what's a carbon Conicious Consumer to do?

[Fredwina]

I had signed for the carbon conscious challenge at newdream,org (http://c3.newdream.org/campaigns/c3/impact/86da933aaee10416954dce07015b95ce/)
The idea is that if you do without your car for one a day a week in August, you can win a bike trip to Oregon (Moi is considering the irony of a “smart consumer” website doing a giveaway.
Where was I? Yes! Saturday was my day this week. The only dilemma was that the Club was having it's annual beach party at Newport beach. I hadn't done a century this month, and it was about 57 miles away, so guess what I did...
I rode there and back!
Started out early. Here is the obligatory mountain shot:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0001.jpg
I pedaled through south Ontario and saw an unusual sight for socal. A corn field
And a remaining dairy operation
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0002.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0003.jpg
I made my way through Norco and Corona and was soon on Orange County's Santa Ana trail:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0004.jpg
It's usually not that bad. this was in Santa Ana/Anaheim Canyon
on the other side:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0005.jpg
I rode by the Honda Center(go ducks! ) and Anaheim Stadium
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0006.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0007.jpg
Here's my favorite site on the trail. You've heard of a golf course by the river? How about one IN the river:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0010.jpg
soon the river was back to normal:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0012.jpg
and I was at the Ocean:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0016-1.jpg
had to ride a little bit more to get to house:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0017.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0022.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0023.jpg
on the way back , I ran into the unwanted wheel suckers that the Santa Ana is quite well known for. This one was funny. The SART is basically, but every you cross a street , you duck under:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/beachparty/SUNP0036.jpg
He would pass me, and then have to coast to catch his breath on the “hill” this went on for 5 miles. I finally got rid of him(doing 20+ mph for five miles probably helped).
The only other problem on the way back was that I did not eat enough at the party. so bonked on th climb back out of Corona/Norco.
Still, considering, that last times I've been in Orange county on my bike, I've
Broke my arm on the SART
went pavement surfing on Santiago Canyon Road
and lost my drivers license in San Clemente
I think I removed the curse of Orange County!
PS here's the site of a far better photographer than I:
http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/river/sa/
Fredwina

[Tri Girl]

Yowzer! :eek: I'm so incredibly impressed that you rode your bike all the way to the beach, and BACK! You're one studly lady, my friend. LOVE the pictures- thanks for posting them (you're a very good photographer)!!! How long were you gone for the day? I'll bet it was a long one!

[sbctwin]

Great ride and great pics, Fredwina. You have such interesting reports;) ....

[Fredwina]

I left at 6:30 am and got back at 4:30PM. I had only planned on spending an hour there, but...

[RolliePollie]

Wow, Fredwina! I'm impressed! Wait, I'm VERY impressed!!! Hmmm, with all that So Cal traffic, I bet it took some of the freeway drivers just as long to drive the distance that you rode!

Minor hi-jack...did it rain down there today? My cousin was getting married in Temecula and it was an outdoor wedding. I'm hoping it was just cloudy and cool and that it did not rain on their special day!!!

[cosc]

Fredwina, I so admire and am in awe of your great bicycle adventures and pictures too.:cool: I think if we lived close I'd want you for a bike mentor. How many miles did you have to ride off trail to get to Newport Beach?

[Fredwina]

No rain, and it was about 4 miles off the trail (the house is on the balboa peninsula)

[mimitabby]

Fredwina, you went to a picnic and didn't eat enough?? What else were you doing??

Nice pictures; fun story; I'm glad you got over "the curse"

Mimi