Yesterday was perfect. I got nearly 60 miles in. I felt just mediocre, so rode mainly on the coast highway. Like I said, the scenery is great. I got a ton accomplished other than riding too, which is always a plus. I’m driving up to Irvin, CA on Friday to visit Shimano and get some stuff. Right now I’m heading out with Don and Sue for their normal Thursday morning ride. I can count how many times a year I ride at 7 am on one hand. Doing this ride is usually throughout the year is 3 out of 5 fingers. It is only painful waking up and the first 10 minutes. Then it is great. A big loop of Rancho Santa Fe. Hopefully a bakery stop. Okay. Here are some photos of yesterday.

This is a photo of the place where I first ever rode a MTB bike. Alexi had flown out to San Diego and brought bikes for Roy Knickman and myself for the first NORBA National Championships. We put them together and rode this trail along the railroad tracks in Cardiff by the Sea.

If you've never been to the Pannikin Coffeeshop in Encinitas, you should make it a point to go. I've been coming here forever it seems. It's great.

Inside the Pannikin. Super bakery selection and good coffee.

2nd to last cliimb of the day. Torrey Pines State Park. I usually take the inside road up through the park instead of staying on the coast hwy.

Photo from the top of Torrey Pines looking South towards La Jolla.

Quite a bunch of palm trees at the tennis club in La Jolla.

The cove at La Jolla. A wonderful place.

Dog walking with Don on Mt. Soledad. My calves are toast from walking downhill.

Dinner at Ichiban Pacific Beach. My favorite restaurant here.

I’m in Delmar, having a coffee, already with 60 miles under my belt. Pretty weird. At least for me. I’m not an early morning rider type. Sue and Don are heading back to La Jolla. I called a old team mate from Wheaties/Schwinn, Shaun Wallace, and I’m going up to Solana Beach to ride awhile longer.

Shaun kind of started the whole altitude tent thing a decade ago. He’s moved on to whole branches of houses for NBA players and chambers for NASA and the FAA now.

It is near perfect weather again. Already in the mid 60’s. Okay, done hanging. Better get moving.

Heading back to the coast at 8 am in Southern California is not good. It is amazing, one person in each car, not moving. I couldn’t do it on a life basis.

But, getting to the coast, on a bike, pretty great