I had to switch hotels today, requiring me to move my bike and luggage to the new one. After that I had some time to waste, so I hopped on a train that took me to the Waterloo terminal, which was close to many interesting sights.
I got a decent amount of sleep last night but was still up early. So I decided to put my bike together and take it out on a ride to check that everything is working.
I’m in London for the start of the Bike Dreams Abbey Road bike tour. I got in a few days early to recover from the flight and jet lag, and to make sure I had enough time in case my bike was delayed. I took a little walk around Putney, which is the neighborhood in London where I’m staying. I got a little rain that made the streets all wet and shiny after it stopped.
What is that glowing yellow orb in the sky? Finally, a nice sunny day, and since I was in the area, an opportunity to check out Edgewood Park. Like many other parks, I’ve passed by it on my bike but never hiked around in it. The trails were a mix of shaded forest, and open grasslands. I saw a few different types of wildflowers, and it’s nice that the wildflower season is still here.
Arun loves the sun… a lot. So, even though he has a nice fleecy bed with a heating pad, he’ll choose any place to lie down if there is sun shining on it. On Friday, he had sunny opportunities during the entire day.
Morning
The morning sun is quite nice when it comes in through the back door. Arun gets to enjoy exploring the “catio” in the back, but once he’s satisfied his curiosity, he likes to lie down in the back area for an extended sunbathing session.
Noon
When the sun gets high enough during midday, it comes in the skylight in the hallway, and I arrange Arun’s little bed so that he can get a nap in it while getting a nice amount of the sun’s warming rays.
Afternoon
On this day, I had dropped a pair of jeans in the living room, intending to come back and pick them up shortly. However, Arun found them first and settled in for more sun.
I got out early this morning to hike Byrne Preserve. This is a place that I often ride by on my bike, but I’ve never explored.
Part of the trail was on dirt Moody, which I have done on my bike, but otherwise, it was a new experience for me today. Pictures are below the break.
Arun likes to take care of his fur, and is very enthusiastic about his grooming, as the following photos show
During a break in the rain, I bundled up and went out for a walk. I spotted many interesting flowers during my trek. Check them out below the fold.
After my fun road trip last week, it was nice to get back to doing a Monday hike. I got up early so I could beat the heat, and headed over to Hallmark Park. This is another park that was close by when I lived in Belmont, and I had ridden my bike past it many times, although I often didn’t notice because the entrance is not as visible as some other parks.
The trail in the park was only about 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) so I added an out and back on Sheep Camp trail, down to the Pulgas Water Temple. The entrance to the water temple wasn’t open yet, but it was still worth the walk, as I saw some wildflowers and a good view of Crystal Springs reservoir.
After coming back up Sheep Camp trail, I continued on the Hallmark Trail, which is also part of the Crystal Springs cross country running course. Because it’s a running course, the trail was well-maintained and wide enough to avoid the copious amount of poison oak growing along it.
I got to see lots of wildflowers along the trail, and it was a nice trail to do, although it wasn’t too difficult or challenging. Check out the photos below the break.
