

Bill and his beautiful new Trek with electric shifters.
Today's ride: 24 miles, Palm Springs Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/854899344 .

South Levee Araby Wash, 08-04-2015

The south levee of the Araby Wash between Gene Autry Dr. and Highway 111 is paved.  Photo is looking toward the Gene Autry Bridge.

This is the gate to the south levee on the Araby Wash in Palm Springs.  Note the "No Trespass" signage.  It is 0.9 miles to Highway 111.  One day this route may connect to the CV/Link?

Speaks for Itself, 08-01-2015

 Date Palm Dr. north of I-10 will be closed until August 6.

What drought? Cathedral Canyon Country Club where the Canadian Geese are happy and full of shit.
Today's ride: 30 miles, Monterey Loop, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/851499295 .