Work's been beating the hell out of me, and until yesterday I hadn't been on a bike since 11/23. Yesterday, the NorCal BF folks organized a little jaunt up Mt Hamilton and back, and I decided to tag along. Not only that, but I conned Bikingshearer to go along with me.
It was your basic miserable CA winter day - about 40 dergrees at first light, but already in the 50's at the 9:30am start. It turned out to be a nice clear day, more or less cloudless and in the mid-60's for the most part. With the recent rains the grass is making a comeback, but the deciduous trees have paid their annual price and will not awaken till late January or so.
Anyway, we had a fine time, rode 38 miles, and climbed 5,000'+. Pretty much 20 up and 20 down.
Some pics:
Back of the autobus:
First climb:
First glimpse of destination, Lick observatory - still 13 miles distant:
Autobus self-portrait:
Hairpin:
A bunch of road:
Shhh..... he's sleeping:
Autumn colors:
Rich:
Top of the world: