Lakeside to San Diego - last bike day!

Selfie in Lakeside - pleasant ride

I couldn't resist the pedestrian crossing button for folks on horseback

 

One of my acquaintances as I work to pick up the ST route out of Lakeside

Father Junipro Siera Trail (bike path) in San Diego

A very pleasant way to climb the hills of San Diego

A bit of road work then the Ocean Beach Bike path to Dog Beach

Runs between I5 and the estuary

Back to Sand

And the Pacific book end picture to match the one I took at Crescent Beach

 

Biking is done - now for the road trip north to SLP

My Adventure buddy extraordinaire

Beautiful Trees at Oceana Beach SP (Pismo Beach)

150 + year old eucalyptus trees - just right for hugging!

An evening with Jess - our hostess with the mostess!

One of several walks on the beach - it was much more than 15 minutes

The last beach walk (this trip) - Avila Beach at Sunset

For tomorrow we be driving East as quickly as we can.

Anza Borrego SP to Pauma Valley (Ben's Place!)

 

 

Then a long winding descent into the Pauma valley - mostly down from 6000 feet to 1500 feet over 40 miles.  Everywhere you look in the Pauma Valley there are fruit trees laden with fruit!

 

 After several wrong turns to check out the orchards we find Ben's Camp and Ben - helping his neighbor erect a new shelter. 

 

 

Ben himself! 

 

Late lunch at the end of the Pier in Oceanside.  Bubble man entertaining the masses.

 

 Resident Gray Pelican is not so impressed.  Sign says - "Wild Brown Pelican's bite stupid people"

 

 

It takes a village.  Smallest tent is what Ben uses when he is traveling. 

 

 

 Young seal hanging out at the end of the pier hoping to snatch whatever food comes his way.

 

Aftermath of lunch at Ruby's - Ice Cream Cone salad?

 

 

 

 

Wonderful - steep climb from Borrego Springs to the pass - very interesting rocks with small (Hard) rocks imbedded in larger (Soft) rocks which erode leaving the hard stones exposed.

 

 

 

Ricardo Breceda and the “Sky Art” Metal Sculptures of Borrego Valley

Over 120 metallic sculptures known collectively as “Sky Art” are scattered about Borrego Valley against the backdrop of the magnificent Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Created by artist Ricardo Breceda, Sky Art is the perfect blend of stunning craftsmanship and placement in the open desert landscape. Inspired by science, history, nature, whim and fantasy, the many sculptures offer something for everyone.

"Accidental Artist", by Diana Lindsey tells the story of Ricardo

Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center

Imperial Valley ~ Glamis California

 

Desert flowers....

These sand dunes are the playground for people with expensive toys. It looks like allot of fun. They roar up and over and down these hills that rise hundreds of feet into the dry air. Often all you can see is their mandatory flag that rises high above their vehicles giving a clue to each other regarding location.

 

 

 

I borrowed this picture from the internet. The colors and flags are all quite entertaining. A bit different from the dune buggies of yesteryear.

 

 

 These desert dunes move south about one foot a year! Amazing.

 

Riding Arizona

Suiting up west of Wickenburg, Arizona.

 

Geared up and heading for the road.

"Selfie, on the road again. Straight as an arrow, a roadbed across an old dry lake bed. Nary a turn for forty miles."

 
"There goes Sarah, see you in forty miles." ~ Bruce 
"Leaving Bruce, once again. I putter down the road driving not much faster then Bruce is biking. I enjoy the peace of the open road with lots of time to enjoy the landscape." ~ Sarah

This unfolds....

Aguila "No way, Jose."
Wenden "Close, but no cigar."
Salome "Sun is setting, doesn't look good, I want a hotel now."

Quartzite, no hotels.
Across the Chocolate Mountains to Blythe California, The Quality Inn at nine PM

 

Adventures in Phoenix

 

 

The stokers view.

 

A view from behind before descending into one of the many underpasses on the Arizona Canal Bikepath in Phoenix. Our first tandem ride this trip.

 

 

 Saw about twenty of these beautiful birds in the trees at Granada Park.

 

This is the Old Town Tortilla Factory, in Old Town Scottsdale. Rick, Tee, Bruce and I enjoyed a lovely dinner under the stars in Januray.

Silver City to Roper Lake State Park ~

 

Frank stops by our humble abode at the Silver City KOA for morning coffee on his way east.

 

 

I sometimes stop ten miles or so ahead after dropping Bruce off for his ride. This time I found a dirt road going up onto a hill and there I waited for him. He wasn't far behind me as I was only driving about forty miles an hour, kind of strolling down the roads peacefully.

 

 

He looks pleased to have a companion for his break after biking twelve miles.

 

 

"Coming up a long hill after Blacksmith Canyon I look on the horizon and see something on the hill. It's Sarah. Perfect timing and place for a break. We even pull out the chairs for the first time on a break. And I pose for Sarah." ~ Bruce

 

 

"Posing." ~ Bruce

 

 

While waiting for Bruce I ran in to my old friends from St. Mark's Florida. Small world!

 

 

Coming down the canyon into Arizona

 

 

Camp for the night, Roper Lake State Park~They gave us a site right on the water, all alone.

 

 

Ducks and birds abound. There are great batches of Quail. Too cute with their little heads and their bobbing feather headpiece. I tried to get pictures but could not get close enough. They are very fast.

 

 

Anyone know what kind of bird nest this is?

 

View from the water.

 

 

Great flocks of small birds danced back in forth across the moon until the dark when they all seemed to fall out of the sky into the bushes.