Visibility was down to 50 yards or less today. Real thick fog is more fun than the high fog and regular gloomy weather we have been having.
And yes, this turn and tree is one of my favorite places to set up the camera.
Any riding is good riding, and better than not riding outside.
Ghost Town August 15 2011, 0 Comments
At least it feels that way with the fair finally packing up and moving on. It is finally safe to come out of the house. After lunch we went for a quick spin to pick up my entries from the photo exhibit.
The food wagons have almost completely moved out. Quite a different scene than saturday. We stopped at the last hall to pick up my pictures and honorable mention ribbon. I am already plotting and planning for next year's entries. I decided to take a quick peak at the midway:
Not nearly as exciting with trash everywhere and things three-fourths picked up. Then we took the long way home to check the surf.
The low clouds and fog have been relentless this summer, after a while it starts to get really old. I know, it is better than heat waves or ice storms, but after weeks of flat gray light, bright enough to need sun glasses, but never sunny, you start to appreciate the clear blue skies a bit more.
Two Wet Nuts August 11 2011, 0 Comments
And this has nothing to do with my choice of cotton shorts and boxers(capilene). Yesterday's ride was wet, the fog was late in coming this year and has been relentless in moving on. The mist was so thick in the morning that there was puddles most of the way out to Lake Casitas, and the trees were dripping with dew.
Wishing I still had fenders on the Roadeo I made my way out towards the lake to see if I could find some free snacks to take home. The weather out here has been unusually damp all year, and cool, hot for a bit and then cool again. As a result the rivers are still running with water in the summer.
Usually by this time of year they are barely a trickle of a creek left. Likewise the fruit and nuts have been all off schedule, plumping up early during the heat, but not turning ripe now that it is cool and damp again. First stop was the walnut tree, relentless branch shaking did little more than draw a crowd of onlookers wondering what the crazy human was up too.
From there is was just a little further to check on the progress the pomegranates have been making.
Like the walnuts, the trees are loaded with fruit, but none of it near ready to enjoy. I am looking forward to the day it all comes ripe at once. The transition from spring to summer this year has been a mixed bag on our stretch of coast this year, even the wild flowers are a bit mixed up, some still blooming while the rest of the fields have long gone to their summer tan.
While not high yielding in wild foods, the ride was a great chance to get out of the house for a bit, and not think about the things I "should" be getting done, and yes all that tree shaking resulted in just two wet nuts ;-)
Across town and through the fields for about 24 miles total to get the food for the next few days.
Warm and foggy with just a little breeze. A great day to get out, traffic near home was a bit nuts with the fair, but that is to be expected.
Fair Days August 05 2011, 0 Comments
One of the many fringe benefits of where we live is being within a block of the County fairgrounds. It is really not that bad most of the time, but for 10 days every summer the whole county and then some seems to descend upon out neighborhood. It is best to get out early and then home before the "Lot Full" road rage spreads for a 3 mile radius.
Today we made it out for some quick errands we before the crowds,
It looks like the fog is going to pull back out over the ocean too, making for a great Friday.
Enjoy your weekend, and get outside. We will be at the Fair
More Famouser August 04 2011, 0 Comments
Baby steps, but wishing they were big kid steps. I have my first picture published in a paper magazine this month. Momentum used one of my pictures from Flickr in their reader pics section. I was hoping it was going to be a little bigger, but I will take it where I can get it.
Also, I decided to enter some pictures in the county fair this year. I had a bit of time and figured it would be a good learning experience. It was exactly that. I had fun working through the process, the price was right, $0, and learned enough to be better prepared for next year as well as any other opportunity to show my prints. Competition is usually pretty high as we have a large amature photo contingent in the area as well as Brooks Institute right up the road. Out of 7 entries I was able to pull one honorable mention ribbon
Major lesson learned was to not let it go untill the last-minute, next year's entries will be better presented for sure.
I had some coverage for the baby today and was able to get out fo ra couple of hours, thank you Opie. I headed up to Casitas for a while before doubling back to head to the farmer's market. It was really nice to get out of the morning fog and into some clear skies.
While out in the hills a bit I saw a deer with actual antlers, not usual around here. I only seem to see one every few years or so, plenty of does, but not really any bucks with head gear.
and then it was back into town where the fog was flirting with the coastline all day. A successful ride, fresh veggies and spin the legs.
You can just make out the fog bank in the distance.
What a difference 6 months can make in the crowds.
In the winter you get to wear the layers, but keep the view. Summer puts the layers between you and the sand.
It is amazing how even the "simple things" like installing a basket can become a challenge with little bikes:
You do not really want to see how bad it was if I used the front struts from the factory. The factory mounting straps are obviously going to take a bit of work to fit appropriately.
And yes, this turn and tree is one of my favorite places to set up the camera.
Any riding is good riding, and better than not riding outside.
The food wagons have almost completely moved out. Quite a different scene than saturday. We stopped at the last hall to pick up my pictures and honorable mention ribbon. I am already plotting and planning for next year's entries. I decided to take a quick peak at the midway:
Not nearly as exciting with trash everywhere and things three-fourths picked up. Then we took the long way home to check the surf.
The low clouds and fog have been relentless this summer, after a while it starts to get really old. I know, it is better than heat waves or ice storms, but after weeks of flat gray light, bright enough to need sun glasses, but never sunny, you start to appreciate the clear blue skies a bit more.
Wishing I still had fenders on the Roadeo I made my way out towards the lake to see if I could find some free snacks to take home. The weather out here has been unusually damp all year, and cool, hot for a bit and then cool again. As a result the rivers are still running with water in the summer.
Usually by this time of year they are barely a trickle of a creek left. Likewise the fruit and nuts have been all off schedule, plumping up early during the heat, but not turning ripe now that it is cool and damp again. First stop was the walnut tree, relentless branch shaking did little more than draw a crowd of onlookers wondering what the crazy human was up too.
From there is was just a little further to check on the progress the pomegranates have been making.
Like the walnuts, the trees are loaded with fruit, but none of it near ready to enjoy. I am looking forward to the day it all comes ripe at once. The transition from spring to summer this year has been a mixed bag on our stretch of coast this year, even the wild flowers are a bit mixed up, some still blooming while the rest of the fields have long gone to their summer tan.
While not high yielding in wild foods, the ride was a great chance to get out of the house for a bit, and not think about the things I "should" be getting done, and yes all that tree shaking resulted in just two wet nuts ;-)
Warm and foggy with just a little breeze. A great day to get out, traffic near home was a bit nuts with the fair, but that is to be expected.
It looks like the fog is going to pull back out over the ocean too, making for a great Friday.
Enjoy your weekend, and get outside. We will be at the Fair
Also, I decided to enter some pictures in the county fair this year. I had a bit of time and figured it would be a good learning experience. It was exactly that. I had fun working through the process, the price was right, $0, and learned enough to be better prepared for next year as well as any other opportunity to show my prints. Competition is usually pretty high as we have a large amature photo contingent in the area as well as Brooks Institute right up the road. Out of 7 entries I was able to pull one honorable mention ribbon
Major lesson learned was to not let it go untill the last-minute, next year's entries will be better presented for sure.
While out in the hills a bit I saw a deer with actual antlers, not usual around here. I only seem to see one every few years or so, plenty of does, but not really any bucks with head gear.
and then it was back into town where the fog was flirting with the coastline all day. A successful ride, fresh veggies and spin the legs.
You can just make out the fog bank in the distance.
In the winter you get to wear the layers, but keep the view. Summer puts the layers between you and the sand.
You do not really want to see how bad it was if I used the front struts from the factory. The factory mounting straps are obviously going to take a bit of work to fit appropriately.