Tutti Dolomiti Day 2: Recoaro Terme to Asiago

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Posted: May 22, 2025

The word of the day was “wet”. The ride started off with mild showers and the first long climb was misty with diminished rain. After the descent I stopped for a cioccolata calda and that’s when the real rain started. The second long climb was delightful with a nice smooth road, a mild and steady gradient, and lots of switchbacks where I could get an occasional view of the valley far below.

Me in the blue jacket at the start of the ride
The first long climb had mostly rough roads and heavy mist
The rain started after I descended but this valley had some nice views
With rain comes some nice waterfalls
A great view of the valley far below from one of the switchbacks on the last climb

Tutti Dolomiti Day 1: Verona to Recoaro Terme

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Posted: May 21, 2025

Short in distance but large in climbing
The operators of our tour, Bike-Dreams
This is a smooth operation, with our luggage being loaded efficiently into this van
A quick stop was made at the Arena di Verona for a group photo
And here we are in front of the Arena. My eyes were closed as usual.
Got a good view of Verona soon after we started climbing
One of the riders doing a good job on the climb
Saw some nice red poppies on the climb
These cows very mellow despite the menacing clouds forming
There was a nice variety of flowers throughout most of the first climb
Some yellow lupine on the hillside with a hazy view of the distant hills
A nice monument in the Velo Veronese town square
The town square also had a cute kitty
A view from the back of the church and other buildings in Sant’Andrea
A couple of fellow riders starting the next climb
Checking out the views from Altissimo

The Sights of Verona

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Posted: May 20, 2025

A statue of Dante in this cute plaza
Great views of Verona from a vantage point near a castle
Another hill near the castle vantage point
My hotel has a kitty

Test Bike Ride

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Posted: May 19, 2025

Put my bike together and did a short ride through Verona and out in the countryside.

Arena di Verona – a well preserved Roman amphitheater that still hosts events
A shrine out in the countryside
A view along the Adige River

Walk In Verona

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Posted: May 19, 2025

A short walk In Verona after checking into my hotel.

A church tower along the Adige River
A castle atop the hill overlooking Verona
Enjoying a local beer

Cat Photos 5/10

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Posted: May 10, 2025

I’m being judged from up high
Enjoying the morning sun
Reach out and touch someone

SLO Pinnacles Traveller 600k

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Posted: May 1, 2025

I am finally getting around to posting the pictures from my fun journey from San Jose to Oxnard that I rode on my bike last month (April 12-13, to be precise). A delay caused by a power outage as well as a week without home Internet.

I did most of the ride with my friend Jasmine with parts of it with other riders. The weather was nice, with warm temperatures during the day and cool, but pleasant at the coast.

The route took us past Pinnacles National Park (hence the name) and through some more remote sections towards Paso Robles. We then turned towards the coast to the overnight stop in Santa Maria.

The second day took us through Solvang and back towards the coast where we passed through lovely Santa Barbara and then further east to the finish in Oxnard.

I’ve done this ride 3 times now, and it’s still one of my favorite routes. I hope to enjoy riding it again in the future.

Riding with Jasmine after our big group broke up past Hollister
Our small group rolling past Hollister
We passed through patches of morning fog
We joined some other riders and rode together on this remote stretch of road on the way to Paso Robles
We rode along this river gully as the road gradually climbed higher
Finally we created the high point of the route climaxing with this steep section
Approaching Morro Bay late in the day, with good views of the Morro Bay rock (photo of me thanks to Jasmine)
Sunset over the ocean as we approached San Luis Obispo
More fog on the second day really made this photo of the trees and cows interesting
Not a super bloom year but there were still nice patches of poppies
Passing through Santa Barbara with its palm trees
Foggy view of Rincon Island near Mussel Shoals Beach

Pacific Grove and Carmel Valley

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Posted: March 30, 2025

I drove down to Pacific Grove with my friend Maureen and did our annual ride (weather permitting, and the weather did permit this year) on the 17-mile Drive and then to the hills in and around Carmel Valley. The day started off with excellent weather, not too cold and sunny. By the end, the weather was started to cool off ahead of the coming rain, but we still got a great day of riding in. Here are some of the sights that I experienced. Enjoy!

A very pleasant start to our ride along the ocean
Cycling along the coast
The Lone Cypress
Big Goat
Some baby goats
The views of the hills
Cycling up Carmel Valley
Some Lupine along the road
The Lupine was nice today
Approaching the top of the last big climb
Lyresa at the top of the last climb

The Berkeley Hillbillies

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Posted: March 24, 2025

I rode the annual Western Wheelers LDT ride in the Berkeley Hills on Saturday with a small group of friends. We had fun, apart from a derailleur problem that prevented Maureen from completing the ride.

This fellow was displaying his magnificent plumage, hoping to attract some ladies
Despite the fog over us, the views to San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge were excellent
The scenic part of the ride past the refinery at Crockett
We’re definitely the Berkeley Hillbillies

A bit of the Carquinez Bridge
Lyresa finishing the climb up McEwen Rd, passing some poppies
Not a big crop of poppies this year, but still enjoyable
We stopped to say hello to a group of lambs, sheep, chickens and pigs
This chicken had some fine plumage
This fellow kept sticking his nose into other people’s business
This mattress was actually quite comfortable, perfect for a short break

Loaf Cat

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Posted: March 20, 2025

Arun is a very cute loaf here

Loaf Check. Arun has excellent form.