August 25, 2010 GMR plus 4.5

Me feeling good for a short while. Crystal Lake Basin

Fred feeling his oats.

Out past the fork.

Me on the way back down.

Got an earlier start than normal. We were riding by 6:45 AM. I really had a hard time just making the shack. Wasn't the climb itself, it was the heat that was incredible. Fred rode as if it was mid January. Heat never did get him.I think he was disappointed we didn't try for the village, but I know I would have crapped out Just didn't have it today for a change. Oh well, there is always next time. I enjoyed the day. We spent more time than usual taking pictures and just shooting the shit

Fred and Gina at Huntington. Think they were looking for Fred

These birds are big and everywhere.

See, here they are again.

Jose, Fred, and Gina at Imperial Highway

Nice ride with Fred, Gina, Jose, and a few others here and there on the ride. The stretch up to Imperial and then down to the beach went uneventful. but not the ride back. We were only a couple miles into the return when we came across a couple riders that were not sure of what they were doing. This was bad and almost caused a catastrophe. Jose ended up going down, not bad, but blood was drawn. Seems an elderly rider was confused about what he wanted to do and when, as we were passing him at the time. Tense moment, but all turned out OK. Good day other than that.

August 18, 2010 GMR to the Village

Post Office at end of ride, Baldy Village 2 riders that passed us on the way up, now heading down. Fred doing his video thing.

Self portrait at Newman's Point

Fred enjoying view at Newman's Point

Actually talked Fred into an earlier riding time than normal, so we headed up to the Village. Was already quite warm when we started at 7:20AM, but better than getting a later start. We took our time, as neither one of us was in a hurry, especially since we had been up GMR so many times in the last couple weeks. Was the sixth time in three weeks going up to at least the hut. Anyway, got out to the Village after a nice but warm climb up. All the riding I have been doing seemed to pay off, as the only thing that really got me was the heat. Stayed at the Post Office for the better part of an hour before heading down. We met a guy who had started in Downey, and then all the way out to the Village. Nice long ride. The lower down we got on the descent, the hotter it got, until at the bottom it was really hot. Another great time in the mountains.

August 14, 2010 SART solo

The view from the end of the ride The old trusted friend

Closer up

Imperial Highway overpass

Big freaking bird in river bed

After working all night, got a hair up my butt and thought I would go down to SART and see if I could catch up with Fred and his usual Saturday morning group. Got on the bike about 10:30 AM, cranked it up and went searching. Got up to Imperial, and no one was around. Thought there was the chance they passed me on the way, so I took off back towards the stadium, thinking I could catch them before they made the beach. Well, about 5 miles above the beach I came upon Fred heading North all by himself. Seems that Gina was busy and he rode by himself, getting an hour earlier start than normal. Later afternoon commitments and all. Talked for a few, then I took off for the beach by myself. Got there and rested for about half an hour or so, Then headed back. I rode at a fairly good pace for me, thinking it would have been 18.5 mph or so if I hadn't coasted a few times. Settled for 18.3. All in all, good ride.

August 12, 2010 GMR with Fred

At the shack Fred resting before ride down.

The mystery lady, Stacy.

It's mine

Me at Newman's Point.

Rode up to the shack with Fred, warm , OK, HOT, all the way. Lots of motorcycles out today, mostly Harleys. Finally met the woman Fred and I have been seeing that parks her truck at about mile 7 of the climb and then she rides down the road, turns around and rides up the road past the truck and goes up I don't know how far. Her name is Stacy and she is cool.

August 11, 2010 Train watching at Cajon Pass with Jason

Jason having fun waiting for trains Trains at Sullivan's Curve

Train entering into Sullivan's Curve

Jason caught having fun .

An empty Sullivan's Curve

Took off early this morning for a few hours of watching trains with Jason at Cajon Pass. First up we hit Sullivan's Curve, and he got a couple good videos there. We then went down to where Swarthout Canyon hits Kenwood, and didn't see anything until we started pulling away down the road. We stopped and Jason shot video from the side of the road. We then headed down to Joe's, which is now called Country Corner, and had lunch and were lucky enough for a few more trains. One of which Jason says is sort of rare to catch on video. All in all a good day.

August 10, 2010 SGRT to Liberty Park

South on the SGRT from the top of Santa Fe Dam Fred on way back towards the end of ride.

Lots of these flying around about half way down

to Liberty Park

Fred's Lemond at Liberty Park

My old Cannondale at Liberty Park.

Nice warm, fairly straight forward ride down the San Gabriel River Trail to Liberty Park. Nice and warm but not what I would call hot until stopping on way back. The farther from the coast the warmer it was. Hit some headwinds coming and going but not anything unbearable. 55 miles and a nice ride.