GREETINGS FROM WILDWOOD

Stopping to say hello during Thursday's evening ride at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks.... the rest of the details are in the audio.

DIET CHILI CHEESE FRIES

Pulling off chili-cheese fries while watching your weight isn't easy, but I figured it out.... 1 cup Donna's chili (2 pts) 2 servings Orida zesty fries (6 pts) 2 slices low-fat cheese (2 pts) TOTAL: 10pts of my daily 34 points!! Yummmm!

TUESDAY TRAIL RIDE

I usually ride with Bruce on Thursdays but since he'll be out on
vacation, we planned to ride Tuesday night before he left. Long story
short, he got hung up at work and I ended up riding the trails solo.
I'm noticing that it's getting darker much earlier than just a month
ago, but I still managed to get in 90 minutes of climbing and
descending the trails of Wildwood Park - just a short drive from the
house. It won't be long before I'm looking to drop some $ on new
lights for the bike, so I can continue riding through the winter
months, when darkness has fallen before I'm even out of the office.
Until then I'm enjoying watching the setting sun while drifting across
the local trails.

LUNCHTIME COMPANY

I usually eat my lunch in the car, in a shaded parking lot across the
street from the office. Today I pulled into one of my usual spots to
find this flower in bloom, right next to my driver-side window. With
the breeze blowing around it was no easy task, snapping this photo
with a camera phone, but it seems to have come out just fine.

SWIRL FROZEN YOGURT

We've discovered a deadly, evil business just about a mile from our house... it's called Swirl Frozen Yogurt and while it's mostly fat free stuff, I'm sure it's loaded with calories. Regardless, it's absolutely delicious!

CHILLIN AT WILDWOOD

Donna, chillin' out at the Wildwood Park waterfall.

'CROSS RIDING WILDWOOD PARK

Wildwood Park, near our home, is loaded with rocks both big and small. Some move if you just look at 'em funny. Other won't budge if you dive over the handlebars and land right on them. In short, skinny cyclocross tires require some pretty sophisticated handling skills - a challenge that Donna was certainly ready for Monday morning.

TRICKY CREEK CROSSING

This little bridge is no challenge at all when I'm on my full-suspension mountain bike, but hitting it with a fully-rigid 29er with skinny tires proved to make it more of a challenge. On my first attempt I skidded to a halt on the bridge when I realized I was about to run over a lizard.

RELIEF ON A HOT DAY

To get the best view of the waterfall in Wildwood Park requires dancing across a few rocks (if you want to stay dry) but given Monday's heat, Donna wasn't too concerned about keeping her feet dry... plus, balancing on small rocks when you have a metal cleat on the bottom of your shoe isn't too easy anyway.

WILDWOOD WATERFALL

This is the closest thing we have to a waterfall here in SoCal. Of course it's a trickle in comparison to the waterfalls we visited in Oregon and Utah but hey, there ain't no snow in these-here-parts come winter either.

DINNERTIME FOR HUMPHREY

I was surprised at how much food Humphrey can put away... granted, six months of the year he eats nothing as he hibernates.

MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HUMPHREY

We spent Sunday afternoon at Bruce & Julie's where we got to meet Humphrey, the tortoise we've heard so much about. He's faster than you'd think a tortoise could be and he's amazingly friendly!

CLIMBING HELL HILL

There's a hill in Sycamore Canyon called Hell Hill... the rest of the details are in the video.

FEEDING FRENZY

This was just an awesome sight. We made the short drive to Avila Beach where Donna spotted a feeding frenzy. About 200 pelicans along with dolphins and sea lions were going to town on a school of fish. The frenzy went on for good 20-30 minutes as the school of fish moved from one location to another. I've never seen anything like it.

COMING OUT OF THE CAVE

The caves were the highlight of the scenery for me. We checked the tide schedule for Pismo Beach and managed to catch them at low tide. We almost missed this part of the trip in an effort to get home before the traffic but opted to stay in Pismo as late as we could. I'm glad we did - they were super cool.

SLOW CADENCE

As our tires began to sink further and further into the soft, sandy surface at Pismo Beach, our cadence slowed considerably - plus I think we were both still tired from the steep climbs the day before.

'MOUNTAIN' BIKING ON THE BEACH

After such a bust at Lake Lopez on Sunday, Monday we decided to just ride along the beach. It turned out to be a little more of a workout than we expected since the sand wasn't as hard packed as I had hoped it would be.

FINALLY, SOME SHADE

There wasn't a whole lot of shade around Lake Lopez and it was rather hot over the weekend, so we were thrilled to finally see some shaded trails after climbing in the brutal heat.

MORE PELICANS

I absolutely love pelicans so needless to say, the beach is a great place for me to hang out. While we were watching the sunset the one evening in Pismo Beach, I was thrilled to get this short video clip of a few pelicans flying overhead.

RIDING LOPEZ LAKE

Donna streams down some of the more desirable singletrack at Lake Lopez, with a great view of the lake in the distance.

STEEP CLIMBS AT LAKE LOPEZ

I'm all for steep climbs and punishing myself, but some of the stuff at the Lake Lopez Recreation Area was simply stupid. Fortunately the trails were extremely scenic, so we didn't mind as much that they weren't well designed.

MY FAVORITE BIRDS

Pelicans are without a doubt my favorite birds so needless to say I was thrilled so see a few fly overhead while hanging out along the PCH, across the street from Neptune's Net.

COOL CAVES

We caught the caves at low tide... fortunate since we don't have kayaks with us. The caves at Pismo Beach are a sight to see. Check 'em out if you're ever there.

