4th of July, 2011

We had a great backyard BBQ on Sunday, the 3rd. Mike cooked some great ribs and corn on the cob and our friends brought other dishes to share. We all walked to the park to watch the fireworks. It’s nice that Moorpark does their fireworks show on July 3rd.

Windows Live Writer on the Mac

Thanks to Josh, I now have a way to access Windows 7 on a Virtual Machine on my MacBook. This will allow me to use a couple of Windows applications that are not available for the Mac, such as Windows Live Writer.

Where Am I?

Sorry I am not better about posting things on the blog. Mike does such a good job with posting pictures, etc. of everything that we do, that I feel like my posts my just be redundant.

I would like to report that my cycling is going very well this year. I have a goal of 200 miles per month and have managed to exceed that every month so far this year. I think I should be able to go over 2400 miles for the 2011 year with no problem. (My best year up to 2010 was about 1300 miles.) 2400 miles will be a great accomplishment for me. I’ll try to keep in touch on this adventure.

Went to my first Laker game ever

I got to go to a Laker game at Staples Center. Kobe scored a lot of points, but no one else did, so we lost. Bummer. Where are they lately?

Mike and Nancy at the Finish Line

So we finished the Tour De Sewer and someone was there to take our picture. Nice! We were so lucky to have beaten the rain. My guess is that the “Sewer” was running deep on Saturday or Sunday.

Tour de Sewer

Today the Alderbrook group rode the Tour de Sewer in Bell Gardens. We feared rain, but got a nice overcast day. The ride is fairly flat, so the pace was pretty good. We had to get up at 6am and leave Moorpark by 7:00pm in order to make time to stop at Starbucks before heading down to the ride. On the way home, we actually saw a Krispy Kreme donut shop and stopped for goodies. It’s been a long time and we deserved it!

What is cuter than a baby’s laugh?

Sooo Cute

After wine tasting at Agua Dulce Vineyards, we went to the back to see the animals. The baby goats were so adorable!

These little guys were precious!

Biking with the Moorpark Biking Club

OK, so I gave in and biked with the club. I don’t enjoy riding in large groups and I am so slow that I can’t keep up anyway. It turned out to be a beautiful day for a ride. The riding company was great too. We did a 31-mile trip with Lost Canyon Golf Course in Simi as the half-way point. Everyone ate, drank and was merry!

Biking in 2011

So far this year I have been able to log in over 400 miles on my bike. Thanks to a beautifully warm and dry January along with a fairly mild, although somewhat chilly, February and, of course, retirement, I have been able to bike much more often than in past years. My best year has been around 1300 miles. If I keep up this pace, I might come close to doubling it. That would be something, huh?

A Fun Weekend

Mike, Dave, Gayle and I returned to the desert this past weekend to ride in the Tour de Palm Springs. We stayed in a great suite at the Palm Springs Tennis Club. I recommend it. This pic shows the view from our balcony. The ride is fun, but there are waaaay too many people. I saw at least 5 people go down. We might make up our own ride next year!

Really?

Biking in Retirement

I have really been enjoying the opportunity to cycle more since retirement. My goal is to try and get in at least 200 miles per month. That would then double my previous years. My level of conditioning is improving too. It seems I am not so much into riding with groups, so I will continue to ride alone, with Mike and with the neighbors. An additional goal I have is to lose additional weight. I am certain that my riding pleasure increased as I lost weight. It is always a challenge since I do so enjoy food! We'll see how that goes.

Biking at the Beach

Mike and I cycled round trip from Will Rogers State Beach to the Manhattan Beach Pier. As usual, it was a great biking day. Sunny with no wind. (Of course there is always a head wind for the last 3 miles!) We ate lunch at our local go-to in Venice: Viva Fresh Mexican. What a way to spend a February day!

Biking in January

As of today, I have completed 202 miles in January. This is by far the best mileage I have logged in a winter month, ever. It just goes to show: retirement is great. Now I just need to see if I can keep up this pace.

Of course, January has been a spectacular month weather-wise in Southern California. Some winds, but otherwise beautiful. Now what does February have in store for us?

Biking in Solvang

Yep, that’s me biking in Ballard Canyon near Solvang. Look closely and you will see me in the distance on the road below. Wow, was that ever the greatest place to ride! No traffic, no wind, no rain, temperature in the 60’s and all stoked up on Peet’s Coffee! I loved it.

Our Mini-Vacation at Rancho Oso

I am sitting in a Cafe in Solvang so I have Internet access. The service at Rancho Oso is basically non-existent!
It has been an absolutely gorgeous in the Santa Ynez and Edna Valleys this weekend. On Friday we did some butterfly viewing in Pismo and wine tasting in the Edna Valley. It was a blast.

Wind, Wind and More Wind

It seems lately that whenever I go out for a bike ride, the northeast winds are blowing. Since my rides seem to have been taking me through Simi, I must start out into the headwind coupled with the uphill route to get there. It’s OK a couple of times, but every time. Come on! I think the weather is set to improve this week, so at least if there is wind, the air should be warmer ( hope).

Welcome to 2011

OK, so I am not the best at keeping up with my blog! I’ll try to do better, but no promises . . .

I started the new year out right by going on a bike ride New Year’s day. It was a short ride, but it felt great. I haven’t been on the bike since! Why? It’s cold and windy and I am lazy. That is going to end tomorrow.

I have decided that I need to do some occasional longer rides. I need to go 30+ miles once and awhile. I used to and I know I still have it in me. It might not become my regular distance, but it will become part of my total training. I’m such a fair-weather rider, so I am looking forward to some warmer days soon.

The other thing I need to do is get back on track with my eating habits. I have enjoyed the wonderful holiday fare of food and drink, but am ready to get back on my journey to a healthy weight. By the summer, I will be a slimmer, fitter me.

OK, that’s it for now. I’ll be back. When all else fails, always remember to