Novemner 16, 2010 Up GMR for a Space Station viewing

Chuck looking fot the S.S. (click) Space station

Space Staion

Space Station

Steve, Chuck, and myself up GMR looking for

the Space Station

After going for a bike ride today up GMR, decided to get up there again with Steve and Chuck and do a Space Station sighting. We were lucky enough to be successful. Met lots of others up there also, but doubt any were looking for what we were. Pictures of the moon with the space station need to be clicked on to see in higher resolution.

November 16, 2010 GMR solo

Turn that many a car has missed Shack with Baldy

Favorite shot of the day. Road dropping off to

no where.

The wall at the top.

Just past the first saddle.

GMR with Crystal Lake Bowl in background

All by myself.

Couldn't get an answer from Beanz to my email invite about going this morning, so I went solo.

Pretty much an average ride, with crossing an unfriendly FryDaddy not once, twice , or three times, but four times he went by without as much as a hello. Guess when I am solo, I am not worth the time to talk to. Ha Ha. Oh well. Such is life. When resting at the top, PinoyBentor and friends went by, and all they had to say was " Where's Beanz?" I guess I really don't exist. Hummm. Maybe I need to take up another endeavor. LOL No way. The heck with all them . Took tons of pictures on the ride down. Stopped and shot different angles and such, and came away with a few interesting ones. Another great ride in the mountains.

November 14, 2010 GMR to Baldy Village, Gina's first

The steeds at top of GMR The group at the top of GMR, Baldy overlooking in background L A with the ocean catching the sun

Gina and Fred at Peacock Saddle on return

All of us at the Village

Me,Fred, Tom,Gina, and Herb at the shack on GMR

Fred and Tom just below the shack.

Virgins no more

We had two first timers on this ride out to the village. Along with myself, Fred, and Gina, were Herb and Tom. Gina and Tom had never made the Village, although they had both gotten closer than they knew on previous rides. Pretty much a normal ride, but I had to catch up with everyone as I got a 20 minute late start on the group. Caught them just after the first saddle, and we pretty much took our time out to the Village. I could tell people were getting tired the closer we got to the town, but no one was about to call it a day this time without making it. Once we made town, everyone rested up and we headed back. Got some good pics on return, being able to see the ocean was cool.

Baldy from Newman's Point

November 13, 2010 GMR Solo at night

Tail light from my bike is just visible on left side of shot Shot from top of GMR

Also from the top

Going it alone

Couldn't get anyone to ride in the dark, so I soloed (SC??) it to the top by myself. Not much traffic, never got passed by any car going up the hill. Was cool at the top, but not so bad as I couldn't change into a dry shirt for the ride down. Glad I went, even if it was a little lonely. Views were great as usual.

November 6, 2010 Forum ride up GMR to the Village

Sun going down from top of GMR Sunset from top of GMR

Sunset from top of GMR

Downtown L A with Pacific Ocean behind

Taken from top of GMR

Matt and Annette at their turn around point

L A River Rat at first saddle.

Camera man extraordinaire, Mr Beanz

Some of the pack a couple miles up GMR Great turnout

Forum ride up GMR to Baldy Village turned out WAY better than anyone had any hopes of. Not quite sure how many people were involved, seeing how there were a couple other groups(clubs or what have you) going up at the same time, but wow. My guess is that there may have been anywhere between 50 and 75 riders heading up right at the beginning. I unfortunately could not ride seeing how I didn't get off work until 6:30 AM and there was no way I had it in me to then ride out to the village and back, so I followed everyone up in my car and took pictures. After the main regrouping at the Lodge, they headed back down but I went up to the lifts and hung out for a while. In heading back across GRR, I stopped at a turnout and fell asleep with my lights on, causing the battery to drain. After finally getting ahold of Chuck, he came up and met me with some beer at the top of GMR. We had a great sunset to watch, killed some beer, and headed back down about 8 o'clock or so. Long day, but was fun.

November 3, 2010 Peacock Saddle + San Dimas Canyon

The intersection at the short, steep section of San Dimas Canyon Mr Beanz, Matt, and myself at Peacock Saddle

Fred on the way out to Peacock

The classic shot of GMR and Baldy

Crystal Lake Bowl taken from GMR below

Newman's Point

Downtown L. A. from GMR. What a clear morning.

Another run out to Peacock

Seeing how I felt fairly sure I wouldn't be doing the Forum Ride out to the village on Saturday, I wanted to get a good ride in today, but Fred wanted to save the legs for the Saturday ride. Either way, we got a great ride in up to Peacock Saddle under as perfect conditions as one could come across. Nice and warm but not hot, no wind, warm downhill sections, and was able to bread a sweat without minding. Warm in the direct sunlight, but not hot. Just a perfect weather day. We hit the shack and kept going instead of the usual break there. When we made Peacock, we called it a day and enjoyed the conditions. While we were there, Tinker Juarez went by on a mountain bike that from a distance almost had a engine sound to the tires on the pavement. After he went by, Matt showed up on his way back from the Village. He stopped to talk for a while and then the 3 of us headed down the road together. Fred kept going ahead and getting some video in places.

He needs to find a job doing something involving filming. He is good at it. After reaching the bottom, seeing how I had wanted to do something longer to begin with, I took off and did San Dimas Canyon and across to Esporanza, down to Baseline and back home. Added about 13 miles, not enough to get the 50 I wanted , but because of the heat down at that elevation, it was enough. Great day, great ride.

October 27, 2010 Highway 39 to Dawson Saddle

Switchbacks below Crystal Lake turnoff showing elevation difference in levels. Mr Beanz by Crystal Lake cutoff

CalTrans shed at Dawson Saddle

Fred at top of Dawson

At Islip Saddle where we took a break

Switchbacks at top of Canyon

Fred descending not far above the car.

Finally got him to try it

After trying to get Fred to do this ride for the longest time, I was finally able to talk him into it. Seeing how CalTrans had opened the bottom gate a little while back, we were able to get a better (higher) start on this. We made it up to the Crystal Lake cutoff fast enough, but grom there things slowed down. We came across workers in the last 5 miles to Islip Saddle, and the road for that stretch is nowhere near as nice as down below. The wind REALLY kicked up the last few miles, and with it blowing at least 40 mph, the temps felt even worse. Being in the shade the last few miles up to Islip didn't help either. We finally made Islip, and got to sit in the sun for a while before taking off for Dawson. The last 5 miles up to the pass were not bad at all, and in fact, were quite nice and enjoyable. The views out to the desert were especially nice. After a rest on top, we headed down to enjoy the downhill that we had earned on the way up. Great ride, as usual.

October 23, 2010 Newbees on GMR

Gina at shack on GMR. She thinks it is cold out. Fred at the shack. Tammy and Gina at the shack Allan's first time up GMR Fred coming up the switchbacks And again Some riders going down as Fred ascends to the switchbacks Allan and Tammy, first timers, at the shack A couple of first timers Fred talked a husband and wife he knows from SART to come on up and give GMR a go for their first time. Tammy took off like a bullet, while Allan rode with Gina to start things out. It was a very busy day for riders, lots of them out. Seems like Fred knew just about all of them. He kept stopping to talk with riders and get video, so the rest of us got a ways up the hill ahead of him. It got to a point where he was quite a ways back, so I stopped and waited while everyone else kept going. He finally caught up and we caught up to Gina. Allan and Tammy were not to be seen until we reached the shack. Hung out for a while and headed down. For as fast as Tammy was on the way up, she practically waked down. Guess she has a fear of going downhill fast. At one point I waited over 20 minutes for her and Gina, just to make sure they were safe, which they were of course. Good ride all in all.