CAVE INTERIOR

Why some idiot(s) would want to deface such beautiful creations from mother nature is beyond me. I tried to ignore the graffiti and etchings.

DOUBLE HEADER

How'd you like to be here when the tide comes in... scary stuff.

HELLOOOOO

Donna, peering from inside one of the shallow caves in Pismo Beach.

ANOTHER CAVE VIEW

Just another view from inside one of Pismo's caves along the beach.

LOOKS LIKE A BENCH TO ME

My feet were killing me after walking around in flip flops all day, with no arch support. A place to sit and cold water to soak my feet in was very welcomed relief.

DON'T POOP ON ME

As much as I love pelicans, I wouldn't want to be standing under one while relieving itself. Ick! Donna shares my concern.

FROZEN DELIGHT

We discovered Pismo Yogurt today - a fix-your-own, pay-by-the-pound frozen yogurt establishment. My masterpiece included strawberry frozen yogurt, strawberries, chopped peanuts, cheesecake pieces and carob chips. It was so good I went back for more later in the day.

I'LL BE BACK

Donna enjoyed Pismo Yogurt as much as I did. Of course she created a much healthier dessert than I did.

HAPPY COUPLE

This was a FANTASTIC weekend getaway to Pismo Beach... fun riding, good food, great weather and the best company a guy could ask for.

THE BEST SPOT FOR SUNSETS

Pismo Beach takes the cake for sunset viewing locations. The cliffs above Shell Beach are primo.

FIREWORKS, EVERY TIME

There's no other way to describe it.

I WANT TO SOAK UP SOME SUN

Donna's choice of music (Cheryl Crowe) has me muttering words that, well, I'd rather not. She did enjoy soaking up some sun this evening.

NAP TIME

Donna treated herself to something she never takes the time for... a nap.

CONTEMPLATING A NAP

Donna's energy level dropped quickly once she hit the sofa... I think it actually was the two pillows that really did her in.

ENERGETIC... FOR NOW

Donna hit the sofa full of energy... it faded quickly.

WEEKEND GET-A-WAY: PART I

We started our weekend at the Lopez Lake Recreation Area, hoping to
have some fun exploring some new trails and terrain. The scenery and
view were great but the trails themselves leave much to be desired of.
At ome point we found ourselves coming off a trail that bikes were
prohibited on, though I swear there was no such indication at the
trailhead where we started. We found a great shade tree close to the
lake which is where we stopped for a picnic after the ride - Donna had
an all-veggie wrap (yuck) while I chowed down on a triple decker
sandwich with ham, turkey & bacon.

RISE AND SHINE

Donna waking up at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. We're starting day two
of an awesome weekend.

#£%*@!!! NEED I SAY MORE?

END OF THE WEEK TREAT

At least, the weekend is here. Stop 1: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

WATCHING DOLPHINS

Donna and I spotted a number of dolphins just off the coast at the PCH. Once Apple adds a telephoto lens to the iPhone, I'll be really impressed. Until then, just photos of us watching the dolphins.

A BIT OF A BREEZE

After the A/C at the mall, shaved ice at Shave It, and the A/C at the theatre, we went to the beach to cool off. If only there had been a breeze, it would have been great.

SHAVE IT!

Shave It in Thousand Oaks now offers banana and coconut flavors, sugar-free. Given today's scorching temperatures, it was a great spot to hit this afternoon.

CYCLING ENTERTAINMENT

While awaiting our shaved ice this afternoon we got to watch mountain bike downhill racing from, I'm estimating, the early 90's.

MMMMMM, PANERA

You can't go wrong with lunch at Panera Bread. Half a sandwich and soup is always perfect.

SMOKIN' DEALS

The Gap had my jeans on sale for $9! It was a great experience buying jeans 6" smaller in the waist!

OHHHH, 'MAC'

Whenever Donna needs make-up she alerts me that she needs to go to the MAC store. I always get excited thinking she means the Apple store. Gadgets and gadget accessories were nowhere to be found.

HAPPY AS A CLAM

I don't know where that saying comes from but Sunday was an awesome day. We hammered up Sulphur Mtn Road, a dirt road climb 11 miles in length, in a matter of 1hr 20min. The last two miles are partially asphalt but still... ouch! The big perk... time together and a sense of accomplishment.

HIGH ABOVE OJAI

Donna fighting through the final portion of an 11-mile climb on a 'cross bike.

NAPPING ON THE BEACH

I think Donna can sleep pretty much anywhere...

BEACH TIME

What more can you ask for after a long ride and a good lunch than a cool beach

POST RIDE RELIEF

After beating ourselves up for a few hours on the trail, it was time
to head across the street for a picnic on the beach. We're spoiled
indeed.

MONDAY'S RIDE

We were planning to go mountain biking Monday when we realized Donna
had worn her brake pads down to nothing. Both bikes were in need of
new chains so we opted to drop the bikes off with the mechanic and
take the cyclocross bikes out instead. Wow, what a difference. After
riding full suspension mtn bikes for so long, fully rigid 'cross bikes
feel especially brutal as they transfer every bump and jolt directly
to your bones and muscles! Ouch!

TYPICAL SUNNY SoCal

Before getting ready for an afternoon BBQ with Bruce and Julie, we got
out for a short road ride around Camarillo. Today's weather was
perfect as usual -75 degrees and sunny as can be. Not long before
before getting home my left cleat broke which didn't make for a great
finish to the ride, but the rest of the day was great... Tri-tip and
corn on the cobb on the grill, pasta salad, chili, and blueberry
dessert.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Camarillo fireworks would have been much more enjoyable with Donna
at my side but since I had some spare time I wondered down to the
fireworks show by myself.