So Jealous of Cali Girls!

[wabisabi]

Exactly right--NorCal is experiencing endless rain. Up here, in the rural areas, the roads have really deteriorated, and our group has given up a few roads because of the huge potholes. We have even been cut off on the highways for periods of time by slides. Yes, there is the ocean, and the redwoods and the mountains, to be sure, but we have been paying much tribute to Mr. Gore(tex) this year!

[caligurl]

not everyone in cali has bike lanes! we have 2 areas in our city that has bike lanes.. and neither are useable 90% of the time! the road going to the national park... i can ride IN the bike lane on the way UP the hill.. oh... about 75% of the time.... i have to come out into the lane in several areas because there is so much sand and debris!

on the way down i don't use the lane at all because of rocks and sand!

another part of town had a bike lane that is off the main road.. same problem: sand, debris, cactus, GLASS! UGH!

we are able to ride year round, though.. as long as you don't mind the cold in the winter (YES... the desert DOES get cold!) and as long as you can handle the 20..... 30.... 40... 50 mph winds that we tend to get quite often!

[bikerchick68]

I'm in San Diego... it's about 74 degrees today, sunny and hardly any wind... dang near perfect!

<ducking for cover>

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, we do have something called bike lanes up here in Northern Cal. However, a better name might be "trash lanes" as that is what they usually have- glass, rocks, you name it. I generally ride on the "white line" divider as at least I can SEE what's there! (Good for biking skills too!)

We have bicycle coalitions which lobby for bike lanes in our areas. Citizen involvement is how you often get these little extras. Now if Cal Trans would just clean the state roads, and the local communities their roads, we might have a better place to ride with the traffic!

[maillotpois]

I was awakened at 4 am by helicopters circling our house in Mill Valley because of the mudslides just over the hill which buried the man Miffy's Fuji mentioned. Pretty scary wondering where the problem was until we could finally get a report on the news.

CA is great - but I will say Nothern CA has been having its share of problems this winter. It has been raining so hard for MONTHS and there's a lot of flooding and landslides. I know every area has its problems, and I love the area and I even love the fact there there is rain and seasons, etc. But I'm OVER the rain right now!!!

[caligurl]

I was awakened at 4 am by helicopters circling our house in Mill Valley because of the mudslides just over the hill which buried the man Miffy's Fuji mentioned. Pretty scary wondering where the problem was until we could finally get a report on the news.

i saw that on the news down here too! how sad! and didn't another house have to evacuate because it was sliding? or fear of it sliding? AND... more rain predicted!

[SalsaMTB]

Hmmm...maybe I should change my comment to being jealous of the San Diego girls! Sorry to hear about all the problems in North California. Stay safe!

[bcipam]

San Diego is truly the best of California riding if you ask me - but Orange County (just north of SD) is not that far behind. Most cities have made it a point to have bike lanes or trails and then there is the ocean - nothing better than riding along the Pacific. OC and SD also have some great mountain biking trails. Right now in my office, it's beautiful sunny out, 70 degrees and I'm staring out at the snow covered mountains. Last night did a MTB in Weir Canyon. Got to my peak before turning around and surveyed all the greenery, our wildflowers are just peaking. So I was surrounded with yellow fiddleheads and California Everlasting, could see the mountains with all that snow and it was nice out, shirt sleeves and shorts. Ahhhhh great place to be if you love to ride...

But remember this - average home price in So Cal - 3 bedroom, 2 bath $700,000!!!!!!!

edited to add: There is a world of ddifference between Nor Cal and So Cal. NC is beautiful - much "wilder" than SO Cal but also has difficult weather - overcast, rain, fog, rain etc. So Cal is a desert, very arid. SD gets the best of both worlds as it gets a great breeze from the ocean.

[jpbayarea]

just to soothe those who imagine yet another perfect day in San Diego....Today, Friday it's pouring again. Yesterday was perfect as several noted but not today. I do agree though that we are spoiled with great bike lanes that are mostly free of major tire puncturing gunk and views that are to die for along many of the bike lanes. I move between the bay area and San Diego and am one of the lucky one that can follow the weather to the sunnier locale...this winter has had most of us Californians a bit less cheerful than usual though...but when summer fires come we'll be happy for the rains we endured this winter. For me, a midwestern girl I never forget the blessing to live in California, despite the cost of living. Hang in there girlfriends, spring is around the corner and winter is giving us all it's last hoorah....I hope.