Dec 25 hikes/rides

We went on a hike today, DD and her BF, DH and I. The other three did a long route with an extra hilltop included. I'm still struggling with inflamation troubles -- low hemoglobin, joint pains, and coughing -- so I walked into the woods with them, then took a shortcut up the second hill to a little café where I could comfortably wait for them sipping hot chocolate, nibbling on a gigantic cinnamon bun, and chatting with neighbors, colleagues, etc. -- everybody hikes up there on a Sunday or the like. Then we hiked down again together. Seen en route: The other three saw a squirrel wearing a "Santa costume". That is, it was carrying a load of lichen to its den and the lichen dangled over its chin like a fake beard. I saw a guy out training his sled dogs. No snow (damned global warming! go park those SUVs, folks!), so he'd hitched the dogs (2 Irish setters) to the stem post of his mountain bike. Boy did those dogs and biker make a fast team up the hills! And very well-trained dogs they must have been. He called out directions and they wove their way up through the hikers slalom-style with nary a quaver to the bike. Very impressive.

We had a picture-perfect day in Southern California... 55-60°, birds singing everywhere and crystal clear skies with the sunlight sparkling over the ocean. It was too nice of a morning to stay inside!
I did a one hour recovery ride (ok, I did a few hill repeats), came home after an hour and finished up the brick workout with a 2-mile run. Best of all, there were NO CARS anywhere in sight. I flew down Palos Verdes Drive at 30mph with no traffic worries.
It was heavenly - a wonderful Christmas morning indeed! :D

DH and I opened presents by the fire this morning...then suited up and went for a bike ride!! :D
About 35-40 degrees, did a 2 hour ride with lots of hills. We had a great time, but because of the dampness in the breezy air I got way colder than normal for that temperature- by the end I was very tired (from battling the cold I think) and my fingers and toes were freezing despite all my layering and boots. It was really GOOD to get back to our warm house and have apple pie and get toasty again! A wonderful happy day of just doing stuff we love together.

We had originally planned to ride this afternoon, but our neighbors invited us over for drinks at 1:30. I had 26 miles left before hitting 3,000 miles, so we headed out about 10:40. It was 37; the coldest road ride I have done. We just wandered through Concord, West Concord, Maynard, Acton, Carlisle, and back home. We rode most of the ride on main roads that normally on a work day I wouldn't go near. I was riding with my odometer on, so I could actually see when it turned over to 3,000. We were about 5 miles from home when this happened, and it was 12:40, so we booked it back and got home at 1:00, for a total of 31.6 miles, av. speed 15. I guess the weather gods were with me this year, because I never thought I would get much past my goal of 2500 miles, which I hit in the beginning of October. It was a fun way for us non-Christmas people to spend the day. Now I have to recover from the champagne that I drank at my neighbors!

32 miles and 74 degrees this afternoon would have done more , but with everything going on, that's all I could fit in. Would have done a morning ride, but I didn't get from my church's chirstmas party until 2AM.

20 miles out and back to the cemetary to place a wreath on my folks gravesite and the wind was crazy. On the way the wind was really fun and everytime I had to go east or west I had to be careful not to get blown to much from the side. On the way back I was going about 5 miles an hour and my feet were freezing. Next time I will wear my winter boots made for cycling because I do not like to be cold. The sun was out and bright which was a little deceiving. lol Nice to get a ride in whenever I want when school is out.

A small group from my club did a morning ride yesterday, and I almost didn't go because it was so windy, though not all that cold. Anyway, my friend, with whom I usually ride somewhere off the back, called me and guilted me into going (did I just turn a noun into a verb? Yikes!). And am I glad she did!

The wind was like yours, twin--threatening to push us off the road occasionally, in addition to pushing us forward or back alternately. But I got in a good two-hour ride so I didn't feel so bad about the marginal pigging out I did later. I returned home to find the power out, so had to shower with no lights on (no window in my bathroom)--interesting experience!

Snorkeled with the fishies! Saw a sea turtle getting a snack of sea grass.

V.