I’ve been thinking about this for a while and sort of through circumstance, I haven’t ridden for 4 out of the last 5 days. So, I think I’m going to take 3 or 4 or more days off the bike completely. And, I’m going to try not to be laying on my back on concrete or card board on concrete.

I’ve actually been getting quite a few emails from other riders that suggest I should chill for a little bit. Guys that have sort of had the same experience I have and they were bull headed like me and trained through it. I seems like I have so many chinks in my armor that they aren’t healing while training. I’m hoping a few days is going to be enough.

I haven’t really taken the better part of a week off during the season in years. But, since the season is close to 365 days long now, I think it is my best interest. I’m ging to try to hike a bit. Hopefully the lack of breathing hard will allow my ribs to feel better because right now they hurt worse than they did two week ago.

I hope to catch up on some projects that don’t take a ton of manual labor too, but most of my projects, at least the ones I like, usually involve just that.

I flew out to California late yesterday. I have a few things to do out here, but am really here to hike some up in the mountains. It’s gonna be hot because it is a Santa Anna currently here. I have some new hiking boots, so I’m sure that my feet are going to be destroyed tomorrow.

Lance is out here doing a triathlon. He is competing in the Superfrog Triathlon on Coronado this very moment. The promoter said something like most everyone has made up their minds whether they think Lance doped or not. I wonder if he read this at Cyclingnews.com this morning? You all know how I feel about the whole thing, but it is what it is. I don’t think I’ll mosey down there to watch. I’d much rather walk in the desert mountains.

My new boots. They are really light. I hope to use them a whole bunch this winter.

I saw a ton of turkeys a couple days ago riding. These two were the biggest.

It’s amazing how much insulation and cushion a piece of cardboard gives to you on concrete. No wonder street people are always sleeping on them.

Yesterday I went out and did a less than 10 mile hike. I’m not nearly as crippled as I thought I’d be after doing that.

Cyclists are very good a walking, hiking, running uphill, but worse than horrible when having to go down. The problem of hiking in the mountains is that, what goes up, must come down. That was the case with me yesterday. I felt pretty stellar going up, but by the time I got back, actually about a mile before getting down, my legs started feeling like jelly. I made it, though.

I like walking in the mountains. I’m up in Idyllwild, CA, in the mountains above Palm Springs, CA. The temperatures were hot, upper 80’s. I though it felt great, but for around here, it is hot I guess.

I didn’t bring a bike, so today, this morning, is another day of hiking. That is what I want to do, so it is perfect. I’m not sure how I’m going to hold up today though. I doubt it will be as good as yesterday, but I assume it is good training for cross. At least it gets my legs into some sort of mode for dismounting.

Pretty beautiful views.

Dogs are always nice to have along hiking.

Don and Sue heading over a downed pine tree.

There are some really big trees still here in the mountains. Don and his dog, Kaya.

Hanging out up high 1/2 way through the hike.

These Manzanita shrubs are beautiful.

We stopped on the way back to see these petroglyphs on a huge boulder in the town of Idyllwild.

The sunset was pretty great out here yesterday.